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I hope you have good luck with the cam roller fix. I don't have any details and only heard second-hand, but that method was tried by a well-known restoration shop here in NJ some years back and failed in a very short time. Of course there could have been some other reason, but everyone I know uses the Egge replacement rollers and pins.

Buggered last night, so no update done, but that just means a double dose today!

Tuesday 4th August 2009

First up at the workshop the engine crane was used to lift Big Red's engine then lower it so it could be laid on it's side. That done Wade proceeded to remove the internals including pistons, rods, main bearing caps, crankshaft and camshaft, with a few surprises along the way - the oil ring on #3 was broken and most of the big-end bearings were worn! Just as well Wade decided to go ahead and tear it completely down.

While Wade did that, I was under the coupe scraping, scraping, scraping. Don't think I'll ever be satisfied with the result but there's only so much you can do in such a situation. A "body off" resto would be nice but, seeing I'm not in a position to do that, what I have done will have to suffice for the time being at least.

However before starting anything I received a call from Chris of Rhino coatings asking if their local branch had contacted me yet. They hadn't and it wasn't that much longer before I received a call from their local guy, Peter. Discussed with Peter the feasibility of my requirements and also about texture, colour, slip and grip of the product and will find out more tomorrow when I take the running boards over.

Wednesday 5th August 2009

My plan this morning was to:
- See Peter about the spray on ute lining for the running boards.
- Then to Brookvale, taking the running boards and wheels to the sandblaster.
- Then literally around the corner at Brookvale is a powdercoater and see him about coating the wheels red after the sandblaster has done his thing.
- Then to Warriewood, relatively close to Brookvale, on the way back to pick up some Marine Clean and Metal Ready.

EDIT - Also phoned John Cain the importer of the new radial WWW tyres I'm expecting. John advised my tyres are held up along with Barry's '38 V12 as the containers are waiting to be x-rayed at Customs pleasure.

All this changed at the first stop where Peter assured me he'd be able to do a good job re-rubbering the running boards with a smooth, shiny black finish all for the princely sum of AU$220.00. Didn't have a reference point for price but based on plain running board rubber, which I couldn't use anyway and costing in the vicinity of AU$400.00, it seems like a good price but of course it will be dependent on the result. Peter also gave his opinion of powder coating wheels, which was not good, as well as recommend a sodablaster much closer to home at Seven Hills.

After contact Marty, the sodablaster, I was there in about 15 minutes and he then quoted AU$160.00 for the pair of boards and AU$40.00 each to do complete steel wheels, outside, inside and center. Although the wheel charge was up on the phone quote I received of AU$30.00 each, the rough phone estimate for the boards of AU$200.00 to AU$300.00 balanced the equation somewhat. So left the boards and wheels there and hopefully they'll be ready later this week. Marty also had an adverse opinion of powder coating wheels and both recommended 2-pack paint. When I told this to Wade later he suggested I talk "nicely" to Harvey who might be able do the paint job for me.

Then back at the workshop and, after catching up with Wade, got under the left side of the Coupe and proceeded to apply Marine Clean via the medium of spray bottle assisted by an old paint brush. Part way through this though Harvey arrived because "Kermit's" O/D cable was stuffed. Because Wade was going to take the hand brake cables for Noel's '41 160 Business Coupe's over to General Instruments for new ones to be made, he offered to have an O/D cable made up using the one from the Convertible Coupe as a pattern. The chance of a road trip prompted me to quickly finish the left side of the Coupe and off we went. And I also took the opportunity to talk "nicely" to Harvey while he was there and YES, he'll do the wheels for me.

Besides the above, the head and cylinder block from Big Red were also loaded into the ute. First port of call was Graham, Wade's engine guy, for a look over the block and head and both checked out OK. Second, around to Steve for chemical cleaning of both and they should be ready in about one week. Third, stopped in at Jaycar for some thick shrink tubing to enclose the blinker wires for protection as well as cosmetics. Fourth, General Instruments where the hand brake and O/D cables should be ready by the end of the week. And last, ABC Bearings, because I hadn't taken a pic of the chosen roller bearing/s before they were modified to suit Big Red's cam rocker arms. However, because Dennis at ABC couldn't identify them without a better reference than, "you know, the ones I bought a couple of months ago". Wade will return with the invoice when the new cables are picked up. All this to provide a "before" pic of the roller bearing just for you guys!

Back at the workshop I Marine Cleaned the right underside and Metal Readied the left underside. Then, rinsed off both sides, if that is the correct term. All I know is I got pretty wet with all that water flying around as well as the obligatory drops in eyes, ears and mouth. While that was going on Wade covered the rear blinker wires with the shrink tubing and then turned to cleaning various engine parts in readiness for the rebuild.

And a sad note. Late last night received an email from Michael, our club President, advising that Paul '54 Convertible owner had passed away in his sleep on Friday night. Wade and I will be attending Paul's Funeral tomorrow in Old Blue and Paul's '54 will be there.

Quote:
Dave,

From memory, failing that it is, Wade had contacted Egge who advised they no longer had the rollers or maybe it was the pins, that's why this solution is being used. The roller bearings are automotive cam roller bearings so they should be suitable for Wades rebuild.

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Thursday 6th August 2009

Sad start to the day attending Paul's funeral with Wade in Old Blue. Met Wade at the workshop at West Ryde then proceeded from there to the Christ Church at Lavender Bay for the funeral service. Paul obviously had a lot of friends as the church was very well attended.

Returning to the workshop, I'd intended to Metal Ready the right underside of the Coupe and then POR-15 under both sides. However all that changed when I checked my phone messages to find that Marty from Sydney Soda Blastinghttp://sydneysoda.yodelaustralia.com.au/ had called a couple of hours earlier to tell me the wheels and boards were ready for pickup. Phoned Marty to learn he was leaving his premises shortly, to pick up a new vehicle, so I quickly high tailed it over there. Results on both the wheels and running boards are excellent but instead of Soda Marty used Garnet, which is a better media for the type of work required so he told me. After that phoned Harvey, because he both lives and works nearby, thinking it would save me another trip to deliver the wheels for painting. Learnt that Harvey was neither at home or at work, however he suggested I drop the wheels off at his house so that solved that.

Back at the workshop finally got to Metal Ready the Coupes right underside. And while lying under the Coupe squirting, squirting, squirting, had a thought(not a regular occurrence at my age) to use the ute liner on the underside of the running boards instead of POR-15'ing them. I know this is close to sacrilege being an advocate of POR-15 but you've got to think outside the box occasionally. Also Metal Readied a few things that Wade needs painted for Big Red. Wade will clean up a few more parts and Metal Ready them tomorrow morning, then when I get there in the afternoon all will be ready for POR-15 and no doubt it will include my good self, as that stuff has an inexplicable affinity for my skin. During all this Wade was cleaning up more parts and in particular Big Red's crankcase in preparation for it to make a number of passes through the parts washer tomorrow.

Then when I returned home, had a message from Harvey who advised he'd already sourced the 2 pack paint for me, Mazda True Red, from VG Auto Paints.http://wwwvgautopaints.rtrk.com.au/?scid=11969&kw=4070695
See link for pic's of Mazda True Red -http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4750860

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Friday 7th August 2009

Had the granddaughters over in the morning but Packard work carried on through the medium of Harvey phoning. Harvey advised that the wheels now had 2 coats of primer on them but he couldn't put colour on because of a change in the ambient weather conditions. I'll contact Harvey early next week and go see him, and the wheels, because he wants visual confirmation of the colour choice selected.

Down to the workshop where Wade had been cleaning parts in preparation for POR-15 in the afternoon. But before that Wade re-installed the radio in the Coupe and it's working well. Then I was left to my own devices with all the blokes adjourning to Eastwood Rugby Club for Friday lunch. In their absence I POR'd under both sides of the Coupe and the various parts Wade had strung ready for paint. John also left me a key so I could exit the workshop when I was finished. He needn't have bothered as I was still going when they returned. Started on the left side and it was tough going trying to reach and paint between the frame rail and the body with the fuel line as an obstacle. Must have taken half my time just to do that side. In comparison the right side, although awkward at times, was relatively straightforward. And the parts strung up on the windchimes were much easier to deal with, although they too presented their own challenges.

And of course I ended up with POR-15 on me, on both knees from sliding around upside down on the creeper under the Coupe, and a number of drops on my face and one in the left ear. I tried to clean up the first lot of drops with some POR Solvent, but because I left the cleanup for a while wasn't able to remove it all, plus it stings like hell! Probably carcinogenic and/or toxic so if I grow another head, and ones ugly enough, you'll know what caused it! The granddaughters though will be a bit put off because of "Poppy" sporting warpaint.

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Monday 10th August 2010

Rang John Cain, the importer of the radial tyres I'm waiting for, and he advised they have been released by Customs but are not yet unloaded. Also phoned the chrome-plater and will pick up the re-chromed front bumper centre piece next week. At the workshop found Peter L there, he was miking up 120 crankshafts because he thought the crankshaft that Wade gave him some months back was not the correct one. Turns out it is the right one but probably requires new big-end bearings. And here's something interesting, the big-end bearings being used are Ferguson tractor/Vanguard/Triumph TR ones! Sorry didn't get a pic, it's easy to be wise after the event. Rang Harvey and arranged to meet him at his house where he showed me the wheels in primer and also the Mazda True Red paint for them. Harvey also told me he's pulled Vince's '39 120 Convertible Coupe's engine out in preparation for tear down and rebuild. And I won't be back at the workshop till next Monday and because of that I've arranged with Wade for him to pickup the tyres and settle the bill should they become available in my absence.

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I doubt very much that Harvey will only need one piston, but if that's all that's wrong I have a box of them in varying sizes. So he is welcome if needed.

Monday 17th August 2009

Just to back track a bit. Thursday of last week, while I was away, Wade phoned to tell me he'd picked up my tyres the day before at Belmont, meeting up with Barry Smith who received his '38 V12 Club Sedan in the same shipment. He also said that he was off to deliver the new O/D cable for the '39 120 Convertible Coupe that Harvey's working on at present. And had a call from Harvey on Friday advising the wheels were painted and ready for pick up. Arranged with Harvey to pick up the wheels Monday morning and that brings us back to the present.

So this morning picked up the freshly painted wheels from Harvey and caught up with what he's doing. Has the engine out of the Convertible Coupe and it's all apart with the crankshaft journals and bores looking OK. He's going to have the block and head hot-tanked and then will turn to what's required to re-build the engine. He's also installed the new O/D cable into "Kermit". the very green '39 110 Coupe.

Then it was off to Ingleburn, All Metal Bumpers had re-chromed the front bumper centre piece which had rust spots coming through. Looks a lot better and Peter there said it could have been caused by nickel blow-by if the piece hadn't been set up in the plating tank correctly.

Next was the workshop to pick up the Firestone radial tyres to fit to the new wheels. While there I noticed the '41's running boards weren't lying around and John told me that Paul had taken them to beat out the dents and irregularities before they get Ute Liner sprayed. Then to Wheel & Tyre Co. for the tyres to be fitted, leaving instructions with both the manager and the tyre fitter about the standard of treatment required. I'll find out tomorrow morning, when I go back to pick them up, how gently they treated everything.

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Hi Mal, I too have had some recent tire experience. The spare on my 115C was a 25+ year old thing. It had thread, but was looking a bit weathered. I decided to replace it since I have been driving the car to shows in a 50-75 mile radius of home and did not trust the old tire. I ordered another Diamond Back wide whitewall tubeless radial to match those on the car. The tires are new Hankooks with the whitewall vulcanized to a smoothed outside sidewall. They have been most satisfactory in driving and appearance. I took the new tire and the old spare tire and wheel to a speciality shop here to have the new tubeless tire mounted and balanced. When I got it home I discovered that they had mounted the tire with a tube, and not even a radial tire tube. I took it back to the shop and they mounted the tire properly, without a tube, and rebalanced it. I gave the the old tire and the new tube to the grandsons. I am somewhat surprised and pleased that those old 1937 wheels can be mounted with tubeless tires and hold the air pressure better than my 2008 Mini Cooper. I hope your tire experience is better.

Tuesday 18th August 2009

When I picked up the wheels complete with the freshly mounted tyres from Tyre & Wheel Co, on the way to the workshop, I was stunned when the guy at the front desk told me "I hope you like blue sidewalls"! You can't imagine what flashed through my mind but the look of amazement/bewilderment/confusion on my face must have been quite apparent because no sooner than he said it he also said not to worry because with some soap and water and scrubbing it'll come off! Reason I didn't know was that the two pairs of tyres came packaged white wall to white wall, or maybe it should be blue wall to blue wall, and they are treated this way for protection during shipping. It would have been nice to know beforehand rather than risk giving this old bloke a heart attack! Must say the tyre fitting was excellent with a father and son team of Tim and "Tray" attending to my requirements, apparently Tim fitted the tyres and Tray balanced them.

Once I recovered from that shock and unloaded the wheels and tyres it was time to mount them on the Coupe. But just as I started that Noel arrived to pick up the new hand brake cables for his '41 Coupe. Then Paul arrived with the running boards he'd been straightening the dents on for me. Needed to finish them at the workshop rather than at home because some of the more severe dings required heat as well as hammer and he doesn't have oxy at home. With those two guys gone then finished fitting the new wheels and tyres but final tightening of the lug bolts had to wait until the coupe could be lowered to the ground. Also put a coat of POR-15 on the underside of the boards before they went for the Ute Liner re-rubbering treatment.

Next it was into Wade's Ute to pick up Big Red's chemical-dipped block and head. But before doing that dropped into Lee Bros to pick up one, count 'em, one S/S countersunk screw for the princely sum of 50c. Then, while picking up the block and head, it came up that Harvey had dropped the block, head and water pump for the '39 120 in there for the chemical-tank treatment yesterday and so we were able to have a look at them. Turns out Harvey couldn't extract the water distribution tube, however and whatever he tried, so it's going in as is. Then dropped in to see Harvey on the way back to the workshop where he was able to inspect Wade's cleaned block and head. Also a lot of Packard talk as well as seeing the progress Harveys made on his '40 Willy's Sedan, including his re-woodgraining of the dash.

Back at the workshop unloaded the block and head then turned to finishing the wheels and tyres on the Coupe. After the fiasco when I almost lost a front wheel off the '38 I'm now somewhat paranoid about the lug bolts being TIGHT! Once the car was back on the ground borrowed John's long socket bar and ensured all were TIGHT! And Wade installed the re-chromed front bumper centre piece for me.Then turned to Big Red's block where Wade removed all the head studs in preparation to sending it the engine shop for checking and machining. Also rang Peter of Rhino Ute Linings to discover he can't do the boards for about a week or two. Well that was a turn up, I'll now have to take the Coupe to the big display day on Sunday sans running boards!

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Wednesday 19th August 2009

Yesterday Wade had pointed out a minor problem with the Coupe, the battery had come loose! The battery, an Optima, is mounted on the chassis rail next to the steering box sitting on a rubber pad and held in place by a clamp at each end attached to studs welded to the chassis rail. Looks like vibrations from sitting on the rubber mount combined with possibly not enough thread length allowed the battery to slide out from under the clamps. Easy fix then, a couple of washers to compensate for not enough thread length and re-tighten? Should have been easy but "Heavy Handed" Mal snapped off a not very well welded stud. How to fix it, and more importantly how to fix it so it doesn't happen again? By using a longer stud, drilling a slightly smaller hole in the chassis rail, tapering the end of the stud, gently forcing it into the drilled hole and a good weld job, that's how. Had to utilise John's welding skills with the MIG and now I can assure you that it ain't gonna' snap off anytime soon!

That done turned to the topside of the running boards of which the undersides had been POR-15'd yesterday. Great job, but POR-15 is very runny, so with the myriad of holes in the boards for the various trim pieces some, well a fair bit, ran through to the topside. Started cleaning it up while Wade was continuing with more wiring on Big Red. This time for a back-up light. He's had it since about the time he bought Big Red 2 years ago and because the reversing light switch wasn't working didn't install it till now.

Then, the call I'd been waiting for, the three cars blocking the Coupe in could be moved. That done drove the Coupe outside and proceeded to clean off the blue protection finish on the WWW's and tyre sidewalls. Looks a hell of a lot better now with white, rather than blue, sides on the tyres. That done was able to take the Coupe for a test drive around Wade's circuit, with Wade along as the riding mechanic. Then took the Coupe home with Wade following so I could get back to the workshop to pick up my daily driver. Had a moment on the way home because the O/D is playing up and wouldn't kick down and stalled it on a VERY steep hill. Managed to get going again but will lock out the O/D until the Coupe goes in for it's engine rebuild coupled with clutch/trans/OD work as required.

On Wades side of things he gave me a memory stick containing some pic's of the front of his Super 8 cam, in response to a post in the General Forum,https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=3289&post_id=35081#forumpost35081 because he couldn't get his pic's to load on PackardInfo. There are also some pic's of Barry's '38 V12 Club Sedan from when it arrived in Oz last week. And Barry now's the time to get it into the Owner Registry, not to forget your '37 120 too! Wade also rang the guy painting his '34 and has arranged to pick up the body and doors next Tuesday. I've been waiting a long time for the day I'll finally see the '34 Club Sedan in the metal. The mudguards(fenders) and bonnet(hood) still require painting but with the body back Wade will be able to continue to progress the '34 re-build.

Quote:
And John, with my new radials the steering on the Coupe has improved markedly, the tendency to wander at will appears a thing of the past. Saying that, it was a short drive so with a few longer runs on the week-end it'll be put properly to the test then.

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