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Thursday 8th May 2015

Met Wade at the workshop mid morning after he'd picked up the rebuilt carb from Tim at CSC. Wade tells me that even though he'd taken the carb apart a couple of times all looked well. But Tim found a couple of things needing fixing, pays to take it to an expert! Then it was off to reunite Roy with his breathing system. Carb back on, some cranking to get fuel through the system, and Roy roared back into life. Allowed to run for a while during which time Wade adjusted the idle. Next was getting the new paper element onto the air filter. A couple of months back I'd found one to fit from Mr Filter at Toongabbie. Only trouble was, it didn't quite fit! Just a fraction too big in diameter. However a session with Maud's angle grinder bevelled the upper and lower outside rubber edges of the element just enough so that it did. But who's this Maud? Well Maud is Wendy's Mum, Wendy being the owner of Emily, '37 115c Sports Coupe , and wife of Richard, owner of Roy the '39 110 Convertible Coupe. One bay of the triple garage is Maud's studio where she creates all forms of artwork. Some of which apparently require the use of an angle grinder in their creation. So it's to Maud for having a well equipped studio that Roy can now breathe cleanly!

On the return trip to the workshop detoured to KevinA's place to pick up a glass doored bookcase, some Packard books(including a Hugo Pfaff as well as a Dykes) and a slew of Packard and other magazines. These had been donated to the club many years ago and Kevin had used them when he was an officer of the club.

Back at the workshop met up with MichaelK who was on his way to see Chris, starliner. Chris, besides his Packard projects is also building a hot rodded '53 Studebaker Coupe with, what else a Chev V8 but also independent front and rear suspension and rack and pinion steering amongst other features. Michael was taking over a pair of spare Packard number plates lights that Chris wants to utilise in lieu of the Stude ones. The Packard lights apparently have more style to them, naturally. Plus we saw what Chris is currently doing to his '54 Clipper Super Club Sedan. A couple of years back Chris had repaired the rear bodywork and repainted that part of the car. He's now doing the front bodywork and doors helped along with advice from his next door neighbour, an old paint and bodywork guy. Things are going along so well with the front of the car that Chris is talking about doing the back again because it now doesn't measure up!

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Thursday 15th May 2014

Not exactly Wades Workshop, 'cause in the absence of that, today I visited DavidM's Workshop. Although the nominal reason for the visit was Packard Club business, the real reason was to catch up with what David's been doing recently. And what has he been doing? Why working on the '30 740 Limousine, in partly restored condition, he acquired a few months back. The car was sold new in France by Parisian Packard Dealer Barbezat and as a consequence has a speedo delineated in KMH, very useful in this day and age in Oz. Apparently none of the early history of the car is known other than that it was imported from the US to Oz many years ago as a restoration project. Interestingly, when David was in France a few years back for the Euro Packard Rally, part of the Rally was a visit to the Barbezat family chateau which has custody of the early records of the dealership. But unfortunately, they didn't go as far back as 1930! History or lack of it aside, when I arrived, David was working on the 6 wheels, preparing them for painting. Besides that there's still lots more to do including reassembly, roof, interior, etc, etc.

David now also has a source for the detail information requested in this post, after a long time noted Packard historian responded to David by PM.

Meanwhile back to the wheels, I'd never been close to a '30 Packard steel wheel until today and one feature I noticed was that, although the outer disc has a hole for the stem of the tube, there's also another hole in the rim itself for the stem of tube. Learnt something there!

Another piece that David's been working on is the holder for the rear seat microphone because his is missing. A guy in the UK also has a 740 Limo and he was able to provide David with photos and dimensions. From there David has created a pattern, after a number of attempts, and will have a number of holders cast up. So if anyone with a rear seat microphone needs a holder, put your hand up now or better still contact David by PM!

Also, took some photos while there and David took one of moi in front of his '29 Runabout, including part of a finger obscuring the lens. Thanks David, it's not often I get out from behind the camera!

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Tuesday 27th May, 2014

Weekend before last had a Packard club run to Ulladulla about 250 kms away on the South Coast. Visited Neville, a Packard club member with a '34 1100 Sedan, at Ulladulla and saw his collection of other cars(mainly Paiges, Grahame-Paiges and Grahames) and also his truck collection. Stayed overnight and on the way home on Sunday stopped at Berry where about 500 old cars were gathered in the local showground for National Motoring Heritage Day. Then, when nearly home after coming off the Freeway, noticed the temperature gauge was climbing. It's usually very benign so that sight was a concern. Being only a couple of kms from home made it without overheating so that part was OK.

Couldn't see an obvious leak although what I thought were bugs on the windscreen was actually coolant which had been flicking back! Thought the top radiator hose could be the culprit because of the discolouration there so ordered a radiator hose set from Max. But with other matters occupying my time couldn't attend to this till today and, especially when I found Wade was coming down to the workshop, made the time! There, very careful inspection found that it was the waterpump that was leaking. Removed the pump, disassembled it and found that besides the seal the bearing wasn't healthy either. Pushed the fan/pulley boss off, the impeller off and the shaft and bearing out of the body. But not having a rebuild kit, what to do? Wade had a new seal on the shelf at home but what about the bearing and shaft? Well, after a trip to ABC bearings, we had a shaft and bearing. Not Packard, the lady there asked if we had a Toro lawnmower! But it'll fit, bearing is perfect but the shaft is too long at either end. Not to worry, because Wade will use the shaft and bearing and trim to size. All going well Wade should be back at the workshop, where the Coupe is temporarily residing, on Friday. Then it'll be time for some MBM gaskets and the rebuilt pump can go back on. Had a visitor Chris, starliner, who was picking up a replacement power aerial which Wade had sourced, for his '54 Clipper Coupe. Not kosher, but at about a 1/10th the cost of the genuine thing from a Packard vendor it's worth it.

There'll be a test run of sorts on Sunday, to North Head, about a 60 km round trip for a Packard club run. Then later next week we're off to Mildura for a much longer Packard club run, it's about a 2100 km round trip! That'll be over 6 days, with about 70 people and ?? Packards in attendance, looking forward to it.

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hi mal; hope all is well with all the down under people; i now also have a 33 1003 as i am sure u noted in the registry, and saw a picture of the fossil looks to be a club sedan. do u know what year and what color it is? thanks much jon

G'day Jon,

Yes all is good, and trust all is well with you and yours? I did note your '33 was in the Registry, post #8 in this thread refers, looks like the fleet is growing.

Wade's Fossil is a '34 Eight Club Sedan which progresses very slowly, couple more fairly recent pic's below. As to the colours, Wade did tell me but I'll have to get him to refresh my memory.

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Friday 30th May 2014

At the workshop today Wade arrived with the rebuilt waterpump unit together with the large 'plate' gasket, a leftover that was sitting on the shelf. Leaving only one MBM gasket to be made, the smaller pump gasket that goes between the pump and the engine block. To help accomplish the task Wade also provided a pair of scissors and a small ball peen hammer. Gasket made, turned to the engine block facing which I'd scraped down yesterday but last night, after examining the pictures taken, found there were still remnants of the old gasket evident. From the pictures, was able to target the gasket remnant areas satisfactorily. Then gasket cemented and bolted the pump backing plate to the pump housing using only the 3 thin headed bolts. Then after gasket cementing the MBM gasket used the four large mounting bolts to align the gasket and pump and fingered tightened the bolts to the block. Then removed those bolts one at a time and after liberally gasket cementing them returned them from whence they came. This, in case, these bolts should intrude into the water jacket. These bolts also have copper washers. After all were "gooed" up everything was then tightened down, upper radiator and heater hoses reconnected and water added for a short fire up and stationery leak check. Passed, no drips, drops, or other leak evidence. Fan belt, fan pulley and fan then added to the mix and fan belt tensioned and generator snugged up. Fired up again, but wait, what's that clicking noise? Don't tell me the new bearing isn't a good 'un! Fortunately soaping up the segmented fan belt got rid of the little men with hammers, that's what it sounded like! Drove home, parked in driveway for an hour and no sign of leaks. But Sunday will be a better test with the club run to North Head at the entrance to Sydney Harbour.

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Wednesday 4th June 2014

The run on Sunday to North Head was accomplished without incident, the Coupe running well, the temperature right about the middle of the gauge..

Today re-installed one of the battery cables. It's the cable from the negative terminal post to the starter solenoid. Last week, using his multimeter, Wade had checked the "cheap and nasty" cut off switch I was using on that post and declared it was losing about 1/2 volt with that setup, being below 6 volts. Starter has been a bit sluggish turning the engine over so I took the hint and determined the cut off switch had to go. On Monday removed the cable and took it to Star Auto Electrics at Gladesville. Star replaced the eye type terminal with a battery terminal clamp fitting, soldering it to the now slightly shortened cable. Cable back in the Coupe and it does turn the engine over faster!

Then it was time to take the Coupe and meet Noel. While yesterday, when going to pick up the shortened cable, had called in to TonyW's and picked up the bonnet(hood) latches for Noel's Coupe as well as a rear speaker housing for Fleurette. And why was I meeting Noel in the Coupe? Because Karl, the panelbeater working on Noel's Coupe, needed to check a few points of reference on mine. Noel's Coupe is coming along slowly but very nicely. Door fits and gaps are something to die for with the bonnet(hood) and other front end sheet metal(including the panels from Greg, saltydog) now coming in for detailed attention.

Tomorrow, Kath and I are off to Mildura, which is west, and over 1,000 kms by the route we're taking. We'll be stopping at the Temora Aviation Museum tomorrow then overnighting in Wagga Wagga. Friday we'll travel from Wagga Wagga to Mildura. Then Saturday and Sunday our Packard Club has a full program of events to keep us amused. Monday we set off for the return trip staying at West Wyalong overnight. Tuesday we visit McFeeters Motor Museum at Forbes before continuing our trip home.

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I want more panelbeater pics. My car is in this phase. :)

Those little "green knob" battery switches, though they are convenient to install and generally satisfactory for 12-volt systems, are notoriously well-known as totally inadequate for 6-volt systems - the switching contact area is just too small.

O_D, good advice. It may interest folks to know that NAPA sells a heavy duty type of this design that is robust enough for a 6-volt system. I am currently using one on my '47 Custom Clipper (6V + ground) and Model A Hot Rod 12V - ground). Also, I have the devices on the ground terminals, not the power terminals.

(o{}o)