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You'll also need to do the modifications to adapt the R11 to work with the 37 cane shift as all of those were setup for column shift. Ross would be the in-country expert for that conversion as there is fabrication involved.

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Yes, I’m aware. In the end, I may end up bringing the R11 transmission and my car back to Allen as he has done the mods before. For now, it’s just getting the transmission for future use. My winter projects, body, paint, and upholstery are first….adding overdrive is at the end of the list.

Not much time on the car today, but I did get the shackles and shackle bolts cleaned up. That included pushing the old grease out of the bolts with new grease. I have one grease fitting that plugged solid. I’ll get new fittings from Harbor Freight tomorrow.

Replacing all the grease fittings is what I've done on both cars. Usually $15 will buy you a box that will do a couple of cars and you'll have nice, clean, unrusted, and unclogged fittings. Which pay for themselves in lack of frustration.

Also having one of those quick release grease gun tips that securely hold onto the fittings is a god send.

Leaf spring question....

I'll be taking my springs to Atlas Spring in Wichita on Tuesday to either be reburshed/re-arched or have new springs made. I know the weight and rate ratings from the parts list and obviously have dimensions from the old springs. That's where the question comes in...

In the parts list intro section, the springs (part number 317820) are listed with a length of 54 inches and 2 inches wide. My springs are in deed 2 inches wide and when measured on the car and loaded the length was right on 54 inches.

With the springs removed from the car the springs are 50 inches in length.

Does this all sound correct? Not knowing, I guess I would have assumed the stated length in the parts list was the length off the car, but this doesn't seem to be the case.

Just wanting to know for my own educational purposes.


EDIT: one more question....the parts list shows a "bolt gasket" (qty 8) for the shackle bolts. Does anyone know what these are? I'm assuming they were on my car, but if they were, they totally disintegrated over time.

Okay…I answered my own question on the leaf spring length. Did a little internet searching and the correct way to measure is following the curve of the spring. Doing that, I indeed get 54 inches. It was just coincidental that I also got 54 inches straight across when loaded on the car.

I do still have a question about the “bolt gaskets” for the shackle bolts. I see just a small remnant that appears to just be a thin cork “washer”. Does anyone know what material and thickness these are?

We just got back from our short trip to Wichita.

First up, was a stop at Atlas Spring and Axle. I learned that my leaf springs were too far gone for re-arching, so they will be making new springs for me. The great news is that they said they will likely be able to ship them to me by the end of next week. A1 and Eaton Detroit had both quoted 8 to 10 weeks. I opted not to spend the extra money to have the leaves tapered like the originals. I also won’t be putting covers on like original. I’m trying to get to a good driver/touring car, not a show car. My rear shocks should be shipping back to me from Apple Hydraulics at about the same time as the springs.

Then, Kathy and I had a nice dinner with Allen Rich and Don Koller. It was nice to finally meet Don in person after talking to him on the phone a number of times. It was a fun time.

Then, this morning before getting on the road home, I stopped by Allen’s place to pick up a very good 23rd series transmission with R11 overdrive. This will get installed down the road a ways, but I’m looking forward to adding the overdrive. I plan on that being the only “modification” to my car. Even Dad is excited about having the overdrive added. Before he bought the Packard, he had a 1937 Chrysler Ariflow with overdrive and said he loved the overdrive. He said that Airflow was the only car he ever drove over 100 mph….then, he mentioned something about being young and not very smart!. Along with the transmission, I have the solenoid, governor, and speedometer cable. I know I can get a reproduction relay, and cable. I’m not worried about the wiring….that’s the one area I can handle easily on my own.

When I get new parts, I’m like a little kid at Christmas… I just had to go ahead and start cleaning them up. For tonight, I just cleaned up the solenoid and governor.