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Mal, your One-Twenty is looking mighty sharp. It's all about looking good. Disappointed "Our Girl" (Jacki Weaver) did not get the Oscar for best supporting actress.

(o{}o)

Friday 1st March 2013

First day of Autumn(Fall) here with plenty of rain to dampen things down. Plan today was to take the Coupes front bumper down to the Workshop in the morning to work on it before returning home for the Coupe itself. Reason being the bumper to body splash pans are "tight". By tight I mean they were rubbing on the body or bumper. To alleviate this Col, in his work, relieved the areas which had been touching. He also advised to either elongate the holes in the bumper brackets or the holes in the chassis where the bumper mounts by about 5mm(3/16") to provide and ensure clearance. So that was my task, elongating the holes in the bumper brackets rearwards. To do this Wade advised use the air tool with a carbide rasp to do the job. Sounded good in theory, not so good in practice. An inexperienced operator on the end of an air tool spinning at a squillion revolutions per minute is almost an assured recipe for disaster. And so it came to pass, first hole attempted resulted in bending the shank of the rasp. A little hammer work and the rasp shank was soon "straightish" and ready for another go. Similar result and similar fix but decided to go back to basics and use a round file. Took a lot more time and effort, but no more snafus, resulting in one hole elongated. Next hole on that bracket, regained some composure, and tried the air tool again. An even worse result, besides again bending the shank, also chipped the tip and some "teeth" on the rasp. Back to basics again and filed out the remainder of the hole. One side complete. Started on the holes on the other bracket using the air tool again but instead of trying to do the complete elongation using that just used it to achieve the depth required, 5mm, then filed out the remainder. Bumper bracket bolt holes elongated turned to my next task, mounting the bumper to body splash shields to the bumper brackets. This again, was Col's suggestion, to avoid damaging as far as possible the new paint when mounting them to the Coupe. I thought that was an excellent idea, not just for that reason, because last time back in 2008 I did it on my back on a creeper and I didn't want to do that again if I could help it! Of course since then there's now a hoist in Packard corner but getting time on it can be a challenge. Also fixed my Packards International badge. I'd snagged a leg of my shorts on the badge one day and pulled the hexagonal emblem off the mounting bracket. It's held on by a blob of adhesive which apparently wasn't adhesive enough. Using contact adhesive, glued the two pieces back together, have to be more careful when wearing my baggy shorts now around the Coupe now!

But speaking of the hoist in Packard corner, Roy is still occupying pride of place on it but not for much longer. Yesterday Wade had a call from Award Diffs, Roy's diff centre was ready! Wade refitted the diff centre to Roy yesterday and installed the rear axles to which he'd previously installed new bearings as well and packed them with grease. When he picked up the diff centre yesterday, Wade also took Roy's old axle bearings over to Award, where Terry took one look at them and said "they've had water in them at some time". So while I was rasping and filing then fitting panels Wade was finishing off the rear end work. Fitting shims, gaskets retainers and re-installing brakes including lines and hand brake cables.

Left Wade to it at this point and returned home then later drove the Coupe down to the workshop for it to be reunited with it's front bumper. With help from Wade and Paul the bumper went on with me, on a creeper, inserting and starting the bumper bracket bolts and nuts. Thanking Paul and Wade I then started doing up the bumper bracket bolts and nuts only to undo them and reinsert them one at a time the other way round. Also a bit of shuffling to align the bumper and provide as much clearance as possible for the bumper to body splash shield. There is still a problem there with the left side outside corner of the splash shield almost, but not quite, touching the bottom corner of the mudguard(fender). Will put some tape on both surfaces as a protective measure. Reinstalled the front blinkers and tested them, they worked fine, but the right rear blinker didn't, probably a blown bulb, and reinstalled the front number plate. But there's till plenty more to do with the trim spears to go back on both right side mudguards(fenders), the beading between the left front 'guard and the bonnet(hood) side panel and the left side bonnet latch.

While I was doing the bumper, splash panels and blinkers on the Coupe, Wade was finishing off the rear brakes on Roy, but still needs to bleed the brakes. Also the engine miss, resulting from the fritzed points and cracked Distributor cap, needs fixing. Fortunately Wade's mate, PeterL, has been able to supply a set of points to replace the burnt out ones. While there's a new distributor cap winging it's way to Australia from Max. Won't be long before Roy is running again, probably Monday.

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Monday 4th March 2013

No workshop time today, instead it was Noel time! Received an email yesterday from Noel to confirm arrangements for today, it read in part "..meet me at Bankstown at 10 a.m. From there we will go to Rouse Hill and then to Les, to show him the guards. After that, back to Bankstown, then to Fineline in your Coupe to show Karl..". Met Noel at Bankstown from whence we departed for Rouse Hill to pick up the 'guards(fenders) and a new set of tyres for his Coupe. The guards are a pair sourced from the US to replace the pair on his Coupe while the tyres are a set of 4 WWW 7.00 x 16" Radials to replace the set of 4 WWW 7.00 x 16" Cross plys he was going to use. Anybody in Oz need a set of 4 never used, in fact never been on a rim, WWW 7.00 x 16" Cross plys? Please contact Noel if you do. For more info see the ads in the last couple of Packardian magazines and this one on the PACA Website(scroll down).

The day started out well, for one thing it was a fine and sunny day, something we've been lacking in Sydney for a while now. But the Ute Noel borrowed was full of rubbish, most of which had to be unloaded before we left to make room for it's precious Packard cargo. Then, on arriving at Rouse Hill, while the 'guards were there, the tyres were not! Apparently the wrong size had been sent so Noel has another wait until the correct sized ones arrive. One "thing" that was there was a very original 1905 Cadillac(I think?) which had also been imported from the US. Looks like a genuine survivor which only needs minor fixing and tidying up! Then with the 'Guards on board the Ute, it was off to see Les, who had made about 30 body mount rubbers for Noel's Coupe. While at Les's saw the '36 120B Convertible Coupe he has been working on for a PACA member and which is now close to completion.

Leaving Les, returned to Bankstown and my Coupe. From Bankstown it was off to Fineline at Moorebank where both Noel's Coupe and '39 120 Touring Sedan are presently residing. In addition to the work on the Coupe, Fineline are touching up a few scrapes on Fleurette to pretty her up for the Packard National Rally in less than a fortnights time. It's almost ready, with a rear 'guard waiting to go back on. But the main reason for taking my Coupe over was so that Carl could look it over as a reference for the work being done on Noels Coupe. Carl was pleased with what he saw, answering some questions he had about a number of fitment and equipment issues. Besides the body mount rubbers, Noel also took over some nuts and bolts and door rubbers for fitment purposes. Noel also has to take over some more parts and panels from Bankstown, which he'll do later this week. Included in these are the "mudflaps" which go inside the rear 'guards. He'd identified one but not the other, because it was the same basic shape as the ones on Fleurette. Here, I have to admit I didn't recognise the other one either, my excuse being that when I'd looked at mine it was from an upside down position about 5 years ago! Don't think that excuse carried much weight with Noel, who on looking at my Coupe immediately recognised the errant panel sitting on his shelf. Noel 1, Mal 0.

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Mal, That 05 Cadillac looks more like a 1908 International High Wheeler to me. Any experts out there who can confirm?
What a fantastic original survivor
David

David,

Once again hoisted on my own petard. Back in 2007 I saw a 1908 Model D International Buggy which is very similar and which I sampled first hand. But I did try to give myself a bit of wriggle room by saying this...."1905 Cadillac(I think?)"

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Quote:

Mal, what you vividly described as horizontally opposed 2 cylinder is a so-called boxer engine.



[picture source: www.motorrad-news.com]

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Tuesday 5th March 2013

Back at the workshop for a couple of hours this morning. After arriving Wade went round to Brookers Brakes and picked up the 2 new lines which they'd made up for Roy. Yesterday Wade had bled Roy's brakes but at the conclusion of that exercise there were a number of leaks evident thanks to the old lines on the diff housing. First up the left side line was bent and massaged into shape and fitted.

But before the right side line could be done we had a visit from Kevin and Barbara, long time PACA members. They brought over my new club name badge, I'd lost mine over a year ago. There were also three others, which I'll pass on at the National Rally in a couple of weeks time, acting as deliveryman to the interstate members concerned. Besides the name badges they also brought over a wealth of old Rally badges, Packard emblem pins, keyrings, a Packard crested ashtray, a Packard logo'd digital watch and other assorted Packard logo'd memorabilia. All this, I'll take with me to the Rally and try and sell to help boost PACA's funds. Thankyou Kevin and Barbara.

Next was the right side line, bent and fitted around the back of the diff housing. All fittings then checked, tightened, the master cylinder topped up and the brakes bled. During bleeding the master cylinder was topped up once and again after they were bled. Dropped Roy lower on the hoist and put 3 of the 4 wheels back on, the fourth being the right front. The right front wheel will go on following Peter Packards advice of 6th February of "..The side panels are more easily removed from under the guard...You may have to undo the fuel line at the carby but I always remove the panel from under the guard. Try it during the assembly phase..". Hope you're right Peter. With 3 of the 4 wheels on Roy was lowered further and the rear axle nuts properly tightened and split pinned. Left Wade to it at that point. But will return tomorrow with my Coupe for it's pre Rally mechanical inspection and service.

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Wednesday 6th March 2013

Almost didn't drive the Coupe down to the workshop this morning because on trying to start it, it didn't. Turned the key on pushed the starter button and no response! But, there was a quick solution, under the bonnet(hood), with the key still on, and pushed the button on the starter solenoid and away it went. After that, during the course of the day, a fair number of starts made but didn't need to resort to the under the bonnet method, in seat was fine. At the workshop, before turning to the Coupe, addressed Roy's needs first. Because of the missing, and new points and cap not yet to hand, turned to checking the plugs. Besides being very sooty in appearance, they looked fine except for one which was completely closed up with no gap at all. So into the blasting cabinet and after clean up and regapping they went back in. A test fire up and short run showed the missing was still there but better than before. Then out with the plugs again, one by one, for examination. I hadn't done that first time round. Examination showed all OK with no closed up plug gaps. Thought being that maybe a valve had hit and closed up the plug, but it's more likely Mal dropped it before it went back in! Then it was off for a test run along the usual route. Still missing but that should be rectified shortly when the parts arrive. Tested well with no noises from the rebuilt diff, brakes work well and don't pull and the engine ran well in the circumstances. Once the points and cap are installed Wade will be driving Roy to and from home for a day or two to ensure all is well.

Then it was the Coupe's turn. Backed into the workshop, always raise a sweat doing that irrespective of the weather, visibility being limited and necessitating an S shaped passage to get onto Wade's hoist. Managed that with Wade indicating and calling directions with a few shuffles along the way to get pointed in the right directions. Once up on the hoist first thing was draining the oil. While that was draining, attended to all the grease points underneath. All went well on that part except for a pair of plugs on the front lower arms, one each side, which popped off when I attempted to remove the grease gun from the nipple attached to them. After removal of the front wheels, to improve access, the caps were refitted and those points successfully regreased. Was thinking of adjusting the brakes, but the spin test administered by Wade indicated they probably didn't need adjustment. As we are going on a long highway trip it wasn't felt to introduce any unnecessary drag, and with the brakes both feeling solid and working well, left them as they were. With the undercar stuff finished, including a close inspection of all areas and reinstalling the sump plug, the Coupe was lowered but remained on the hoist. Removed the old oil filter and cleaned out the filter housing. It was just dirty with no sign of sludge, unlike when it was rebuilt a few years ago with a couple of inches of sludge in the filter housing at that time. New filter in, then refilled with 7 litres(about 7 quarts) of oil, which showed above full on the dipstick, then started her up. Ran well, no knocks(there shouldn't be but I always worry) and no leaks, also a worry. Turned then to the plugs which on removal one by one, learnt something from Roy, all looked to be burning well. After cleaning found I was 2 plug seals short. Found one still in the plug recess in the head and it was bent! Possibly a contributor to a slight miss which has been evident for a while. The other seal? I remember now there was a metallic clink when I was removing the plugs, it's probably on the workshop floor. On learning this Wade dove into his stock of old plugs only to discover all the 10mm ones were missing their seals! No worries, into the NOS plugs, Wade has some but doesn't use them having found they just don't perform after umpteen years in a box. The seals donated came from a pair of 'PROXY' brand plugs, some plug collector out there is probably gnashing his teeth in frustration in reading this. Regapped the now complete plugs, some being slightly over the recommended 0.028", reinstalled and fired up again. All well, then checked the timing, and a surprise. Was running about 20 degrees advanced! Some head scratching as to why, until Wade found the distributor could be turned by hand! That prompted more head scratching as to how that could have happened? No answers, so using the timing light reset to 6 degrees advanced and tightened up the distributor. On fire up, almost instantaneously after hitting the button, the engine idled very smoothly and silently just like a Packard should.

Turned then to the exterior of the Coupe, it still needs refitting of various components from the paint touch up work. My major concern was reinstalling the beading between the left front mudguard(fender) and the bonnet(side) panel. Although the front wheels had gone back on previously the left front came off again to allow better access from underneath. Then with Wade up a ladder, probably not great workshop practice but ya gotta do what's ya gotta do, and me underneath with spanners(wrenches) and a large screwdriver to provide leverage to open up the two surfaces the beading needed to go between. Loosened off all the fasteners then Wade inserted the beading starting from the front. It didn't take long to find out I hadn't loosened all the fasteners, there's one hidden by the mudguard bracket I'd missed. That attended to the rest of the insertion proceeded smoothly. Went back to the start point though as it wasn't quite right, some further fastener loosening rectified that. Then starting from the lower rear of the mudguard(fender) tightened up all the fasteners with Wade ensuring the beading was positioned correctly. Had to have Wade hold one spanner(wrench) for the inside nut holding one fastener, many of the others are either accessible from undercar or have captive nuts and therefore didn't require a second set of hands. Wade also fixed the blinkers, well I thought they required a fix. The right rear blinker bulb had blown and I replaced it but after that the left blinkers appeared to work intermittently while the rights didn't work at all. Wade got into position under the dash, checked the fuses, all were good. Then in operating the blinker stalk discovered that by pulling back on the stalk they worked but if this wasn't done they didn't. Comes to me now that, this little quirk, had been discovered a year or so ago, but Mal forgot this little trick. Also reinstalled the PI badge to the badge bar and more firmly secured the front number plate. Still have to reinstall the mudguard(fender) trim spears and the left side bonnet(hood) catch and mechanism.

Note - Hardly any pictures of what happened to the Coupe. I left my camera on its front seat when it went up on the hoist and didn't recover it till much later.

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Thursday 7th March 2013

Not much to report today. Pitstop only at the workshop this afternoon where I found there was nothing there to occupy my time. In the morning Wade had been fiddling around with The Fossil's interior some more, the pedals in particular I believe. That was because work on Roy has stalled. Although the cap and points arrived from helpful PACA members they weren't the right ones. Now waiting on the same parts to arrive from Max who Wade had been in contact with earlier in the piece and ordered the parts from anyway. The PACA's members parts were to be a stopgap until the other parts arrived. But......there's still some doubt about whether the parts from Max will fit because the distributor doesn't have a tag on it. To hopefully overcome that hurdle Wade had emailed pic's to Max(JD?) when ordering and was told it looked like an Autolite, but you're never really sure. Adding to any doubts Wade has about the electrical items on Roy, the starter motor has a Delco Remy tag on the body and an Autolite tag on the dust cover covering the brushes. Left Wade to it after Ross arrived. Ross's '36 Super Eight Coupe is expected to land in Sydney in about 3 weeks time and should be coming to the workshop shortly thereafter for Wade to get it up and running. While last night at PACA's Committee meeting I was able to pass on to Mat the radio from his '34, recently repaired by Wade, it needed a new valve. And speaking of the Committee meeting, with both Noel and DavidM there, this little matter was resolved:
Quote: A phone call from Noel to the cars owner confirmed it as an IHW! David 1, Noel 0.

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Saturday 9th March 2013

Had a call from pepepackard, aka Fred, last night. Seems he could have a spare Autolite 6 cylinder distributor cap and possibly points and a rotor as well. However Fred also advised there were 2 different sized caps for the Autolite distributors, he runs Delco-Remy in his '37 115C, and could I measure the diameter of Roy's? Well, this morning I could and did, cap is 88mm in diameter, measured outside edge to outside edge. It is also 80mm high, measured bottom of base to top of coil wire post. Pic's and info forwarded to Fred for assessment. Called Wade this morning and on telling him this he advised that Richard, Roy's owner, thinks he has a spare cap that came when he bought Roy. Wade is going to drive over today to collect it. So, hopefully, amongst the caps, points and rotors from Fred/Richard/Max there'll be at least one set that fits Roy's distributor. Reason being that Roy is scheduled to start the journey to Phillip Island early next Saturday morning. 16th March, for the 15th National Packard Rally.

Speaking of the National Rally, a convoy of mainly Sydney based PACA members will convene at Pheasants Nest, about 60 miles south of Sydney. Convoy members are Kath and I in our '41 120 Club Coupe, Starliner, Chris, in his '54 Clipper Super Club Sedan, packard34, Mat, probably in his '34 Eight Sedan, the '55 Caribbean not being ready, Michael in his '54 Convertible Coupe, PAC052, Jeff, and Margaret in their '52 200 Deluxe Touring Sedan, Richard in Roy, a '39 110 Convertible Coupe and Wendy in Emily a '37 115C Sport Coupe. From Pheasants Nest it's "only" another 550 miles to Phillip Island. The trip is being done with an overnight stop at Glenrowan, about 340 miles from Sydney, where Australia's most famous Bushranger(Outlaw) Ned Kelly made his last stand. I will report on the trips to and from the National Rally as well as the Rally itself in the Shows and Events Forum.

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