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Mal, best wishes for a speedy recovery. Don't let it interfere with your lifestyle.
But you're like me - very little style - all determination.

Mal,

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. From your picture, you now sort of look like a pirate. Perhaps you could get a parrot?

Aaargh,

Tom

Tom,

The pictures speak for themselves.

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Never give an Aussie or Gerd any extra ideas. They are inventive enough without suggestions.

Wednesday 27th July 2011

Just a "drop in" at the workshop today. Wade managed to manufacture some seals for Noel's trans top and that's all back together. And has cleaned up the R6 OD case and the OD mounting for the trans in the parts washer and re-installed the OD mounting to the trans. Now awaiting the arrival of PeterL complete with Mazda engine under one arm and R6 OD parts under the other!

Still using the Crypton Engine Analyser on Big Red. I'd previously said this ".....the CRT came to life, with one of the CRT display functions showing each cylinder firing by a sharp peak. But there were only 7 peaks, Wade thinks he has the display set "too fine" so will adjust accordingly....." Turns out, that by taking the rpm's up to about 1,000 that all 8 cylinders are shown firing. Always good to read the instructions.

And a backward step, the '38 water pump was returned! Works OK. but leaks! Turns out the weep hole had corroded to such an extent that it now wasn't sealing. Parts are back with the machinist for remedial work.

Aaaargh, Gerd me lad!

Love Robert Newton in "Treasure Island"!

As for YFAM Randy Berger, lets just say we are enjoying ourselves.

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Friday 29th July 2011

Another day, another "drop-in".

Wade's been playing with Big Red, concentrating on the EE-23 carburettor but ended up sending it off to Carburettor Service Company for their specialised attention. Although CSC rebuilt the carb a few years ago Wade wants everything checked over again just to be sure.

Wade's still waiting for PeterL and his Mazda Engine and R6 OD parts to arrive. Seems that Peter is waiting for a Mazda part to arrive then he'll be ready and in a position to make it to the workshop.

The remedial work on '38 water pump is complete and the pump was shipped back to it's owner this morning.

Left Wade to replace the hydraulic brake switch on Big Red which has again failed. Dot 5 fluid chews up and spits out these switches out on a regular basis!

And I'm going OK. Still look like I've suffered a stroke from the look of the right side of face. Long haul before it recovers. Most irritating thing is the right eye, because there isn't an automatic blink reflex at present, the eye drys out. Have to keep up a supply of "FAUX" tears to keep the eye lubricated.

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Mal, don't let "she who must be obeyed" catch you winking at some other lassie. She might close your good eye.

Monday 1st August 2011

Today is 1) the horse's birthday, well it is here in the Southern Hemisphere, and 2) Bank Holiday in our state of New South Wales. But I wasn't celebrating either of those, instead being down at the workshop putting in some quality Packard time.

Wade was working on re-routing the heater hoses on Big Red in order to try and overcome the glugging and gurgling currently being experienced. I was put to work making a cardboard template for mounting a heater into Noel's '39 120. After marking and punching holes for the inlet and outlet pipes as well as the mounting studs the template was marked and cut roughly to shape then trimmed a little further. The fan motor and outlets were also measured to provide dimensions for clearance checks.

After a short side trip, going round to Repco for more heater hose for Big Red, on returning the heater mounting in the '39 was addressed in earnest. After the firewall carpet was removed the template was used, in conjunction with the dimensional measurements, to determine how best to site the heater in the '39. Although Noel had expressed a preference for it to be sited on the LHS, this is a RHD car, it is being mounted in the middle because of a relay and a major junction of the wiring harness being on the LHS of the engine side of the firewall. The radio speaker will be re-mounted on the LHS instead and will pose fewer problems by doing so. With the carpet out the template came in for positioning purposes and also served the same function on the engine side of the firewall to ensure mounting bolts and inlet/outlet pipes weren't compromised. Satisfied positioning was OK the template was used to first mark and punch holes in the carpet then inside the car to mark the four holes required for mounting bolts and inlet/outlet pipes. Holes made in the firewall and, without the carpet, a trial fit of the heater squeezed it into place, fitting first time with plenty of clearance of the engine side of things. Final installation, including the carpet, was somewhat more difficult, the extra thickness in the carpet making the fit a bloody tight one, but fit it did. Still need to mount fittings, run hoses, mount controls, etc, etc, but the major part of this task has been accomplished.

And why weren't we working on the R6 OD? Because we don't have the R6 OD parts yet. Apparently Peter expects to be here soon with the precious parts but until then the OD doesn't get a look in. And tomorrow it will be by-passed as well, we're having a day's R & R on a Morris Minor Picnic Club run to Sydney's south. According to the weather forecast, it looks like a perfect day to go for a drive in a Packard. I'll be in the Coupe and picking up Wade and Gina from the run start point because Big Red is awaiting the return of it's carb from Carburettor Service Company.

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Tuesday 2nd August 2011

No workshop activity, instead met Wade and Gina at Heathcote and proceeded south to Woonona to Janet's Royalty Rooms, Australia's(maybe the world's) largest collection of British Royalty Memorabilia.

Meanwhile Barry Smith had sent me some pic's last month of his '38 Twelve Club Sedan. Barry brought the car over from the US a while back as a "driver". He was just going to tweak it a bit here and there which led to a full blown body-off restoration! The Twelve is now back on the road with only some minor details still being tidied up. Will see it in person when Barry brings it down as a Concourse entry at the big display day later this month, enjoy the pic's.

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