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Quick project on Van Halen between other projects. Both rear window handles had the knobs fall off a while back. I tried unsuccessfully to reattach using a brass washer. Then I stumbled upon this thread. I used inside locks instead of outside locks. Found a socket that fit then gently tapped it onto the shaft. The knobs still turn freely (careful not to push the lock ring in too far) and will likely never come off again.

Looks like a great solution!

We've had unseasonably nice weather here. The last few weeks have had no snow, lots of sun, and somewhat warm temps during the day. Low teens at night, but today we got up to 40. So my wife and I took the Panama out for a drive to stretch its legs and give it some exercise. Things were definitely struggling a bit at the beginning since it hasn't been driven for 3 months, but after a few miles the carb and engine had warmed up and started running well. Got a few miles of 55 mph driving in before putting it back away. We are loving having the sun out in the middle of winter.

Another nice day here today. Almost 60 degrees and had some sun. Hasn't been this warm since beginning of October. It was a long week at work, so I took the opportunity to drive and let the stress melt away. Filled up the tank with non ethanol and got a nice 15 mile drive in. Ran great.

Fantastic! Take another spin for me will ya! Still cannot see over the snowbanks to leave my driveway and it is well below freezing for the foreseeable, what pavement is exposed is caked with salt, sigh.
Bob J.

I've been wanting to clean up the engine bay and make it more correct/presentable. The pool filter cap that came with the car was not correct, so Rusty McRustface to the rescue. I pulled the cap from the boxes of parts I pulled off that engine and threw it in the sandblasting cabinet. Cleaned off all the ugly blue spray paint and rust. Then thoroughly cleaned it inside and out to clean it and prep it for use.



Primed and painted, added the correct decal also. Much better now.



Was going to put the decal on the air cleaner, but it crumbled into dozens of pieces. Must have been an old decal. These were from Max Merritt, so no idea how long they've been sitting. I'll order another one from the Packard Club because it's probably a newer production.

Looks good! Did you replace the fiber inside of it?

Quote:

You can replace the fiber inside? How do you do that? I just cleaned with carb cleaner, paint thinner, and brake cleaner. Looked much better when I was done but not perfect.

Not easily, that's why I asked!

I was reading through this thread, where Howard provided some info on turn signals that I was unaware of. I didn't realize that the turn signal indicators relied on the ground from the opposite side turn/park lamp.

My dash indicators have never worked. I had been using the 535 flasher which more or less works fine for the front and rear flashers. I've already added separate ground wires (several years ago) from the parking lamp reflectors to ground, and was able to get my parking lights and turn signals working, whereas they did not work at all when I got the car.

After reading the above thread I swapped the 535 flasher back to my original TungSol. Now when I turn on the turn signals, the correct indicator flashes brightly once, then extremely dimly after that (can barely make it out in the dark). Does the same on both sides. I've cleaned all the connections that I'm aware of. What am I missing? I would love to get the indicators working.