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Sunday 25th March, 2018

After topping up the shocks again, 5ml left and 15ml right, it was an easy run down the highway to meet up with RobertS at the Goulburn Swap Meet. Robert had parked his '35 1201 Eight Sedan in the area reserved for car club members. But that area wasn't highly populated with only Robert, myself, 2 Austin Healeys and an FJ Holden Sedan. The Healeys departing soon after I arrived! The trip down, again with one eye on the temp gauge, was uneventful. The needle going to just over 1/2 but not making it to 2/3. On pulling up at Goulburn took some temp readings on the left side of the block and the right side of the head using the el cheapo infrared thermometer. Results are pictured below. Also found that water was bubbling out from under the radiator cap!

And funny thing there wasn't a Packard part to be found. Next time, need to enlist the services of the Flackmaster who "can smell Packard Parts". Not much Pre WW2 stuff at all, mostly Aussie Ford and Holden stuff. But plenty of bric-a-brac, etc. Lots of vendors, many more than I expected. And saying that, Robert and I didn't see all of them in strolling around for our 1/2 day there. Though there might be some Packard parts next year! Robert is talking about setting up a stall, not for Packard parts but for some of the stuff from the business he retired from. If Robert's going to be there, I might just bring some Packard stuff along to lift the tenor of the day!

For the return journey substituted another radiator cap, this was an old one from the Coupe, and on arriving home found that this cap appeared to be sealing OK. During this journey the temp gauge was going up to about the 3/4 mark. Varying the speed, ie old leadfoot here easing off the loud pedal, brought the needle back to the 2/3 mark. As did flicking the switch on the pusher fan in front of the radiator.

Obviously still running too hot. But I'm waiting on Peter Packards return from the NZ National Rally early next month to talk with him about giving my Packard the "treatment". Will also source a new Stant 10206 radiator cap(Thanks, Packard Parts Cross-Reference). Once the treatment has been effected, will test again.

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Bought 2 Stant 10206 caps online after finding them listed in the Parts Cross Reference as being the right part. Now wondering if they will fit the radiator neck on my Packard?

Because I then found some info on Stant 10206 radiator caps which lists Cap Depth as 1.41"(= 35.8mms). Also lists Other Part Numbers: 255300, P7006, 7006, 133-8011, 33003, 12R31, RC3 and Interchange Part Numbers: T6, 9T6, 31306, T-6, BR-6, 11206, 1678-520479, P-6.

Then, looking at the 2 caps I have, the one that came on the car has no identifiers on it while the cap that came off the '41 Coupe is a Stant R6!

Measuring the depth of the radiator filler neck on the Packards radiator = 26mms, or fractionally a little more than 1".

While both radiator caps, best as I can measure, are also 26mms each deep!

Obviously those two caps don't/won't seal because they aren't deep enough for the spring to compress! Wondering with the approximately 10mm(0.4") greater depth of the Stant 10206, will the cap spring compress sufficiently to permit the cap to work?

Can someone measure the depth of their radiator filler neck and confirm it is 26mm, approx 1"? Earlier years should work too as the Cross Reference says 40->50.

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Sometimes called long reach caps over here and at 26-27mm as measured from the rubber seal to the top sealing flange it is the same in comparison with the one on the 47 which I believe was the same length as used thru 54. As far as I know it was functional on the car before it was taken apart almost 20 years ago.

Modern shorter caps which Packard went to in 55 are about 21mm and definitely won't seal.

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Thanks Howard.

Monday 2nd April, 2018

Topped the shocks up, 12ml in right, less than 2ml in left. Also topped up the radiator, while cold this time, bit less than 1 litre. Started car up and warmed it up, then switched off, let it cool then took some temp readings on the head and top of radiator. Started car again and ran till warm and repeated temp readings. Later still drove the 17.5 miles to Robertson where our Packard Club is joining the Classic Car Show on Sunday 8th. At Robertson again took engine temp readings and repeated temp readings on return home. Couple in the last set of readings are a fair bit higher then their neighbours, thoughts?

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Mal, I've been following this with interest, especially the overheating, but admittedly I am very rusty myself on this sort of thing as I am only recently getting back to working on mine after many decades. While waiting for the experts to reply, to me those temperatures seem quite normal. The hotter areas, which do not seem excessive, could be simply flow turbulence or possibly some slight build-up that a proper in-car flushing would fix. They seem to be mostly in the middle which always is warmer. If one end, such as the back of the block, were excessively hot I would worry but not as it looks in your chart.

However, and contrary what others have said, I cannot imagine ever running pure water in a system. Coolant is not just antifreeze but has lots of other properties that keep the cooling system at its top efficiency. I woud put it in sooner than later myself!

Thanks for those thoughts Don. As soon as possible will be getting a good both ways flush done. Just need my man to get back from New Zealand and arrangements made. Hope to have video of the flushes in action.

Sunday 8th April, 2018

Yesterdays events have conspired to put back any work or progress on the Packard. But why is this so? Because yesterday while showing my eldest son the Packard I tripped, and broke and dislocated my left wrist.

Fortunately, on Thursday. I'd polished the bumpers, cleaned and blackened the tyres and cleaned the glass in preparation for the Robertson Car Show today. Also fortunately Noel(aka tabletennissport) was meeting me this morning to travel with me in the Packard to the show. Little did he know he'd end up chauffeuring me in the Packard! Nice fine and sunny day but only 3 Packards at the show and probably about 200 cars all up. What of the wrist though? Comfortable at the moment after the dislocation was manipulated back into place in the Bowral Hospital Emergency Department and a temporary cast applied. Not in much pain and seeing an orthopedic specialist this week for review, permanent cast and further treatment, if required.

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Mal, get well soon!



image sources
#1 - eBay; item number 291032365142
#2 - unknown
#3 - hiveminer.com
#4 - edwardhandmedicalheritage.org

depiction #4: This was Quarryville's first ambulance, a Packard, shown in front of Swinehart's Body Shop in 1948. James Groff paid for the vehicle. It was second hand, purchased from the Christiana Ambulance Company. The body shop was located on land to the south of S. Book & Brother's warehouses, across Bank Alley. It was torn down in 1953, by Walter Hassel. L-R: Ray Immel, Art Swinehart. (S. L. C. H. S., Leon Landis collection.)

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Mal, time to trade for a Packard with an ultra-matic so you can drive with 1 hand.

Get well soon cause typing & driving with 1 hand is no fun.