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Dave,

You're right of course. That's how Wade made it. He also made a couple of little springs to replace the shot ones in the wiper arms by shortening up some springs till they were the right length.

Friday 19th December 2008

What a difference a day makes, might even be the title of a song!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_a_Diff%27rence_a_Day_Made
But in this instance it refers to yesterdays and todays events in the workshop, like chalk and cheese. Yesterday a number of tasks were completed over more than 8 hours and significant progress was made. Today after about 5 hours only one significant task, which would normally be knocked over in a fraction of that time, was almost completed.

Before we get to that, I had noticed on arrival that Kevin's '35 was not parked in or out of the workshop. Turns out Wade took it home last night, will drive it over the weekend, and deliver it to Kevin on Monday morning. It's currently parked in Wade's garage at home, and he got dropped off at the workshop this morning because of the Christmas party that's being held here in the afternoon. No spanners(wrenches) were turned by Rick or John this morning because they were preparing for the party. Rick spent a lot of the morning preparing food for the BBQ, nibblies, salads and such. Looks quite a deft hand at it too. John was preparing the party area, bringing in extra chairs and another BBQ. By the way, the whiteboard sign advertising the party since early December advises that entry is by CASES of beer only! When I left they were just getting started and by the looks of things it will be a resounding success, as it always is I believe. I would have stayed, but had other commitments, and anyway the guys wouldn't want pic's of the orgy, sorry I mean party, splashed over Packardinfo!

The significant task referred to earlier? Mounting the front bumper, over-riders, grill guard and the splash/stone shield between bumper and body. And it's still not finished! Need to find a longer bolt for the left side outer splash/stone mount. The bracket there is a home made one and to get the right fit the mounting bolt needs to be longer than normal. Seems from this and other indications that the '41 has had a significant bingle in it's past. I started the bumper assembly while Wade went round to see Sam and Ivan and had them weld a bolt to one of the grill guard over-riders because one of the originals had been sheared off and a nice job they did too! Because of the lapse in time since I dissembled the bumpers, about 8 months coupled with early onset "old-timers" disease, I couldn't remember how the splash/stone shields should be mounted and the one homemade one didn't help either. Took Wade, on his back under the Packard(as usual) together with some shuffling of the brackets from side to side and inner to outer to finally figure out what went where. Reference was also made to my Picasa albums of laid out sequences of parts and while this was thought to help initially in reality it just confused matters. In the end after much fitting, re-fitting, re-fitting and more re-fitting everything was in place, levels checked and nuts and bolts tightened. Except for the outer left side over-rider splash/stone shield mount. I'll get a longer bolt and that'll be finished Monday.

Oh, and there was one other matter of significance. But first I want to know, what did I do to offend the Packard Gods? First up at the workshop looked for the O/D Control Knob I'd bought off Yesterdays Radio many months ago. Looked at home before I left, couldn't find it. Looked around the workshop, not there either. Last place was the trunk of the '41 which had been loaded up with bits and pieces over the course of the past year. Cleaned it all out and still no knob. But that wasn't the end of that, because the '41's now on the floor it's much lower than before so the corners of the trunk lid are deadly weapons and I've now got the scar to show for it, should have ducked lower!

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Carefull Mal, or we are going to have to chip-in and get you a helmet!

Another question that comes to mind is the Packard hurt as the skin will heal with time we bald guys have hard heads.
Looking good soon we will not have your progress reports to watch for.
Maybe you can become the down under crier and keep us posted of goings on at the Wades Packard repair headquarters down under as I always enjoy your written and pictorial posts

That's why I always wear a hat when I'm working on cars, keeps my hair out of dirt and grease, and protects my head so I don't end up looking like Mr. Gorbachev there.

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Guys,

for your concerns, although Eric's I'm not so sure about.

Al,
The Packard suffered no visible damage. And concerning "Wade's Shed" I think that's a good idea . I intend to do something along those lines although they will probably more occasional pieces rather than day by day descriptions.

Monday 22nd December 2008

Last Friday Wade had asked me to put together a list of things still needing to be done to the '41. So I was in a mad panic this morning before leaving to compose one. As the basis for this new list, used the list I'd previously posted here in September before Wade left for Hershey. And surprise, surprise there were only 5 items remaining from that list. To those 5 I added about another 10 things that came to mind and during the course of the day a few more were inked in as they became apparent.

My first task this morning was fabricating brackets to hold and locate the front turn indicator lights. While I was doing that Wade was completing the headlight wiring hook-up. He also hooked up the Generator wiring and the turn signal wiring and fitted the new upper front rubber bump stops. After measuring, the turn indicator light brackets were cut from the same aircraft aluminium used for the rear brackets, holes drilled, smoothed on the bench grinder and wire wheel and bent in the bench vice. The bending was accomplished fairly easily and worked out first time for both brackets, not like the rears where there were 4 failures along the way! And when Wade tested the indicators, they worked straight up. A word about the indicators, they actually came with 12V double filament bulbs but are now fitted with 6V bulbs and Wade has rewired so that a single wire feeds both filaments. I'll never be accused of having dim turn indicators, they are bright!

Next was re-installing the bottom panel between the grill shell and the bottom of the radiator. Should be easy but because the '41 is now on the deck working room for a big guy was almost non existent. Ended by jacking up the front end to gain some clearance which made it somewhat easier. And during the course of this Wade left to deliver Kevin's '35 and because I was flat on my back couldn't take a farewell pic as Wade drove away. By the time Wade returned I had the the panel done, had taken the front seat squab out and cleaned out the mice crap still in there and vacuumed the interior again and put the squab back in. And I found my scraping knife while putting the squab back in. Hadn't mentioned this earlier but the knife went missing when we were re-installing the rubber underlay, underfelt and carpet in the '41. Just couldn't find it again, felt the carpet at the time, took the seat out again but nada! This time, while putting the squab back in, lent my right hand on the floor and there was a bump where no bump should be! Wade and Kevin arrived as I was undoing the sill plate screws to retrieve this valued and precious possession of mine. And where was it, besides being under all three layers of floor covering, about dead centre if the passengers feet were flat on the floor.

What next, the headlights of course, now that the wiring had been completed. I forgot to mention that earlier I'd also blasted the insides of the chrome headlight rims to remove the last traces of perished rubber gasket seal then POR-15 silver painted the internal surface only. By this time they were dry enough to work with but first while WFI swung into gear massaging the new stainless headlight retainers I'd bought off eBay over a year ago to find that they didn't fit. But Wade managed to get them to fit by turning the holes in the three mounting tabs with into slots. This permitted two holes to align well with a corresponding mounting hole while the third had enough purchase to do the job. Next Wade aligned the headlight beams, the right side required some adjustment while the left was left as is. Then the internally POR-15'd headlight rims were installed. A little problem here as the headlight adjustment interfered with the fit of the rim, but by backing off the adjustment a little and some brute force courtesy of Mal the rim fitted!

And as Wade says "Well there we are" meaning well that's done. But in this case it's just about all done now! There are still some minor matters to attend to, but tomorrow I expect the '41 will be driving at least out of the workshop. And how far? Probably just down the driveway but if a inspection with a suitably licensed mechanic can be arranged maybe further.

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Looking good Santa may be able to take his Christmas drive in your completed 41. We all can appreciate your results and the effort you with the expert guidance and help from Wade. If everyone had a Wade there would be a lot of lucky owners. Wade is a great asset for you and all Packard owners. Glad to have been introduced thru this site. Always look forward to your style and wit and pictures to make my day more enjoyable.

I echo ACOlds sentiments. Always enjoy reading your blog and seeing your progress. I know you'll buy Wade an exxtra ration of rum for Christmas. While I'm at it, a Merry Christmas to all the Packard brethren in the land of Oz. You are all a big asset to this site.

I have to agree with Randy and AC. I always look forward to your posts!