Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

Wednesday 12th December.

Thought I'd be smart and started this in Notepad, and saved it along the way, but when I copied it over only about a third was there! The last third, so - Not Happy again!

Anyway, started work today by removing the inner fender panels (2) from each side of the car. But, after Wade went round the corner and saw his brake guy to be told if we got the wheel and master cylinders to him today or tomorrow they would be done by Christmas, my cleaning of frame and panels was ditched unceremoniously.

So while I started to take apart the front brake assemblies Wade rounded up the Brake Drum Puller - this is owned by Harvey another member of the Packard club, he has a '37 Super 8, 7 seater. Then, after the front brakes were disassembled, we tackled the rear drums and while the passenger side was a bit reluctant the drivers side almost literally fell off after a couple of love taps. Wade also said both axle nuts were almost loose when he removed them!

After the rear brakes were disassembled Wade took the wheel and master cylinders around to his brake guy, only to return shortly thereafter still holding the wheel cylinders. The brake guy told him he wanted them apart! So we removed the hose and bleed fittings and Wade using his air gun blew a piston out of each wheel cylinder enabling the other pistons in each cylinder, which were stuck, to be removed fairly easily using a minimum of brute force. The wheel cylinders were returned, sans extraneous fittings, and ready for rebuild including stainless steel sleeves in ALL cylinders!

While cleaning the frame I realised that while the fuel pump was so accessible a rebuild would go down well. So I've ordered a rebuild kit for that together with some some valve cover gaskets and flexible brake hoses. Wade also advises using silicon brake fluid, which he has used in his '37 120 for the past 6 years.

A question - I'll also post this in the Pre-war forum - There is a bracket on the inside of the frame on the drivers side of the car and I don't know what it's for! Also the bracket which holds the throttle linkage of the drivers side of the cylinder head has extra fittings and I also dont know what that is for. I suspect they may have something to do with an "Electromatic Clutch", if that is the right term, but there isn't one on the car. Please see pic's 3, 4, 5 & 6 in the attached weblink. Your valued advise is sought as to what these are?

picasaweb.google.com/ozstatman/WadesWorkshop2

in anticipation.

Thursday 13th December

Spent most of the day under the front end and fenders scraping and wire brushing off the accumulated muck and grime. Looked like a coal miner at the end of the day.

Also cleaned up the brake drums and shoes and Wade took them around the corner to his brake guy. Returned with one front and one rear drum, apparently will not machine them as he's had bad experiences in the past with these types of drums. He did keep the other front and rear drums to check fit whatever for the shoes when they are relined.

While scraping and cleaning had a phonecall from forum member "Peter Packard" about my search for a maker of wiring harnesses. He gave me a name and number of a guy who did a harness which cost AU$380.00 for his TJR bodied '38 about5 years ago. When I got home I rang the bloke, but the number diverted to the guy I'd called a couple of days ago as they'd bought the business. Another little snippet - Wade tells me he contemplated buying that business when it was on the market some years ago after he'd retired!

And a further snippet - Wades workshop is part of a large workshop with 2 other guys. One of whom had a Ferrari arrive today for treatment, is that the term you'd use? I know that Rolls Royce owners instead of saying break-down say "failed to proceed". Anyway it's complicated brake system was on the fritz because an electric motor used to power part of it had failed resulting in yours truly helping to push it round the workshop! Oh the shame of it all.


Update again Monday - Family matters to attend to tomorrow and the workshop is shut on the weekend.

PS - Bought a first edition of the Kimes Packard book off eBay today for USD75.00, it is numbered and has a first edition certificate. Is that a good price? It was in the antique section of eBay and nobody else bid!

Mal, that sounds like a pretty good price on that book. But with those types of books the later editions are always the best to have for informational purposes as they will contain updated and corrected information. But if you are buying it as a collectable, then the first editions are the best to have.

This is the one I have which is a 2005 edition.

G'day Mal and Big Kev, I have a 2002 edition of that book, it would be interesting to see the differences. I ordered a wiring loom for a 38 -120 today. It was $A380 plus $A20 freight. I got them to include indicator wiring into the main loom which was another $A20. Have you talked to Noel yet about his loom? I am not very good in the chat room as I have to look at the keyboard to type, and there are always half a dozen additions when I finally look up, so I end up chatting at cross-purposes. Russell Kerr is coming from Melbourne tomorrow to pick up his 56 Patrician. I also hope to do a bit more to the 37 Super Coupe over Christmas. Best regards Peter

Peter,

You went well in the chat room yesterday! I admit it's a bit confusing with more than one in there, but you can open a private chat while there enabling you to converse one on one. You do this with a specific user already in the chat room. Heather Moss and I did that the other day when there were 6 in at once. Although it saved some confusion it did also serve a purpose. So get in there, the more practice the better, and this from a one fingered typist who has to look at just about every key, and makes lots of typing errors - just ask Eric!

I was in the chat room earlier with BigKev and he pointed me to a couple of US harness makers websites, prices US$875 & US$975. Merritts had quoted US$930 earlier.

You would have seen Noel's email I flicked to you but I haven't heard back from him yet. I did speak to Wade and he appears to endorse your recommendation as they made his 34 harness. The Aussie manufacturer seems very price attractive going by your harness price and allowing for O/D and any other minor differences between 38 and 41 I'd certainly like to support the Aussie business. Will let you know more as this develops.

What were you doing with the 56 Patrician?

G'day Mal, Russell just called me and he is in Gundagai for the night. He says that he will be in Canberra at around mid-day tomorrow. I did up a 56 twin Ultramatic for Russell. He had it overhauled three times (at a few thousand dollars a pop) in the last three years and it has lasted about 600 miles each time. The trans had been well and truly cooked, it was full of sand ( thanks to a kind overhauler who made the case look new but didn't clean the case out properly). The sand absolutely killed the trans but it had bigger problems from the start as there were valve body assembly problems, stripped pump threads etc. It was always on the front pump, never changed into direct drive and cooked everything, (three times would you believe) The last overhaul was done in Melbourne and they sent the converter to Sydney (Duh?).
I have finally sorted it out the trans and it changes from front to rear pump fine. Doesn't slip in direct drive and doesn't leak oil. I am sure that the trans will outlast Russell this time. I am charging him for the two new pumps and some gaskets but he is a terrific mate so I owe it to him. Peter Fitch from Ultramatic Dynamics has been a great help and I am getting pretty good at remove/replace of the box (Russell's didn't have PB so it was much easier). I still have a 55 box to do for Gary Roger's mate and a 56 for John Payne, now that he has sold his 47 Clipper. Peter

Peter,

You should post that in the V8 Forum.

I dunno Mal, The V8 boys appear pretty savvy about their twin-ultra's so rather than throw out an old herring, I would rather hold my water and contribute at an appropriate time. We had quite a long thread on the Twin-ultra slippage in the past and it can certainly generate a lot of responses. I am amazed at the number of ways that items are able to be interpreted. There is a lot of expertise out there. Peter

Monday 16th December

Only spent the morning under the drivers side front fender scraping, rubbing and wire brushing accumulated dirt, etc off. This should be the last of such in these areas although still have to do inner panels for both sides, and as these are removed they'll be cleaned up on the bench - my back says thankyou!

Will clean up the brake backing plates on Wednesday as the cylinders and shoes will be back by the end of the week.

Discussed harness situation with Wade - most likely to go with Aussie supplier.

No action tomorrow - family affairs.

Tuesday 18th December

Although no work on the coupe, a package did arrive from Max Merritt, containing the following:

For the front end,
- Coil Spring Insulator Pads
- Upper Rebound Rubbers
- Lower Rebound Rubbers
- Brake Hoses

Other parts,
- Tune up kit
- Oil Filter
- Spark Plugs
- Fan Belt
- Radiator Hose Set
- Fuel Pump Kit
- Valve Cover Gasket Set
- Parking Light Base Rubbers

So a little progress on the parts front but more are still on order and yet to arrive.

Tomorrow - Change of plans - Christmas shopping has been elevated to the head of the queue. So no Packard work.