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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)

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

Sorry, I don't have anything more specific than this:

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Tuesday 24th June 2014

Was down at the workshop this afternoon for parts cleaning, what else? Reason being the trans adapter for the R9 from Gerry, packardssouthwest, finally was in my hands. Noel picked me up this morning and we travelled to Rouse Hill where a load of Packard parts had arrived. Besides the adapter there were parts for Peter Packard and Noel. Noel's parts included a bonnet(hood) strip for his '41 160 Club Coupe. Either, when it was removed from the coupe the backing piece under the stainless was removed, or it wasn't there! If there it now can't be found but, irrespective of that, Noel now has a bonnet strip complete with backing.

Also at Rouse Hill was a car I'd never seen before a Cole. It's a 1916 V8 and the owner told me he'd bought it because nobody else wanted it! He'd driven it in the US from LA to Clovis and return sitting on a steady 60mph on the highways/freeways. They suffered some mechanical problems amongst which were the water pump falling off twice and the generator not charging, the last only found after a new battery had been purchased. The owner also said he's gone from not owning any old cars 3 years ago to now owning 3 Veterans, ie pre 1919, a 1905 Black, the 1916 Cole and a 1917 Overland. Looks like the bug has badly bitten him! Other cars that came in with the Packard parts and the Cole were a '46 Ford Super Deluxe Coupe, a '40's? DeSoto Sedan and a '50's Mercury Station Wagon. The Ford Coupe needs a lot of work, the DeSoto looks OK and probably very cheap so would make a cheap driver here even after all the import costs, while the Mercury needs a lot of TLC to just fix the rust and bullet holes.

After Rouse Hill instead of returning me directly home we detoured to TonyW's to pick up more Packard parts. The dash for Peter Packards '37 Super Eight Coupe and a bonnet(hood) ornament for Noels Coupe and a gas/ammeter gauge set for Fleurette. Tony had fixed the dash woodgraining for Peter while he'd remounted Noel's goddess and refreshed the gauges. Contacted Wade and will be taking the adapter up on Thursday so the trans/OD rebuild can commence in earnest.

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Wednesday 9th July 2014

No actual work, just an update. Was supposed to take up the trans/OD adaptor to Wade a couple of weeks ago but the flu intervened laying me low for a while. Instead, with Wade at the workshop for a short stay today I dropped it into him there. However I intend to go up and see Wade next week.

Wade was also going to see a Packard club member about some Packard parts. This guy has a couple of '35's so it's quite possible he might be a source for some of the missing parts for Amelia. And this for O_D who I've been corresponding with on Wade's behalf recently about the Bragg-Kliesrath vacuum brake system on Amelia. The vacuum canister in the system looked good but the leather diaphragm was "dirty" or "gritty". Wade now advises he's since learned that one of Amelia's previous "restorer's", not an appropriate term, had sandblasted the canister! O_D also advised Classic and Exotic Service Inc as THE supplier where a Bragg-Kliesrath system is concerned.

Wednesday 16th July 2014

Just returned from the movies where Kath and I saw Jersey Boys. In which, briefly, there are a couple of Packards including the '41 160/180 Limo in the YouTube clip.

Apart from that, on returning home, found that Wade's wife Gina had sent me a photo. The photo being of Wade under the dash of Amelia, with this comment "Just in case you were missing out on the clicking. Think he will be finished tomorrow." I am missing the clicking, as well as all else that used to go on in the workshop, but que sera sera. Now hope to make it to see Wade next week!

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Friday 18th July 2014

With Wade's part(mechanical and electrical) of Amelia's resurrection complete it was time for her to head north to the Gold Coast. There, Ross will have the body, paintwork, upholstery and any other unfinished aspects of the restoration completed. Hopefully I'll see Amelia mid-September looking much better than she is now. That's because I'm organising a get together of Aussie Packard owners from around the Gold Coast area at that time with Ross kindly hosting the lunch on the day.
Ross!

Wade had called me yesterday to let me know that a car transporter was picking Amelia up about 11am this morning. Unfortunately with a relapse of the flu I wasn't able to make it, but Gina was kind enough to photo document Amelia's departure for me.
Gina!

Of course the 11am pickup time wasn't met, instead Gina advised "Sorry you missed this morning but it was freezing at 7 am" That's a real turn up, usually it's the other way around, running late rather than early! Gina also sent a pic of fellow PACA member PeterL from a week ago, doing what I used to do, helping Wade.

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Wednesday 23rd July 2014

Finally over the flu so headed north to see Wade, doing so in the Coupe with Noel as a passenger. Coupe ran well over the 108 kms and on arrival I set to changing the oil, difficult to do at my place with limited working space. Although that should change later this year when we move to a new house in Bowral 128kms south in the Southern Highlands. Wade also has all the equipment required including a large hydraulic trolley jack one of which is on my shopping list for the new garage. Jacked the front of the Coupe up, put jackstands under the frame and drained the very hot oil. Know it was hot because, in taking out the sump plug, got some over my hand when it gushed out. While the oil was draining opened up the oil filter, extracted the cartridge and emptied out the canister. New cartridge in and using the old gasket put the lid back on the canister. Sump plug back in, then overfilled with fresh oil to allow for the now empty oil filter. On start up all was well with good oil pressure then allowed the engine to run for a few minutes. First mistake! Should have checked for oil leaks, of which there was a major one, from the oil filter canister lid seal! Only noticed from the large puddle of oil(about 1.5 litres) under the car just after it was shut down, should have conducted checks while running. Topped up with oil, removed the oil filter canister lid and this time used a new gasket, held to the lid with grease, so it was less likely to move when being tighted. Started up again, this time carefully observing for oil leaks. There were none.

Later, because the recently rebuilt waterpump was leaking, started her up again to try and find the source of the leak. No success so removed the fan and pulley to enable a better, closer examination to take place, it's cramped in there. Doing so established that the waterpump seal is leaking, and this after a new one was used in the rebuild! But didn't take the pump off to replace the seal because Wade's magic shelf didn't have one. Besides the afternoon was slipping away and Noel and I needed to return from whence we came. So replaced the pulley and fan, thanks Wade, then I adjusted the fan belt tension. Second mistake! Because on the way home, shortly after joining the freeway, noticed the temperature was pegging right on HOT. Pulled over, bonnet(hood) up and determined that the fan belt had about 3" of free play. Whoever had tensioned the belt, moi, hadn't ensured it was sitting properly in the crank pully.
Ordinarily I have tools in the boot(trunk) but they were presently in the boot(trunk) of my other car. Not to worry, but what would you do in these circumstances? 1) Ring the automobile association? 2) Ring for a tow truck? or 3) Ring your local friendly Packard mechanic? Of course I chose option 3) with Wade, good sport that he is, bringing the tools for me to do the adjustment required. This time ensured the belt was properly seated and running through all pulleys before tightening it up!
Wade. Then after topping the radiator up made it home without further incident. Although there had been one minor event, when sitting by the side of the Freeway with the boot(trunk) open waiting for the Packard mechanic to arrive, there was a sudden loud bang! Happened when a large truck's wind wave was sufficient to lift the boot(trunk) lid enough to release the catches and gravity promptly took effect! Suffice to say Noel and I were both surprised/alarmed until we realised what had happened.

Wade had earlier offered to rebuilt another waterpump for me to swap in at a later date and in the meantime to keep a close eye on the water level. Noel also offered a NOS waterpump HE has in stock but I declined that, instead opting for the Wade rebuild. However, and you read it here first Noel, after a later discussion with Wade I'm now going to take up your offer!!!

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