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Hi Mal,

It looks like this engine already had the Egge type replacement pins. I am confused about what Egge told Wade, the ones I purchased from them a few years ago are pins that press through, with circlip grooves and tiny circlips that hold the assembly on. The Egge ones also do not run the bushing inside of the roller. They basically look like the close up picture of the disassembled one you posted. I really hope circlips coming dislodged isn't a regular situation. When I replaced mine, I wasn't thrilled with the circlip retaining method, but had no choice.

This is an interesting design, such a tiny amount of bearing surface for such a high amount of load.

As I read O_D's reply, it occurs to me that Packards may have gotten driven farther and harder in the southwest explaining the wear in key areas of these early engines. Lots of wide open space and long stretches in this part of the country.

I will follow this thread with keen interest. It's fun to see the progress!

Jim

Friday 15th May 2009

Before going to the workshop rang David of Antique Tyre Supplies. Wanted to catch him before he left, he was delivering the 20 litres of oil Wade had ordered on Wednesday, to try and order some beading for the cowl of the '41. Missed him, as he was already on the road!

First up at the workshop walked up to Mowad's, the panelshop up on the next corner, forgot to mention we went there yesterday. We'd taken up the grill surround from Big Red because Wade needed some paint to "touch up" the filling job that Paul had done on the holes behind the cowl beading. Picked up about 500mls of paint and now have to find an airtight container to store it in long term, depending on how much is left over.

Back at the workshop David arrived soon after we did with the oil. I was able to give him my contact details and he'll call me later this afternoon when he gets back to his warehouse.

I then Marine Cleaned and Metal Readied the parts cleaned yesterday in preparation for POR-15 on Monday. While I was doing that Wade re-installed the re-built brake master cylinder and the new hand brake cable from the the hand brake handle to the equaliser in the chassis. Wade is also mounting a 6V electric fuel pump and contemplating where to place it, probably as close to the fuel tank as possible.

Then arriving home, in the mail was a Money Order from Terry(traumjaegercat) for the '34 shock links and front axle shock mount brackets. The parts were mailed today, so when received Terry will have to adapt them to his '34.

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Monday 18th May 2009

You might have noticed that recent picture quality has been poor? It usually is with this photographer, but even more so lately as my little digital Samsung camera appears to be giving up the ghost. It was readily apparent yesterday from our Packard Club run, with most of my pic's being of very poor quality being washed out or with lines through them so that's why no post on yesterdays event. The only ones I did post were taken early in the day and were of Thief-Proof numbers and Body tags. So on the way to the workshop stopped and shopped. Bought a Canon Powershot with 10 megapixels and 4 gigabyte SDHC memory card, should keep me going for a while. And I certainly never considered O_D's film camera option!

At the workshop it was POR-15 painting day for the parts Marine Cleaned and Metal Readied last Friday. But when I arrived found Wade talking with Packard Club member Peter who'd dropped in for a chat. So once Pete left I was into a final wipe over of the parts with a damp rag and then stringing them up ready for painting. To make sure they were all dry they were given a quick going over with the compressed air gun. Then the cans of POR-15 were opened, First one had a thick skin over what was left in the bottom of the can and similarly for the second. So that stopped my painting plans for the day. A little later Wade ordered some more POR-15 to be delivered tomorrow, so I live to paint again another day.

It took well over an hour to string all the parts up on the frame and during that time Wade had been painting! He'd mixed up some engine colour and painted the trans and a few other small engine parts, and was very careful in doing so as he'd left his work clothes at home. Turned to cleaning more parts, this time mainly from the left side in preparation for Marine Clean and Metal Ready later this week.

EDIT - Yesterday Wade borrowed the king pin reamer from another Peter in the club. This time Peter will definitely get them back sooner than the 13 months I had them for reaming the '41's king pins!

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Congrats on the new camera, Mal.

We joke about "cleaning" parts but at times I enjoy it.

Taking a grime covered thing and making it whole again gives a sense of accomplishment to me.

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Above, Wade and Mal without grease and Gina looking good as always.

Wade is a snappy dresser. I particularly like the watch chain. Mal is like me - too casual to give a damn.

Tuesday 19th May 2009

Arrived at workshop to find a tin of POR-15 had already arrived by courier, so no excuses this time. Wade cleaned up the steering box and column while I quickly cleaned some more bolts to paint. While Wade painted the steering I started on one side of the windchimes setup. Then when Wade had finished painting the steering he started on the other side of the windchimes. Only one minor drama when I tipped over the paint container, a round plastic throwaway, but fortunately only lost a little. Of course, seeing I was wielding a brush ended up with paint on me while Wade, snappy dresser that he is, avoided that!

Painting finished I turned to cleaning still more parts on the wire wheel and using the blasting cabinet as required. Will Marine Clean and Metal Ready those tomorrow after todays painting has dried and the windchime apparatus once again becomes available. While I was doing that Wade was working on getting the boom gate to the rooftop carpark working. Last night he took home a water damaged circuit board from the controller and repaired it. Today he replaced the cable between the control box and the card reader post. Still has to refit the post and the new card reader then the boom gate will be back in business. Wade also removed the clutch shaft bearing cover, made a new gasket and reinstalled it.

While we in the midst of painting Tony, Noel's mate, arrived. Tony, a retired panelbeater, had made a new metal water distribution plate to go inside the side water jacket cover. Was checking with Wade to see that it was OK, and it sure was, looks real good. He'll be back with the finished product later in the week, all going well.

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After some thought I think I know why Wade has his hands in his pockets in his fashionable attire of suit and watch chain which I also like. My answer is that as a real hands on leader type of car guy he has the ever present dirty finger nail look associated with people who work on old cars. Its a badge of honor only given to hands on workers.

Wednesday 20th May 2009

After a morning with the granddaughters arrived at the workshop to find Wade had disassembled the windchimes structure and re-situated the painted parts. He'd also finished the re-assembly of the trans but the gear shift will come off again to 1) make a gasket for it and 2) so it can be put back in BigRed, a little difficult to do so with it in place.

First up was re-installing the steering box and shaft with Wade doing all the work of positioning and lifting while I sat under the fender and pushed the securing bolts through the frame. Then while Wade was putting the pedals back together I was blasting the insides of the hubcaps of rust(the outsides are quite good) prior to POR-15'ing. During that exercise I came back over to Wade a couple of times and co-incidentally was able to assist in 1) pushing the new roller bearings back into the clutch pedal and 2) holding the new machined pedal shaft by it's custom flats so it wouldn't turn while Wade tightened the large nut holding it to the chassis. Marine Cleaned another lot of parts in preparation for Metal Ready and POR-15 tomorrow.

Quote:
Al, You're right. it is a "badge of honour" as well as an occupational hazard of working on old cars.

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Thursday 21st May 2009

Arrived at the workshop to find Wade in discussion with John about the roller rockers. Showing John the differences between the spare rockers and those in Big Red's engine. Reason being Wade had called Egge about 8:00am Sydney time(Approx 4:00pm their time on the 20th) and was informed that they no longer stocked the rollers! Looks like this will necessitate a Plan B along the lines of adapting spare rollers, using stainless washers as spacers and replacing all the "collars" like the ones that came adrift to prevent future problems, although Wade is still wrestling with what to do.

I then Metal Readied the parts Marine Cleaned yesterday while Wade Fabrication Industries sprang into action and made 2 gaskets for the Super 8 gear shift. Why two? Because he didn't have one on the '34 and they're the same.

Next was putting the trans back into Big Red. Placed the trans on a block of wood(for clearance) on the trolley jack and wheeled it over next to Big Red. Then with John's advice re-balanced it on the jack. With John controlling the jack and Wade in the engine compartment the trans was wheeled into place in front of the position it needs to be. Where was I? Well apart from one quick pic of John in action I was stationed at the open right front door ready to slip bolts into the trans mounts once the holes were aligned. The rubber backed trans mounts were bolted to the trans and this necessitated the trans being raised enough to clear the brackets the mounts bolt to then being slid back on the jack and then lowered into place. Bolt for the right side slipped in easily while those for the left side went in after a bit of jiggling and a few light hammer taps.

While I started stringing together a new set of windchimes, aka parts hanging from rack prior to PR-15 painting, Wade was under Big Red bolting the trans cross member back in and installing and tightening the nuts and washers for the trans mounts. I was just about ready to start painting when Wade said that Noel had called earlier and said all the rubber parts he was waiting for should soon be here including new rubber balls for the dog bone. Dog bone? Yes, dog bone, the trans stabiliser mounted to the right side of the trans. Hadn't dis-assembled it so took it apart, cleaned and prepped the pieces and strung it up for POR-15'ing.
Painting commenced with me clad in rubber gloves and a long sleeved top for protection. But I was surprised, no is more like it, when after I'd been going about 5 minutes Wade asked if I had any paint on me yet! Now I know I have a reputation that is warranted for having skin that attracts POR-15, but at the least he could have waited until I'd finished painting! As it was there were a few marks above my left knee(I was wearing shorts) and some on the right wrist(Putting my arm down inside the coil spring to paint it) but with some POR-15 thinners managed to remove these, a first! When Wade wasn't insulting me, he was pushing in the right front king pin bushes and the outer lower bushes for the wheel support arm assembly. He then started the reaming process on the king pin bushes using the reamer set picked up from Peter on Sunday.

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