Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

Thous NOS packard parts look really nice Mal. Its amazing what some people have stored.
I can say I have seen one 39 Ford in my life,but it didn't look as that good as this one.

Wednesday 17th March 2010

Donated blood this morning then it was off to the workshop. One thing about my blood, it's red! Always thought it would be blue, but obviously born with a plastic spoon in my mouth. Of course it wasn't green, even though it is Saint Patrick's Day.

Noel had been in earlier in the morning to pick up the separated 4.09:1 crown wheel and pinion, so now they'll be on their way to a happy PACA member. At the workshop Wade was in the throes of cleaning up the intake and exhaust manifolds for Big Red. That work was suspended temporarily in favour of a couple of pick ups, in the form of material for a new tappet cover gasket and new nuts, bolts and washers for the manifolds, with mission accomplished. Back at the workshop I was set to making a few smaller gaskets while Wade continued his cleaning task. Also cleaned up a few parts in the blaster cabinet, a water pump housing(from club stock) for Harvey and a hand brake mechanism cover for Wade. This hand brake cover will soon be on it's way to New Zealand. A LHD '34 V12 on the Rally didn't have one and Wade is sending the one off his '34 parts chassis over because it's LHD and won't fit his RHD '34. Interestingly the LHD cover is pressed metal while the RHD one is cast iron. Wade meanwhile was making the new tappet cover gasket and was able to fit that before I left.

Steve, Only some of the NOS parts are "nice", many have suffered a rusty fate but could be useful.
Hobbs, I'll make sure Noel is advised of your advice if he hasn't already read your post. on Noel's behalf and that of the 33s' owner.

Attach file:

---

  (34.59 KB)


  (31.14 KB)


  (37.60 KB)


  (39.22 KB)


  (34.87 KB)


  (30.04 KB)


  (29.65 KB)


  (29.29 KB)


  (45.94 KB)


  (34.86 KB)


  (44.24 KB)

Mal, I am looking at the photo: "The old - left, and the new - right", and wondering if you need the grommet and washer that is under the nut. I seems to me that this bracket and rod arrangement is like used on tube-type shock absorbers. I would think the correct arrangement on the rod would be to have a large washer and grommet on each side of the bracket. Have you tried using shock absorber bushings? There is a similar radiator cradle mounting design on my 47 Custom Clipper, and it is configured this way. The purpose of the rod-bracket-grommet arrangement is to provide some insulation from vibration for the radiator. For what it's worth ...

(o{I}o)

Friday 19th March 2010

Only a couple of hours at the workshop this morning and when I arrived found Wade actually waiting for me so I could provide some of my Packard "expertise". I recovered from the shock of what he said when he explained he wanted me to hold Big Red's exhaust manifold while he tapped new threads for the heat riser valve bushes! Something about From Hero to Zero, all in the space of a few sentences. If that's the limit of my so called expertise then, so be it, at least it's a useful contribution to keeping a Packard on the road! What had happened was that after Wade had cleaned up the intake and exhaust manifolds earlier in the week he did a trial fit before permanently re-installing them in Big Red. While doing the fit he heard a "tinkling" noise which turned out to be the heat riser valve falling apart. Now when I say that, the valve was inoperative but in the closed position. Not wanting to disturb it, Wade had left it alone only for it to break even before it was properly back on Big Red. Should have been easy to fix because Wade had a repair kit on hand but for some reason the two sets of bushings provided in the kit were nothing like the threaded ones currently in the manifold. This necessitated substituting some brass fittings which Stan, the machinist, is suitably modifying to fit. Wade kept muttering something about "one step forward and three steps back". Part of Wade's frustration can also be explained by the amount of time and effort it took to remove the old bushings. New threads tapped successfully, it was on to other tasks.

While Wade again cleaned up the manifold, but this time for painting I set to work fixing something on the '41 I'd found while Wade was in New Zealand. Back in January '09 part of getting the Coupe back on the road involved a front end alignment which necessitated fabrication of a couple of shims for the left torque arm and support arm. Had a couple of shims, well one and a half, to work with in fabricating some new ones but it turned out they were a little too long. In examining the '41's front end found the shims were proud of the top of the torque and support arms and as a consequence were beginning to chew up the rebound rubber. While I had contemplated loosening the front end to remove the shims to bring them back to size, Wade suggested filing the protruding tops off, which I proceeded to do, much easier. That done I did more POR-15 painting of some small parts for both Wade and myself. And Wade's coming in tomorrow to give his manifold a second coat and at the same time he'll give the '41's 120 intake/exhaust manifold a coat too.

Harvey had been over yesterday and picked up the waterpump housing and he'd brought over 16 new tappets locknuts for me. Turned out I didn't need them, different setup on my engine so Wade now has a set on the shelf should he need them. And speaking of yesterday. I'd phoned Peter about the re-Rhinoing of the running boards and he tells me they should be ready Saturday.

Quote:John,

On the '41 120 the rods in question connect to the front of the front crossmember and don't contact the radiator cradle.

Attach file:

---

  (23.83 KB)


  (37.56 KB)


  (26.08 KB)


  (26.25 KB)


  (26.16 KB)


  (30.07 KB)


  (48.83 KB)


  (26.85 KB)


  (39.20 KB)


  (36.53 KB)


  (45.02 KB)


  (27.83 KB)


  (32.02 KB)

Mal, thanks for the clarification about the rod not being associated with the radiator cradle. I still think, regardless of the purpose of the rod, that the washer and third grommet/bushing on the nut side of the rod are not needed. You need a bushing and their washers on each side of the bracket, or how else are you going to have vibration dampening? Something to think about: Just because this is the way you found it does not mean it is correct.

Who knows what evil lurks in the mind of man?

(o{I}o)

Quote:Wade did as promised and gave the '41 manifolds a coat of paint on Saturday, Wade.

Quote:Monday 22nd March 2010

And the muttering continued today! Besides painting parts Wade also managed to break a tooth on Saturday so as soon as I arrived this morning he was off for emergency dental treatment! While he was out I pottered around firstly rebolting a pair of front stabiliser to front crossmember nuts and bolts that had been painted last week. Then making a pair of rubber pads to go under the feet of the front engine mount. I did this originally last year but the rubber used was too soft and the left pad had chewed up. So a couple of weeks ago, besides the grommets for the fender bar, I purchased a thicker, harder pad of rubber from Grippy. Cut to size and holes made, then couldn't find the nuts and bolts for it! Don't need them right now so hopefully they'll turn up. When Wade returned from his session with the fang farrier, following root canal and other nasty treatment,
he set about assembling Big Red's heat riser valve but encountered more problems. My brother Lindsay and his disabled son David had also arrived about this time to pick up a gift my son Luke and his wife Donna had brought back for David from their recent US trip. Being NBA fans they took in a Cleveland Cavaliers home game and had made the trip to the National Packard Museum at Warren, Ohio from there. Brought back a shirt for Dad and a Packard cap for David,
Luke and Donna. As Lindsay and David were leaving Wade was going up to see Stan the machinist again, because remedial work was required before the heat riser valve could once again be made operative. More mutterings........

BTW - On Saturday and Sunday I captioned the remaining 500+ pic's for PACA's Club Stock Spare Parts. Also started a spreadsheet of the parts found and have worked through 300+ pic's so far for that exercise.

Attach file:

---

  (31.43 KB)


  (49.80 KB)


  (48.12 KB)


  (42.62 KB)


  (41.32 KB)


  (35.35 KB)


  (44.40 KB)

Hi Mal & Wade - really nice to see you haven't forgotten me - although I have been keeping a close eye on your goings on here and living my Packard restoration dreams vicariously through the rest of you while I struggle to keep the families financial head above water.

Life has been pretty hectic and I have decided that it is a cruel quirk of fate that means that I only ever seem to have the money to do the things I love or the time, never both... oh the vagaries of the human condition!

Regardless of all this I am desperately trying to get back to the workshop for a visit and a chat. I have done quite a bit of research on my proposed project and I think we are ready to work something out. I will give Wade a call later in the week and see when he will be about.

In the meantime keep up the good work and say G'Day to all the guys in the workshop for me.

Cheers

Matt

Monday 29th March 2010

The quote I gave from Wade last week was "one step forward and three steps back" well today I was greeted with "one step forward and six steps back"! Isn't part of the joy with "old cars" overcoming the challenges, in Wade's case the many many challenges, which come up over the course of working on them? Rhetorical question only, please do not respond! Well be that as it may, in my absence over the last week, Wade has the manifolds and carb back on Big Red as well as the front bumper and all the wiring has been completed. That brings us to today which was spent working on Big Red. First was installing new trans mounts, should be reasonably straightforward, but it took a frustratingly long time to do so. Finally accomplished after jacking up trans, much aligning and re-aligning of holes, a few "magic" words and some brute force when required. Also caused some pain to yours truly, kneeling on Big Red's running board mats with their rows of fine tread, reaching into Big Red's cabin didn't help my knees at all! After that re-installed the radiator, radiator cradle and grill shell assembly. Using the engine crane to lift, carry and position the assembly made this a relatively painless operation. Finished up with Wade cutting new fender beading to fit between the front mudguards(fenders) and radiator shell. Oh, and last Friday picked up the '41's running boards from being re-Rhinoed. Let me just say that with the Easter break coming up I'll be busily employed doing a LOT of rubbing back!

Attach file:

---

  (43.05 KB)


  (46.18 KB)


  (43.55 KB)


  (39.53 KB)


  (34.59 KB)


  (43.28 KB)


  (39.06 KB)


  (25.47 KB)


  (33.01 KB)

Tuesday 30th March 2010

Late start because Wade wasn't getting in until about noon. Cleaned more small parts, nut and bolts in preparation for another round of POR-15 painting. Had earlier phoned Graham Wilkins about progress on the '41's engine machining and balancing. Graham told me that he had been aiming for before Easter but it'll now be after the bunny visits. Wade was involved in installing new radiator hoses and re-installing the generator on Big Red when new PACA member ChrisR arrived. Chris returned some club stock parts he'd taken "on approval" but which turned out not applicable to either of his Packards. At this point I left them to it because babysitting responsibilities intervened.

Attach file:

---

  (31.88 KB)


  (33.16 KB)

Wednesday 31st March 2010

This morning donated blood plasma and platelets, the platelets being the first time I've done that. Took about 70 minutes instead of the 40 minutes it takes for a straight plasma donation. Reason they were after platelets is to stock up for Easter. Apparently platelets have a 5 day shelf life and supplies over holiday periods are crucial, they even call people in to donate when supplies are running low. One of the major uses of platelets is for people undergoing cancer treatment, it's good to know that it helps people in need!

That done it was off to the workshop where I found Wade under Big Red just finishing up bolting up the exhaust pipe bracket to the bellhousing. Other things installed this morning included the generator, the right side engine mount and the exhaust manifold to the exhaust pipe. So, while I cleaned and prepared '41 parts for POR-15 painting, Wade went about installing a new upper radiator hose complete with filter, filling the cooling system with water and then checking the timing and installing the distributor. That done, he was off to buy a new set of sparkplugs which weren't available from Repco around the corner, but John was able to order a set and they'll be here tomorrow. Next was refueling Big Red, and by which time I'd finished my painting tasks, with Wade tipping a large fuel container into Big Red's fuel filler neck. I had a phone call from Harvey during the course of Wade's refueling operation and when I handed the phone over to Wade he went walkabout around Big Red. Phone call over, Wade said there was a water leak and it was coming out of the heater water shut off valve on Big Red's head. So drain enough water out of the system, take off the valve, insert new o-ring, reinstall valve and refill with water. So far, no apparent leak.

I'd also received a call from Graham Wilkins to advise me of the approximate cost of the machining and balancing for the '41's engine. Lucky I was sitting down at the time, painting the heads of nuts and bolts, otherwise the shock could have knocked me over. $uffice to say I only ever want to rebuild one Packard engine as I couldn't afford to do another!

Attach file:

---

  (38.50 KB)


  (32.57 KB)


  (27.32 KB)


  (43.07 KB)


  (48.19 KB)


  (23.88 KB)