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Suggest you verify the thermostat outlet. Also, Nelson Bates is now reproducing the tapered shim between the thermostat outlet and the head in stainless steel.

I also have a 6 cyl head currently sitting in my garage as a door stop. Just haven't found a home for it as shipping is not really an option.

David, curious as to this tapered shim that Nelson is making. My 115C only has a gasket between the cylinder head and thermostat housing, and this is what I have seen on all the other sixes. Thanks.

(o[]o)

John,

Think what David is referring to is the holder/retainer for the thermostat itself. David?

Monday 5th December 2011

An aborted morning at the Blood Bank, although they think my blood's worth bottling, they couldn't tap into it! Left arm, needle in the vein and.....nothing! Not a drop! Wiggled it, probed, changed fittings still no result then bandaged up the arm. Right arm, needle in, plenty of blood but it was collecting under the skin! Danger Will Robinson, Danger! Result - two bandaged arms without the satisfaction of being able to do anything for my fellow man.


Then, at the workshop early in the afternoon, learned that I'd just missed Junior's Mum and Dad, Annet and John, who'd dropped in with some parts for their baby. There were also two deliveries of parts from Max on the bench. Still waiting on a further shipment, including new valves. Once all the parts have arrived Wade will discuss with Graham Wilkins about whether he can do anything before Christmas, unlikely, or whether things will happen in the New Year. With the influx of parts Wade was looking for somewhere to store them till required. I suggested we clear the shelves of my accumulation of parts, which we did, resulting in the bulk of the parts returning home with me today while others took their places on the "magic" shelves. Only stayed about an hour because Wade didn't have enough to keep me occupied, but will return on Friday for an update.

Other Packard happenings of late were yesterday's Packard Club Christmas at Vicary's Winery on the south western outskirts of Sydney at Luddenham and news of a '39 Twelve heading to Oz! The lunch was very nice and enjoyed by all with 9 Packards in attendance and 30 Packardians. See a few pic's of the day here.

However the Twelve is what I really want to talk about. A week or so ago Noel had sent me an email, saying "....I was looking through carsales.com.au and noticed a 1937 Packard 120 for sale in Queensland. I'm sure it is Wade's "Old Blue". Could you please confirm, I think it's easy to tell from the pictures. The question is: Why would he want to sell so soon after buying it?...." To which I replied "....You're right. It is Old Blue. Current owner is DaveE from Elanora in QLD...." I then rang Dave and left a message for him to give me a call. Dave returned the call late last week and I learned he'd bought a '39 Twelve. Reason for selling is garage space or lack of it to which I can attest. There's only room for one Packard! Dave also sent me an email together with pic's. I've reproduced part of the email here and some of the pic's after clearing it with Dave. The email says in part "....The vehicle is....a V12 Touring Limo.....This is virtually a rust free, undamaged, original, unmolested full Classic that is as solid as the day it was assembled. I have had very very valuable assistance in this purchase from Barry Smith and through his US connections have had the car appraised by 2 Packard experts who report a rare find. The US connections required no recompense for their time or considerable travel expenses and as a bursary to the valuable and treasured assistance from Barry I have donated a sum toward the Packard Proving Ground reconstruction....and will be in attendance at the opening in June 2013 where the Barry Smith window of the bedroom of two of Charlie Vincent's daughters will be dedicated. Meanwhile I await delivery...."

Also said "....1939 Packard limousine model 1708 body style # 1235 has only 35,659 actual miles.....recently rebuilt (around 1,000 miles) V12 engine...."

I believe the plan is to drive the Twelve home, from it's shipping destination of Newcastle(about 100 miles north of Sydney), a trip of about 420 miles. But before setting out on this extended journey a shorter trip of about 40 miles will be undertaken to evaluate and ensure the Twelve is up for it.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Twelve when I'm next in Queensland, expected to be March next year, and catching up with Dave and Shelley. And just remembered, I haven't yet asked Dave to add the Twelve to the Packard Owner's Registry, must make sure I do that! I also second Dave's lauding of Barry as he has helped many Packard owners over the years including myself.
Barry!

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Sunday 11th December 2011

After a brief Sunday morning run in the Coupe to pick up some fresh bread rolls from the bakery time to update the Blog.

Tuesday, Wade and Gina went on a Morris Minor Picnic Club run in Big Red to The Printing Museum at Penrith(Sorry, no pic's - I couldn't make it because of a Doctor's appointment) followed by Christmas lunch. From all accounts a very interesting venue. Wouldn't think so, would you?

Wednesday and Friday Wade was in the workshop and among other things has repainted the STARTIX unit and applied a replacement tag, looks real good now. Is also preparing the toe board for installation in The Fossil. Also has assembled a flywheel, clutch and pressure plate unit for Junior ready for transportation to Burt Bros, the clutch rebuilder on Monday. The last of the parts for Juniors engine rebuild have arrived but Graham, the rebuilder, is flat out before Christmas so the block, crank, other parts and the replacement parts wont be going to him until about mid January, after he returns from his break.

Also on Friday, before I dropped into the workshop for a 10 minute pitstop to see Wade, I helped 86yo PACA club member JohnM by driving his '39 TJ Richards bodied Six sedan back from Col's, the guy who fixed the scrapes and paint issues on the '39. Like most things associated with a 70+yo car the more Col did the more he found. Such as removing old paint and finding shoddy repair work, and replacing the right front door hinge pins. The extra (spare)time to fix these found things resulting in what should have been a part time repair job over about a week stretching out to over a month and a half! But the wait was worth it, the '39 looks a whole lot better now following it's beauty treatment.

Meanwhile I have been doing my part for the festive season in my job as a shopping mall Santa 4 days a week. I also volunteered, or maybe it was my daughter volunteering me, to be Santa at a Christmas party for her daughters Pre-school kindergarten group. Only trouble with that was the party was shortly after I finished my Santa shift for the day and the logistics of getting from the mall to the party venue and re-dressing as Santa looked somewhat daunting. But, a little thought accompanied by some gentle arm twisting and Wade agreed to chauffeur me to the event. Meant I could change out of the Santa gear after a 5 hour shift, drive home(cooling down all the way), re-dress as Santa and arrive at the party as relaxed and ready as you can be for about 16 excited five year olds together with some younger and older siblings. And the best thing about this? Santa was chauffeur driven to the event in Big Red. Very successful, with a succession of kids sitting on Santa's knee, detailing their demands Christmas wishes. Only thing that spoiled it was Santa suffering a coughing fit brought about by a hair from Santas beard detaching and irritating his throat! Santa had to take a quick break with his son-in-law providing a glass of water, but in order to be able to drink it Santa had pull up his beard! Luckily none of the kids saw this little trick, wouldn't want to shatter their dreams!

Also learnt on the trip to the party house that earlier in the afternoon Wade had been working on Noel's radio. Had fixed it, so he thought, but then found another problem - the capacitor had given up the ghost. With spare capacitors are rare as hens teeth Wade did the only thing he could and made another one! Carefully counted the coils in the copper wire in the old one, he thinks there were 125 but wasn't sure because it was broken and starting to unravel. Then with Gina's assistance, turning an old hand drill, Wade feed the wire and counted the turns. Worked out perfectly with the radio now working well. Noel, better check the bill to ensure Wade doesn't overcharge for the apprentices part in the fix!

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Mal, you must be having a lot of fun playing Santa Claus. Making children happy, no better job. I have a question: What is a STARTIX? I have seen them on other prewar cars, but never understood their function. Perhaps others here a wondering about it too, or maybe I am the only one. Thanks.

(o[]o)

John,

It is fun seeing the children's faces light up when they see Santa and when talking with them. Of course there are also a lot of the younger ones who have reservations in meeting the old gent, some I've been able to win over but more often not!

As to the STARTIX unit, it's a re-starter! From what I understand, when set, it will automatically re-start the car should the engine stall/stop. I'd never heard of it before I saw Wade's. Maybe it's the original black box? Had a look in the '34 Owners Manual here on PackardInfo but couldn't find a reference to it. Maybe someone, O_D comes to mind, might be able to give some greater insights?

Until O_D or someone has real Packard material, here is something from the Eleventh edition of Motors Auto Repair Manual

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Mal and Howard, thanks for the explanation and the manual instruction and illustration. Interesting device. It seems that once adjusted it would be trouble free. Is this the case, or were they disconnected or removed because of problems. Thanks again.

(o[]o)