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Mal, quite a job. Success! Do you think the hub cracks were a result of the damper going bad over time? I would like to think so. Is the radiator removable without taking off the front clip? Recent posts talk about doing it this way on earlier cars. Thanks for the updates.

(o{}o)

John,

The photo doesn't tell the whole story, the cracks are the result of my heavy handed levering.

I know the radiator can be removed and reinserted without removing the front clip, although it's a very tight squeeze! Wade and I did it back in 2008 when the radiator was pulled for inspection, testing and repair. However, the bonnet(hood) still needs to be removed along with the water pump and generator. Also, at that time, the mudguards(fenders) were off allowing us to stand on the frame rails, and even then it was still a difficult job. Some time this week I'll be taking the Coupe for a run to "test" the leak, maybe there's still a chance it'll get to the Rally?

Tuesday 3rd March 2015

My fears of doom about the radiator leak may be just that, fears. Hooked up the pulley, fan, generator and fan belt, and in getting the fan back on, didn't drop a bolt or washer. A first for me in that situation! After hooking things up drove the Coupe out of the garage then topped up the radiator, only took about a litre/quart. Let it idle for some minutes until up to operating temperature then off on what was a scenic 60km drive from Fitzroy Falls to Robertson and Moss Vale then back to Fitzroy Falls. Mildly hilly country with the air temp about 22C. The temp gauge stayed just below or just on the halfway mark all through the trip and only started to rise after idling for about 10 minutes at journeys end. I'm thinking I could be taking the Coupe to the Rally now, but with one eye firmly on the temp gauge. Will give it a sterner test in the next week or so.

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Mal, the garage gods are smiling upon you for a change. Nice feeling isn't it?

(o{}o)

John,

Yes, a very nice feeling. I've been very lucky with the Coupe so far, since getting it on the road at the start of 2009. Although there have been things "happen", nothing that has been a major drama has occurred. I hope it continues that way!

Sunday 15th March 2015

A week before the 16th National Packard Rally and the last meeting of the Rally Committee. Took the Coupe to the meeting, and it's about 80 miles each way from where it's garaged, and it went well. Ran smoothly and temp gauge stayed on the middle mark all the way, 'cause it was only about 20-22C so ambient heat wasn't a factor. One thing found is that there's now an oil leak, probably from the timing case seal, this no doubt from my heavy handedness.

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Mal, what does the red hexagon mean?

Thursday 21st May 2015

I drop into the old workshop every couple of weeks going to, or from, donating blood plasma. There's a quick catch up with John, Rick, Matt and Graham but more importantly a chance to pass on to Misty some lamb chop and leg bones. Looks like she needs them too, she's become almost Greyhound like in physique, being only about half the dog she was! Of course it didn't help that both Wade and I, and from time to time Noel, were keeping up a good supply of bones. Be that as it may, I also dropped in today, not being a plasma day, because my schedule in babysitting my youngest grandson Ryan(who came along and was more interested in Misty than any cars) coincided with Wade's for once. Wade had come down yesterday and was there today because a Packard Club member GeoffC was picking up the workshop trailer. Geoff lives about 145kms south of Sydney and will be loading up his poorly running '39 TJ Richards bodied 110 Touring Sedan to take up to Wade's, about 110 kms north of Sydney next week. Wade has had Geoff's TJR on his list to be worked on, for probably a couple years, and finally it will come to pass. Attached are photos of Geoff's '39 at a car show last weekend, another members '34 1100 Sedan and also a car you don't see every day!

And speaking of sheds, my garage(8.4m x 5m) and carport(6m x 3.6m) is getting close to completion, photos attached. In a couple of weeks time I hope to have the Coupe "in residence". When that happens it'll have the front clip off to 1) Attend to a now major oil leak, attributable I think from my heavy handed harmonic balancer replacement a couple of months back. I think I've upset the crankshaft oil seal placement or maybe kinked the timing case where it seals, 2) take out the radiator and have the minor leak attended to before it becomes a major one, and 3) Take off the water pump and pull the distribution tube for inspection and cleaning.

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Mal, you are really going to enjoy that new shed and car port. Very nice!

(o{}o)

Friday 3rd July 2015

Temporary title change from Wade's Workshop to Mal's Garage, in honour of my Coupe finally having a home of it's own! In my last post, over a month ago said "...my garage and carport is getting close to completion....In a couple of weeks time I hope to have the Coupe "in residence"...", but it obviously took longer than that. Even now painting is still going on but that should be finished on Monday. With the local council approving the structure about a week and a half ago my youngest son, Greg, helped me move the bulk of my "stuff" from my daughters garage to mine. Prior to that I'd put up a high line of 600mm(2') wide shelving down one side, across the back and halfway along the other side of the garage. Also bought 5 DIY assembly shelving units and erected those during the week. Other furniture items in the garage are a desk, workbench, two cabinets and a bookcase. All the ground mounted shelving units are temporarily filled with the "stuff" brought from my daughters. Next stage is to really organise the contents of the mainly boxed "stuff". Then will come some work on the Coupe as mentioned previously. To help in that regard Noel dropped in on Thursday with a 282 timing case courtesy of Peter Packard. Next week I'll collect another harmonic balancer Wade picked up from pepepackard and my original water pump which Wade has rebuilt. Wade dropped them off at the "old" workshop today. And speaking of Wade, he's still working on Packards with the one occupying his attention at the moment being GeoffC's '39 TJ Richards bodied 110 Touring Sedan. Gina was kind enough to send me a photo of Wade working on under it. Wade and Gina had also spent some time away, taking Big Red to Mt Gambier. About 3 weeks of leisurely Packard touring getting there, enjoying the Packard event over a long weekend, going on to Adelaide before returning from whence they came! Well over 3,500kms(2,000+miles) of Packard touring. Speaking of Packard touring, I'll be taking the Coupe on a Packard run on Sunday, a mere 100kms each way then possibly another the following Sunday to Sydney's American Independents Day.

Finally, to all in the US, Happy Independence Day

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