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Perhaps I am not remembering correctly--doesn't a 115 have a different bolt pattern than a 120? Might want to double check that your new spare will bolt on. But it is lovely.

Per the parts book it looks like they are the same; I think it's the earlier 120 wheels that are different from the 1937 and up.

But better to test it before you need it!

1937 115c & 120c are both 16" 5x5. The 120c calls for a 700x16 tire and the 115c a 650x16.

Kev is correct, wheels are identical, except for the pin striping. I'm sure now that I have it, I'll never need it, but I would rather that way than the other. The 7.00-16 looks good in the trunk!

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A career move, or a career change?

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Just a career move. Back to Virginia for a few years.

Ken.

Winter weather and home projects means there hasn't been a lot to report on the Packard front, but it's warming up, and spring driving season is here in full force.

I did take the car for two long drives, necessitated by a small driveway and intrusive maintenance on my wife's car (OT aside - on the Audi 3.0T engine, you have to pull the supercharger to replace the thermostat! Mine was leaking) My enclosed car trailer is stored about 25 miles from my house, so in between a snow storm and a forecasted rainstorm, I drove the car down and put it in my trailer. About 3 weeks later, I drove down yesterday and picked it up. The drive home, through the suburbs of the great Hampton roads area, took about an hour.

The car behaved perfectly. Started easily, and I backed it out of the trailer and let it warm up while observing it. It took itself through the entire warmup cycle, came off high idle, and idled smoothly for about 15 minutes while I had a conversation with the gentleman who owns the property where I store my trailer. A little bumpy at first, but once the tires warmed up, everything was smooth sailing on the way home, so that was great. I really wish I had time to drive across the country, because I think I could hop in the car and drive to California or similar today. I don’t, so I can’t test that, but it’s a good feeling.

That said, I do have an exhaust leak that is driving me crazy. It seems to be intermittent. Often, I hear a slight tick, especially at idle or light acceleration. Some days, it doesn’t make a sound unless I warm it up, park for a while, and then take off again with the engine warm. Other days, like yesterday, it occurs almost immediately. I’ve had the manifolds machined smooth, replaced the gaskets (manifold to block, hot box, and manifold to exhaust pipe) and the problem still recurs. I’ve checked the torque of all the fasteners multiple times. I think my next step will be a soap bubble test, probably as the engine is warming up, or with hot water, so I don’t thermally shock the cast iron.

Once I get that fixed, I’ll have a few small items on the punch list, but she’s ready for spring!

That sounds great, Ken. I’m a little jealous. The weather has been gorgeous here and my car is in a million pieces. I’m certainly having fun seeing my car getting the needed repairs, but I sure miss driving it.

Unless yours is a solid joint, any chance the exhaust leak could be down as far as the muffler inlet clamp area and the noise is telegraphing? If a clamped joint possibly a hanger or support somewhere along the entire length of the exhaust system is allowing excess movement and an intermittent leak at that first joint.