Packard Forum Index » General

Interesting VE event today:

Seems the Commemorative Air Force did a low speed, low altitude fly-over of the general Phoenix area. I was sitting in my home office and heard the unmistakable sound of 'big round engines'. I ran out of the house just in time to see a North American B-25 (likely the Maid in the Shade), a Boeing B-17 (likely the Sentimental Journey), and a Douglas C-47 (likely the Old Number 30). Just as I spotted them they flew out of sight around a local rock formation.

Wow 16K + cubic inches rumbling around the sky, and I didn't think to take a camera or cell phone. I live about 9 miles north of Falcon Field, which is the CAF's home base. During the winter you'll occasionally see individual or multiple WWII aircraft, but the larger aircraft normally don't fly in close formation. Today they sure did.

Quite a sight, we had Wright's and Pratt's, but alas no flying Packard's today.

dp

Forged V8 crank and aluminum flywheel.

Attach file:

---

  (266.81 KB)


  (275.42 KB)


  (376.62 KB)

Ok, I'm intrigued.

What are the plans for these?

OK, we will rename this entry NO fun with used cars.
Did a "carry-out" Twin Ultramatic for a transmission shop that was having trouble. Later when I saw the appalling workmanship done on the old Ultramatic I regretted handing them a rebuild and expected the worst. Yep, the phone call came--"your tranmission doesn't work" Oog. So I called in a big favor from a good friend and he brought the car up from 300 miles away.

Rolled the car off the trailer, started it up and seleted Drive. Huge ruckus from the rear end, speedometer jumps up to 25 but no car movement. Gingerly step out of the car and look underneath to see the driveshaft spinning merrily.

THAT was the key sheared off in the brake drum, the drum and axle ruined from running loose a long long time. So began a long day of painful and astonishing discoveries such as:

wrong nut loosely fitted on the other axle.

front wheel bearings drawn up so tight I almost needed to get a breaker bar to undo the right one.

Air shocks installed on a torsion level car.

Brake switch unplugged--the reason the leveler wasn't working.

New e-brake cable installed uniquely wrong with home made fitting.

Intermediate brake cable twisted and with evidence of multiple cable shorteners.

Two, count them, two electric fuel pumps installed in different locations. In series. They both run when one turns the key,

New tank installed but sender wire hanging nearby.

rear brake lines run so they can be smashed by the jounce bumpers. One mashed already.

Hoses run in a random pattern to the power steering.

Two primary shoes on one side, two secondaries on the other.

And yes, there is more, but that is enough.

And THAT is why you should read the posts on Packard info and examine your shop manual.

Attach file:

---

  (177.96 KB)


  (472.78 KB)

And that is just the stuff you see......

Ross,
I did not work on that car!
"I was never in aisle 7"!

youtube.com/watch?v=iXep_sMhgTo

Quote:

Here you are.

Have been sketching up the next roadster using a 51-54 chassis. Am intrigued with the Bugatti Aerolithe and its riveted seams so decided to use that motif on the next build. Here is a rear fender I did to test the effect. Basis was a trailer fender. My friend says it looks like something from Mad Max, but I like it.

Attach file:

---

  IMG_0733.JPG (270.16 KB)


  IMG_0737.JPG (303.30 KB)


  IMG_0747.JPG (315.67 KB)


  IMG_0751.JPG (168.37 KB)

A pivotal feature of this 2nd Roadster is the loooong hood. I've been thinking for a an equally long time how to fabricate it. Yesterday was the day and with the help of Andy Mylin of "Packard Tees" fame we were able to pull it off, or rather, roll it out.

With carefully drafted templates in hand we cut two identical and very floppy 6' long blanks of 20 gage steel. First step was rolling in an elongated cone shape with the English wheel to match the leading and trailing edge templates. Next up was marking and rolling in a character line step with a bead roller. This will give a vanishing point effect when seated in the car and make the hood seem even longer.

Next up was folding up the center flange and the traditional Packard shoulders. Again the center flange mimics the Aerolithe design cue --and making the hood in two halves was way easier. Last up was welding in some reinforcements on the outer edges and and spotwelding the two halves together.

The result was satisfying to say the least and is by far the largest panel I've ever attempted.

Attach file:

---

  IMG-2347.jpg (241.20 KB)


  IMG-2348.jpg (191.75 KB)


  IMG-2352.jpg (209.68 KB)


  IMG_0766.JPG (308.99 KB)


  IMG_0768.JPG (256.18 KB)

Nice