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Thursday 3rd July 2008

Kevin & Jeff, Thanks for your advice re the manifold gaskets. Forgot to have a look today at the ones I'll be using but I think they'll be OK, being donated to the cause by Wade and he wouldn't use them if they weren't up to the task.

At the workshop cleaned and Marine Cleaned a few more smaller pieces then Metal Readied the parts to be painted and POR-15'd them all black.

John. the owner of the '39 110 dropped in to see Wade and also drop off a manual for the car and some spark plugs, including a dozen Edisons in their original boxes, and other bits. Tells me he bought the '39 about 6 years ago from the son of the bloke who restored it and also that had it been previously owned by a publican who had it in storage for many years.

Left Wade working on the water pump for his '37 Super 8, it's been a source of annoyance to him for a while now as he thinks the guy who did the machining on it when he put a new seal in for him, and it wasn't Ivan, stuffed it up! Now off to see the grand-daughters.

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Mal,

I am not being nit picky, just curious: was your distributor original wrinkle painted? I have seen some that are, and some that aren't, at least on Senior cars from the early to mid 30s. I can't tell on my 30 because the paint is almost gone.

Cheers,

Tom

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Tom,

I don't know is the short answer and like you I couldn't tell from what I had to start with. I'm not doing a "correct" restoration and haven't researched what the colour and finish should be on the engine items. Just freshened up the engine and all the accessories and fittings so it all looks nicer. I'm sure there will be others who can advise on what the colour and finish should be.

Tom,

When I get home I can take a look at the PI Engine Judging Guide and give you their offical answer.

having a 40 super and 39 12 with original engines that I rebuilt, both with aut o lite distributors. I did not have to repaint the distributors just clean them up. They have what I would call a semi gloss black lacquer. When I restored these cars many years ago and lacquer was not outlawed, I took original parts and had the paint matched at the local auto body paint supply house. Remember, using the Dupont gloss black lacquer with just a bit of flatner. Hope this helps a bit. Todd.

Why not paint the engine hot pink with jet black plug wires, purple freeze plugs, and electric lime green accessories? Might fit in with the "younger crowd" better!

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The "old fogeys" of the world, your's truly included, might not always fit in with the younger crowd but at least we retain a modicum of taste. We'll leave the zing and bling to the younger generation. In the meantime I'm looking forward to the colour combinations and co-ordination you choose and apply to the Speedster!

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Eric...Shhhhhh.....you giving away all my secret plans!!!!

Tom,

From the PI Engine Judging Guide on Distributors:

29-34 NE Wrinkle Black, base engine color, clamp platted
1932-39 Twelves are gloss black
All others semi-gloss black
Grease Cups -nickle plated
Oilers - plated

Hope this answers your questions.

Friday 4th July 2008

First up, on this very auspicious day in your history, a happy 4th to all you Packard guys and gals in the US. enjoy your holiday break.

Now back to the more mundane. Down at the workshop started by tidying up yesterday's painted parts, cleaning off some overpaint and re-assembling some of the painted parts. The '41 has an original coil and armoured cable which at Wade's suggestion I'd disassembled from the coil body yesterday. Doing this revealed the wire connecting the cable to the coil had a break in the insulation. So today Wade shortened up the wire and resoldered it to the contact terminal, also slipping on some heatshrink tubing, but still leaving enough length for re-assembly. During this process Jeff, the guy with the '52 who thinks he could have burnt some valves on the way back from Wagga Waaga early last month (he was only cruising at 60mph) had arrived. Jeff was borrowing Wade's heavy duty valve springer compressor and his piston ring compressor also as there is a thought he might have a broken ring too.

Then, after Jeff left fortified by Wade's coffee and in possession of the necessary implements, we returned to our task. This was now re-assembly of the distributor, and this is where my limitations are very apparent, as my recall of dis-assembly was virtually non-existent. Fortunately, through a combination of Wade's expertise and experience and the picture of the distributor I'd posted here yesterday, Wade was able to get it back together. It needed cleaning of the plate and the ball bearings under it's circumference which had seized with the gunk in it. Although this is a later model, "1947-52 Packards 2200,2300,200,250,300 w/dist #1110811&25" distributor with a "DYNA-FLYTE" aftermarket dual-point setup in it, only one set of points is operating and it'll be left this way for the time being. I'll be looking for a single point distributor to take it's place. Must mention here that I'd ordered a new cap, points, condensor and rotor button back in December thinking I had a '41 distributor but at least I was able to use the new condensor! Turned over the engine and Wade got TDC on #1 and explained how he did that by watching the valves for both #1 & #8 to determine this. Distributor was then installed and tightened up, but not fully, as no doubt adjustment will be required when she's fired up again. Also twice filled the shaft grease cup and tightened it up.

At this point Wade went back to work on his Super 8, having taken out the distributor yesterday afternoon because it would advance but wouldn't retard. On the bench he found that it was gunked up so badly internally that you almost couldn't move it. So he was cleaning and re-setting it ready for re-installation. While Wade was doing that, I cut out a rubber cushioning mat for mounting of the battery on the frame behind the steering box. Will need to re-file the angle on the rear clamp as it is a bit out of kilter and cut some more thread on rear mount and that'll be that.

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