Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

Mal, thanks for the close-up photo of the full flow oil filter on the '38. I am impressed with your memory and recall of my post to your blog some time ago. Could you also get for me (and others) a close-up view of the oil lines connections to the oil pump cover plate? It would be an interesting project to have a full flow oil filter on the 115C. Too hot to work in the garage these days. Austin, Texas is about to set a record for the number of days of temperatures at 100F and above. We are at 62 and the record is, I believe, 69 set in the 1920s. It is getting a little tiring. It is our "Minnesota Winter". I blame Al Gore. Take care . . .

Friday 28th August 2009

Before going to the workshop rang the guy in Victoria who bought my '38 sedan at auction last month. I'd tried to email him a couple of times but they kept bouncing back, so direct contact was required. Turns out the guy, Peter, has Mercedes and when I asked him why he bought the Packard said he saw it at the auction and liked it! Fair enough. Had it trucked back to Victoria and has been driving it, being impressed with the car itself and the engine. I was able to give him some info about it and he told me he is getting a new radiator because of it's propensity to run hot. Invited Peter to join PACA(Packard Automobile Club of Australia) and mailed him a copy of "The Packardian" our bi-monthly magazine, a reprint '38 owner manual(there was one in the glovebox when it went to auction!) and some membership forms.

At the workshop arrived just in time to see the guys, Wade, John, Rick and Graham starting to re-arrange things so the '34's body could be re-positioned. Yesterday Wade, accompanied by PACA member Peter L had taken the car trailer to Helensburgh and picked up the body and other parts from the paintshop. They still have some more parts to paint including the fenders, hood and grill shell. I started taking pic's and Wade promptly stuck his camera in my hand with instructions to get some pic's for him. So there I was, a camera in either hand, snapping away usually alternatively with my camera and then Wade's camera. Fortunately the guys had it all under control so my in-expertise wasn't required and I continued my work as official photographer. The body ending up positioned between the '34 chassis and the engineless Big Red up on it's jackstands.

Next joined Wade in his Ute for the trip over to Marrickville to JJ Smith's to pick up Old Blues radiator. Turns out it was about 20% blocked so there will be a marked improvement in cooling efficiency when it goes back in. On the way to JJ Smith's discussed the projects at the Workshop and my want for the Coupe's engine to be overhauled. They are the 1) '34 - long term restoration, 2) '37 120 - re-install radiator and front clip and will be able to do in the next few days, 3) '37 Super 8 - rebuild engine and re-install together with radiator and grill. Wade had received a set of big-end bearings on the weekend at Shannon's Eastern Creek display day but it turns out they don't fit! So until some replacements can be sourced Big Red's not going anywhere. 4) '39 110 - remove old engine and install re-built engine sitting on floor shop still need a few parts but should be pretty straightforward and 5) '41 120 - rebuild engine and clutch, trans and O/D as required, but the '41's work will be dependent on what's happening with the other four.

I'd also phoned Peter, at Rhino linings earlier in the morning, and learned if I could get the '41's running boards to him today they'd be ready early next week. So with photographic responsibilities completed that was my final Packard destination for the day.

Attach file:

---

  (25.69 KB)


  (27.02 KB)


  (30.88 KB)


  (35.62 KB)


  (35.87 KB)


  (40.29 KB)


  (31.71 KB)


  (21.21 KB)


  (26.97 KB)


  (35.72 KB)


  (31.87 KB)


  (24.88 KB)


  (33.22 KB)


  (33.22 KB)


  (23.45 KB)


  (20.35 KB)


  (30.17 KB)


  (21.78 KB)


  (23.10 KB)


  (22.60 KB)


  (16.02 KB)


  (24.30 KB)


  (24.13 KB)


  (27.58 KB)


  (16.02 KB)


  (19.64 KB)


  (14.12 KB)


  (18.75 KB)


  (33.28 KB)


  (36.63 KB)


  (22.98 KB)

Hi Mal,
The 34's starting to look great again. You two are certainly doing some good things resurecting old Packards.
Any chance of a Pic or two of the heat riser valve either side of the exhaust manifold under the carb?
Speak to you again soon in regard to the rear lower shock mount details
Uh roo
Terry

Terry, didn't I send you a sketch of the heat riser valve for the 1934 Eights? If not I can add it here.

Mal, this project never seises to amaze me,it is interesting to read what happens one at the other side of the world

Quote:
Terry,

Don't confuse me with what I'm posting here. All the credit should go to Wade, I follow along and pass spanners, scrape dirt and grease, paint parts and take pic's.

Will be at the workshop this morning, Saturday, so will get the pic's you want. And JW I'll get yours too!

And I haven't forgotten the rear lower shock mounts. I'll get under the '34 chassis soon and measure it up for you.

And Steve(Hardtop),

You're amazed?

I'm the one who's constantly amazed!

Hey Mal,

Got a quick question about the 34. Were the doors removed for painting, or left in place?

Saturday 29th August 2009

Arrived at the workshop to find I'd beaten Wade in, a rare event! Turns out Wade was doing some "errands" for Gina who left earlier in the week for 6 weeks overseas including 2 weeks in Syria, a very adventurous lady! Anyway without Wade I turned to satisfying Terry and John's picture requests which can be seen below. Then cleaning the '41's running board trim pieces. There are 22 pieces with 7 pieces at the front and 4 at the rear of each board each held by 3 clips to the board. During the course of removing the trim pieces last month and cleaning them today on the wire wheel a number of clips broke. So if anyone has any spares I'm in the market for at least 12. While I went to the workshop today with the intention of helping Wade put the front clip and radiator back on Old Blue, they'd already been put in place yesterday and this left Wade the task of bolting it back in today. Because my services weren't required, I continued cleaning all the running board hardware and trim. Except that is for the S/S spear at the side of each board. The spear consists of a long steel "core" with a formed S/S covering. The left side S/S is very beat up while the right side is missing the S/S cover and was painted black when I got the car. Initially I won't be putting the spears back on the boards while I consider a couple of solutions to the problems I face with them.

Quote:
Hobbs,

When I see Wade next, I'll ask him.

And for those interested in colours/codes/etc that info is coming at a future date

Attach file:

---

  (34.87 KB)


  (19.07 KB)


  (28.91 KB)


  (27.87 KB)


  (32.18 KB)


  (32.55 KB)


  (21.02 KB)


  (30.40 KB)


  (27.17 KB)


  (33.34 KB)


  (26.36 KB)


  (24.01 KB)


  (19.01 KB)


  (30.02 KB)


  (28.45 KB)


  (22.46 KB)


  (15.37 KB)


  (33.85 KB)


  (26.00 KB)


  (28.67 KB)


  (16.48 KB)


  (37.13 KB)


  (29.04 KB)


  (26.39 KB)

Well,Mal I think that there aren't that many places in the world where people have fun with old Packards.
And the main question, did the 1930s Packards hade any anticorrosion works done before they came out of the factory?
I think they must have used lead but maybe there was something els to?

Quote:
Steve,

I'm sure there are plenty of people having fun with Packards. And my situation certainly is terrific "fun", it's also dirty, rewarding, frustrating, entertaining, exciting, expensive but I wouldn't change it for anything because it's also magic. At least it is to this 62 year old who thinks he's 18 again!

But, I'll leave answering your question to the experts. Over to you guys!