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Friday 6th March 2009

Enough of Morris Minors and back to the real cars, Packards!

Before going to the workshop rang Tim of Carburettor Service Company and he told me the Carter WDO off the '41 looks OK with the metal in generally good shape. He still has to finish it and check the auto choke and it should be ready on Monday. But.....just before submitting this post Tim rang and the carb's was ready so I ducked over and picked it up. Tim explained to me the work he'd done but talk of metering rods and suchforth were lost on this individual. He did say the float level was way too low, the jets were the right size, the venturi's were the right size, the metering rods were almost on spec and the foot starter switch is fine amongst other things. But what's that? From my limited understanding of things Packard, the foot starter wasn't on the '41's although I could be wrong. And Tim tells me the tag off the carb, see pic, definitely doesn't below on a '41 Packard Carter WDO. So because the distributor is also off a later model engine it's apparent there's been some mix'n'match going on in the '41's past.

Didn't do anything at the workshop, except take a couple of pic's of the dis-assembled O/D, as we were going in the '37 Super 8 to pick up some "goodies" from sponsors that Wade had arranged for our 13th Packard National Rally later this month. First went to Flashlube at Seven Hills,http://www.flashlube.com.au/ where Terry had the box of goodies ready as he saw the '37 arriving in the parking lot. Then to Meguiar's at Silverwater,http://www.meguiars.com.au/?gclid=CK7vle2ljZkCFQcupAodIg_naA where Peter also had a big box of goodies for us. Reason we went in the '37 was that Peter's daughter, Alison, is getting married February 2010 and asked Wade if his '37 120 could be used as the bridal car, the 120 being the car he'd seen Wade in previously. Wade instead offered the Super 8 and brought it over to show him, and wasn't Peter and a fair number of other people there impressed! There could be a problem though because about that time Wade and Gina are due to fly out for the 2010 New Zealand Packard Rally. However I've volunteered to provide the Bride with what will be the ride of her life, in a Packard that is, in case Wade can't do the honours. Before we left Meguiar's in the Super 8, Wade had Peter tackle some small sections with some Meguiar's products with mixed results, because of it's coolant overflow problems some of the paint had become "stained". Where it was heavily stained the paint had become pitted and although better after application was still not great, while other areas less stained cleaned up nicely. It must be remembered the Super 8 was repainted in 1961, just before it spent the next 46 years mostly in a Museum. And another thing - it turns out Kevin, future husband of Alison, is one of my youngest son's good mates! Small world.

Just to back up a bit, on Wednesday spent a few hours at the workshop where I refitted the radio to the '38. Although not "correct" it is period correct although with some shortcomings including mismatched volume and tuning knobs and a broken dial face. But it's the only radio I have for the '38 so back in it went. It had been hanging off a sheetmetal bracket under the dash and that was part of the problem because the cables from the radiohead to the box were stretched with tight bends not allowing the knobs to function easily. It's now been re-mounted under the centre of the dash with gentler bends in the control cables. But I'll have to re-mount it again as it's too close to the cowl vent handle now! Also fooled around with Wade trying to get the O/D internals out of the case but without success. I also picked up the old 6V Battery Charger Wade had made up me new leads for. And the shelf above the bench had fallen off the wall sometime during Tuesday night resulting in stuff everywhere but no real damage just time and inconvenience to re-fix it to the wall.

So on Thursday, after Wade had rung Peter Toet(Peter Packard on PackardInfo), who is also our club's Technical Officer, Wade was able to release the working parts from the casing. Seems the problem was probably light rust holding the shaft and a gentle tap was all that was required. Yesterday Wade also put all the split pins into the clevis pins and nuts/bolts requiring these on his '34 chassis. He'd either hadn't used them earlier or only inserted and loosely expanded them. The finishing off of these was left until he was certain that all the mechanical components were working and any or all adjustments required had been done. He tells me he didn't realise there were that many split pins involved and he doesn't want to see another one!

On Monday, if I can see because I'm having an eyetest with the usual blurring drops in the morning, I'll re-mount the WDO on the '41. Wade won't be in because he's heading south to check out the progress of the '34 in the paint shop. Because I'll be left to my own devices this will be a real TEST! Tune in again on Monday!

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Carter WDO 644SA would be for a 1948-49 (22nd series) Eight.

I'm showing the correct Carb for a 1941 120 would be either a Carter WDO-478S with a mid year change to WDO-512S.

Dave & Kev,

Thanks for the two-pronged reply to the Carter WDO conundrum. Now I know what I have and what I should have!

EDIT - Added a pic of the invoice detailing the work done.

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Tuesday 10th March 2009

At the workshop a little chit-chat with Wade to start with. First about his trip yesterday to view the '34 in the paint shop. It's currently in primer with the final touches being applied to this part of the process. Next Wade advised a member of the Packard Club Bruce from Wagga Wagga, about 460km south west from Sydney, needed a set of king pins for his '38 Business Coupe. Having a spare set, Wade thought I might be able to help out which I was only too willing to do. So about 1/2 an hour after I spoke with Bruce the king pin set was on it's way, the package being delivered to the local post office in Wade's '37 Super 8 no less! I'll catch up with Bruce at the Packard National Rally later this month when he arrives in the Coupe, got to "keep those Packard's rolling".

Finding it hard to separate the workshop happenings from what happens with the '41 Coupe. The above started off in the '41's blog before I realised it needed to be separated out. And re-reading the previous post in this thread demonstrates just this dilemma. But enough of my whingeing, I'll just have be be more focused when drafting these reports.

Wednesday 11th March 2009

On the way to the workshop stopped in to say to my Dad who turned 88 today.

After yesterdays effort on the '41's distributor, I took down 20 sets of points I'd bought 'on spec' from eBay some months ago. There were 10 NOS sets for 37-39 6's & 8's and 10 NOS sets for 48-50 8's. Neither type are close to fitting the distributor in the '41 so they'll now become part of the Packard Swap Meet later this month. Barrie, if you're interested, let me know if the 48-50's would fit yours. I'll post a pic in the next few days because I left them all down at the workshop.

Then turned to the '41 and rang a windscreen bloke about re-rubbering the front and rear windscreens, with the new Steele rubbers I bought a couple of months back, but I'm still waiting for the call back 7 hours later. Well, there's always tomorrow.

While waiting for the call that never came, Wade busied himself preparing his '37's for the Rally. For the 120 this consisted of starting it up, after it had been sitting for the last couple of months, listening to the motor ticking over very smoothly at idle once warmed up, a visual inspection of components, ensuring the stop lights were working, topping up the silicon brake fluid and checking the oil level(slightly over full). The 120 had a service shortly before it went into this hibernation so things like brake adjustment, trans and diff oil levels had been attended to then. Next was the Super 8 and because this has had a fair bit of running in recent months a more detailed preparation was required. For this Wade used Rick's hoist to do an oil change and a chassis lube job.

While Wade was doing the Super 8, I was back to one of my favourite pastimes cleaning Packard parts. Specifically the R9 OD in pieces on the bench. First up the very large rear bearing in the OD Case was pressed out, but not before a mighty fight with it's retaining circlip. No doubt Special Packard Tool #xxxxx would have helped but without it Wade managed to loosen it's grasp anyway. Then pressed out the double rear oil seal, looks like they really want to keep the oil in. Then it was up to me to scrape the outside muck off, wire brush it, use the parts cleaner and finally clean it down with brake cleaner. Thought I'd done well until Wade ran a finger inside the OD case and it emerged with black oily goo over it. The humiliation! So another internal parts washer and brake cleaner application later, this time passing the white glove test! Also cleaned up the trans top and shifter arms, part of the internals for the OD and the yoke for the universal at the rear of the OD.

Then the phone call came, not from the windscreen bloke, but my wife Kath to say the grandkids were on their way again. No, this is not an excuse to avoid cleaning Packard parts, it really happened. And a great afternoon was had enjoying our two grand daughters.

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Thursday 12th March 2009

Before going to the workshop rang the windscreen guy and tee'd it up to see him next Tuesday. While at the workshop, didn't get any phone calls to go and amuse the grand-kids, instead had to be content amusing myself with Packard activities.

While Wade cleaned the '37 120 in readiness for the Rally I cleaned more OD parts. First scraping off the crusted on gunk and dirt, then into the parts cleaner and finally a good spray with brake cleaner. And passed the white glove test straight up this time. Then I was off to ABC Bearings at Silverwater to pick the new bearings and oil seals for the Trans and R9 OD.

Back at the workshop found the bearings would fit but not the oil seals, their outside diameter being a little on the large side. So a quick return trip to ABC Bearings for slightly smaller seals. Because the cluster, mainshaft, reverse idler and spigot shaft from the R9 trans weren't in great shape Wade proposed to use those out of John's non OD '39 110 trans which had been replaced by the trans I brokered for it courtesy of eBay last July. However as I learned today 1st and 2nd gears can't be removed from the mainshaft and had to settle for using the R9's mainshaft with those intact and the balance of the parts coming from the '39 trans, the new bearings and seals all fitting nicely. Still some assembly to do, mainly of R9 components, and this will probably be completed next week.

During the course of all of this Noel arrived in his '39 120 Sedan. He'd taken it down to Canberra a few weeks ago and Peter, ie Forum member Peter Packard, had overhauled the OD in the '39. Even installed a NOS OD kick down switch, and it works like a charm. Reason Noel dropped in was to pick up a 41-47 Clipper Parts Manual which Wade was fortunate enough to have. Noel's US visitors for the National Rally arrive in the next few days, including "The Flackmaster" and they are helping Noel to identify and price all the Packard parts that Noel has rounded up for the Rally Swap Meet. The parts are coming from various sources, including members who can't get to the Rally and from Packard Club "stock" which hadn't been catalogued so no one knew what the Club had. There are literally boxes and boxes of all sorts of goodies. Forward your wish lists to me and, providing funds are made available, I'll purchase on your behalf! And Noel tells me he has a pic of his '41 160 Coupe on his computer so now there's no obstacle to putting it in the Owner Registry. Is there Noel?

Last but not least brought the '41 home while Wade was also taking "Old Blue" his '37 120 home to ensure it was running properly in readiness for the Rally. This meant that "Packard Corner" in the workshop was very empty for a change with the '34 chassis sitting there in lonely splendour. It also meant this evening Kath and I went in Packard style, courtesy of the '41, for our usual eat out Thursday night dinner.

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Hi guys,

Nice pics good to see your all getting ready for th rally not long now

I hope that the Carribean will be ready in time, with the new trans almost installed, no exhaust installed yet, drive shaft on it way back from Orange (hopefully) and brakes still to be inspected and fixed there's nothing quite like leaving things till the last minute.

Let the countdown begin...

Quote:
Mat,

See you at Mittagong on Sunday week. It'll be good to see the Carib in the flesh even it's held together with chewing gum and fencing wire!

Monday 16th March 2009

Got my hands dirty even before getting to the workshop. Had a flat tyre on the daily driver (2001 Ford Laser - badge engineered Mazda 323) so on the way there dropped the tyre in to get repaired.

Over the weekend Wade had arranged with John that he'd pick up his '39 110 Sedan for a pre-Rally check, specifically the hand brake, timing and a concern about a leaking radiator top tank. Did the trip over in the '41 with Wade driving because I wanted to get his opinion on the acceleration, the brakes. the overdrive, etc, etc. And all was well, the '41 performed almost flawlessly, the only concern being a tendency to follow ruts in the road which new tyres currently on order should fix. And Wade drove the '39 110 back, getting along very well, while I followed. Back at the workshop Wade started on the '39's radiator, topped it up with water and pressure testing it. Passed with flying colours! Next the radiator cap was tested and it failed dismally. So the radiator wasn't leaking, just the cap, which a new one will easily fix.

While Wade was adjusting the handbrake and distributor of the '39 I returned home but on the way dropped in to see Richard about some rivets that Wade required for the '34. Richard is the guy who makes hood(top) bows for the old car movement in Australia and New Zealand and has stocks of rivets at hand plus he's on the way to and from the workshop, how convenient. Richard was able to supply one rivet first up, but for the other two I took samples so Wade could make a selection for those that best suited his purposes. I was also able to see Richard's '23 Vauxhall 14/40 Tourer for the first time. It had been stored in his daughters garage but now she needed the space so home it came. Richard restored this car over 40 years ago and it still looks good. He also told me it's a very nice and reliable tour car but probably needs some freshening up.

Later back at the workshop found Wade polishing up "Big Red" in readiness for the Rally, so against my better judgement pitched in and lent a hand as this could create a dangerous precedent! Then Harvey, the dash woodgraining bloke, arrived. Harvey had a thicker stronger front sway bar made for his '37 Super 8 some years ago and brought the original over for Wade to fit to his as Wade's didn't have one. Another reason Harvey came over was that Noel was also expected and he was being accompanied by three of his US visitors here for next weeks Rally. They all arrived shortly after Wade had fired up the '34 chassis for Harvey, so were able to it in action, so to speak.

Noel's US visitors were Nelson and Todd, father and son from Texas. Also from the Lone Star State and a PackardInfo member was David, aka "The Flackmaster"! We all know David's area of interest while that of Nelson and Todd is '40 110's and 120's, if I remember correctly. While there, the guys were able to see John's TJ Richards bodied '39 up close. They also got a good look underneath when it was up on the hoist. Needless to say the differences between US Packards, RHD Packards and especially Australian Packards were noted, commented on and also photographed in detail by Todd, the photographer in the group. While here for the Rally, David has the use of "Rent-A-Packard" aka Forum Member Peter Packard's '38 TJ Richards Sedan with a 327, 9 main, 4bbl engine up front,https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/registry/View.php?ID=83 And Wade, having repaired Noel's '39 120 radio, had intended to fit it back in while the car was here today. But a small problem arose, in the form of the aerial connection, so a return visit will be made on Friday to fit the radio then.

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