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Next stanza.

".....got the rebuilt chassis to this point by 8:30 AM our time. Tomorrow, if the weather permits, I'll make the upper brackets for the rear shocks, then hang them on. The fabrication shop hasn't called yet on the front hubs that are getting machined down from 8 lug to 6 lug. Once the rolling chassis is complete, I'll start on the Packard straight 8 build"

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Couple of updates from Jim, complete with the obligatory photos.

"Progress has been slow this week on the build, the front hubs didn't get done yet, so I worked on fabricating and installing the external emergency brake handle and cables. This took a while, the first 2 tries were unsuccessful. The emergency brake system works well now with the Model A brake handle outside of the frame"

"These pictures show the spinners and chrome lug nuts with the rear wheels finally on. The top rear shock mounts are now fabricated and painted, then installed the shocks"

Like the Model A brake handle, my first car was a '28 Tudor back in '64.
Also see that the thread has been renamed Jim's Packard powered "Indy" car, BigKev!

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Thanks big Kiev and Mal for all your help and interest, I'm finding out that Packard members are the most friendliest, knowledgeable and dedicated people around. I have been building cars for over 40 years, joined a few car clubs in my day but none of them compare to the Packard club and its members, you all do this club a great justice. I have 3 built cars to sell and am seriously considering in purchasing a complete Packard!!....LOL.
Thanks again,
Jimjr51

More updates from Jim.

"....finally is off the stands and on 4 wheels. Installed new brake lines, master cylinder and brake hoses. There are a few things to do to the chassis yet. Tomorrow will start the next chapter, "The 327 Packard engine and drive train tear down", been looking forward to that!!"

"...few more chassis build photos. I still have to bleed the brakes and touch up a couple wheels yet."

Jim,

Be interested to see what the "front hubs that are getting machined down from 8 lug to 6 lug" look like. Might be a bit late, now that they're on the car, but if they have to come off would appreciate some pic's. Also looking forward to the Packard component of this, when the engine and drive train come to the fore.

If you do "seriously considering in purchasing a complete Packard!!" 1) - There's plenty of backing here to help you with it! 2) - The Packard Owner's Registry awaits it!

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Hello:
Thanks for replying and for all your advice and help. First, the original front hubs were the 8 lug one ton Chevy design, but with the adaptors that were purchased to accept my 6 lug spoked wheels made the stance too wide and didn't look right. I didn't want to ( or could afford ) another complete front solid axle 6 lug hub assembly from a 1/2 ton pre 1960 Chevy. My only choice was to see if the original front hubs could be machined to my 6 lug rims. I didn't have to go far, for DCA RaceFab, ( owner Dan Navrestad ) in La Crosse, Wisconsin took on the challenge, he has a custom machine and fabrication shop. Also brought in the 2 piece adaptors in case he needed them. First they had to remove the drums from the hubs, they miked the wide center hubs to see if there was enough metal to turn down, then machined the front hubs to the tolerance needed to accept the 6 lug pattern and spacer. Then used the wheel adaptors as a pattern after they removed the original 8 lugs and drilled the hub and drums to accept the new 6 lug pattern. I wasn't there when they did the custom fabrication, but they made it happen. What a talent they have there for his shop is always filled with several custom builds in different stages of completion, I'd compare his work to the ones you see in magazines, he's been doing this for almost 30 years, his reputation is well known. I'd be glad to take one wheel off and take pictures of their custom work but I painted the drum assembly, not sure if much can be seen.
Thank you again,
Jimjr51

Thanks Jim for the hub update......"Here are the pictures of the exposed drivers front brake drum and the added spacer they used to convert the drum and hub ( two separate pieces ) from 8 lug to 6 lug. One photo shows a screwdriver pointing to the spacer they added."

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Another update from Jim:

"Yesterday I prepped the area in the garage where I'll be working on the Packard straight 8. She turns over fine and the block looks really clean and no evidence of any oil leaks so the rumor that it was rebuilt might be true, Today I'll try and get the head off and visually look internals over. I'll take pictures of the progress"

Now getting down to the Packard nitty gritty, the engine!

"finally got to start tearing the Packard 327 down, so far it looks like it was rebuilt in its past. 3 exhaust valves were slightly lighter in color, but the cylinders look great, no upper ridge, no signs of excessive wear, so far so good. I'll flush out the block tomorrow once I get the frost plugs out"

"The head looks good, no signs of head gasket leakage or warping of the head. The engine stand I made for this engine didn't work, so back to the drawing board...LOL. I went through the Packard directory and one gentleman used a similar engine stand but the straight 8 was sideways on the stand, that makes more sense than the way I made mine"

Jim,

In some of the photos there's a Hemi powered rod in the background. I, for one, would be interested in knowing more about it as well as seeing more of it, after the covers come off. Over to you!

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Jim was kind enough to satisfy my curiosity re the Hemi powered rod by advising this first up:

"The Model A project in the back ground has been an on and off project for about 10 years. When I worked on the railroad, my travels took me all over the U.S.A. and I would check out local different car build projects. This was one of them that I picked up. It had a Ford 302 drive train with a fiberglass roadster body with opening doors and rumble seat but the gentleman who started it went in for back surgery and couldn't physically finish it. I could never afford to buy a Hemi powered roadster......so I made my own using this build. The drive train now is a 1958, 392 cid Chrysler Hemi tricked out with the rare 12 pack intake set up, and a 727 Torqueflite tranny and a 10 bolt rear end. The drive train and chassis are all done and most of the parts are there to finish the rest of her. It is next in line to finish right after the Indy car is on the road. I also have been working on my '46 Dodge business coupe for years now in my spare time also for over 8 years invested in it. I do apologize for not having a stock build but these cars that I have to finish were already "altered" before I got them. I'd be glad to send you pictures of my past cars that are finished and on the road if you're interested? I'm going on 65 and still have my old high school car"

Following that I advised Jim I'd "Love to see any pictures. As I said today to someone else, you can never have enough pictures!"

Jim's was a literal response with many, many pictures being provided.

Below are selected pic's from some of Jim's emails:

- "Here is the Hemi project that you saw in the back ground. She is next in line to finish"

- "Here is my old high school car that I purchased back in 1970, it was all stock back then. It took 11 years of reconstruction to get it to this stage. It is a 1963 Studebaker Hawk GT. I build my own Mopar engines and trannys, this one has a 440, .030 over, 727 tranny and Dana 44 posi rear end. I don't drive it much now, so many projects to finish."

- "Here is another venture, a Ford T pick up build that my cousin and I are building when we can. This is another project to finish"

The additional photos have also prompted an observation and a question.

- Observation - Looks like Jim has a wall of intake manifold/carb set-ups as well as carbs, looks like a Speed Shop! Includes what would be a rather rare long Mopar(?) cross ram intake setup!

- Question - The pic's of the Ford T Pickup build show it being towed on a "dolly" wheel setup(my termingology). I'm intrigued because I've never seen anything like this before. I very much doubt a setup like this would be road legal in Australia but I can see terrific advantages in using it! I'm interested in learning more.

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Does the Dodge coupe still have her flathead 6? John