Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

Great looking engine. Hope it runs as good as it looks after all that work.

The solution to the space problem is that Wade has to win a lottery somewhere so he can stop working on all those modern customer cars that seem to be taking up a lot of room.

Quote:Quote:Quote:Gents,

I'm sure Wade appreciates your support. And he's very pleased the engine is finally back in Big Red. What started as a quick overhaul about 10 months ago developed into a somewhat larger project. But with a 70+ years Packard that's part of the Fun, right?

Regarding The Castle this is a great and funny Aussie movie well worth a look if you can find a copy at your local video store.

And regarding the space problem, the other cars mentioned, apart from the Packards, all come under Rick or John's patronage. Like most workshops if there's a vacant space it usually isn't vacant for long.

Mal I haven't posted here for a while, I just have watched/read how you guys there manage all the engines and I just am speechless. This engine looks like a pice of art. I hope to get my engine as that far. Btw how much costs the silver like paint you used on the engine Block? I hope I can be ordered somewhere if its not a locally distributed thing?

Quote:Steve,

I thought I replied earlier on this but when I came back the reply wasn't there! Must now be circling endlessly in cyberspace. Anyway, since then I've been to PACA's AGM and had lunch with, among others, Wade. He tells me the paint is just spray can(US=rattle can) aluminium(US=aluminum) engine enamel and purchased from the local automotive parts store.

Of course after the meeting, the real meeting took place in the carpark where parts and stories were exchanged, see pic.

Attach file:

---

  (31.72 KB)

Thank you Mal although are you sure that spray paint will last on the engine long enough? Im asking this just in case.
Anther thing I have never asked you: how often to you clean the Air-cleaners of the Packards? Australia is known also for sandstorms and since the Great Victorian desert is not that far away the air might be filled whit a lot of dust!

Wednesday 10th February 2010

Was in early at the workshop, must have beaten Wade in by about an hour, that's exceptional! Disassembled the latest wind chimes apparatus of POR-15'd '41 parts. Discovered too many missed spots, which will be touched up next time round as well as three small pieces I missed completely! Also tidied up the parts, again.

When Wade arrived commenced on Big Red, by re-installing most of the left side accessories on the engine because Wade wanted to turn it over today to check oil pressure. Wade had attached the fuel/vacuum pump and oil cooler housing to the engine prior to it being re-installed. But had removed the oil cooler housing because the plumbing needed to be fitted, quite an awkward job with the fuel pump in place. Then the oil filter was installed complete with MBM gaskets. Next the road draft tube, also with a MBM gasket, anf=d the oil filler tube and cap. Starter motor in and wired up hooked up to the battery and the motor turned over. That was the theory, the starter spun but didn't engage! Disconnect starter and remove, place on bench and open up, fair bit of oil and dirt causing the starter gear to stick on the shaft because of that. Pulled the starter apart, cleaned everything, lightly lubed the bushes and back into Big Red and hooked up again. Mind you, at this point Wade's not trying to fire up Big Red just get oil through everything and show pressure on the gauge. Of course it would be hard to get it running without a head, manifolds, carb, distributor, etc, etc. Also used one of the shops booster batteries to get it spinning but it didn't last long and no pressure showed on the gauge. Left Wade to it as I went home to cut the grass, which is growing berserk with the rain, heat and humidity we've had here lately. Definitely no snow!

Attach file:

---

  (31.64 KB)


  (26.75 KB)


  (36.08 KB)


  (31.54 KB)


  (34.35 KB)


  (33.24 KB)


  (26.56 KB)


  (41.88 KB)

Thursday 11th February 2010

Couple of hours at the workshop this morning, the afternoon being taken up with the granddaughters. First was removing the rear trans mounts from Big Red as one had de-laminated. Then removing the right side crankcase mount or rather what was left of it. Seeing that Wade is leaving next week to be in New Zealand for their 2010 South Pacific Wild West Wander at the end of February and will be away all up for about a month he's taking the opportunity to have these mounts rebuilt while he's away. Next was re-installing the front seat back and bottom frame into Big Red. Reason this hadn't been done before was the cross shaft had broken gears on one side. Noel had brought a spare with him on Sunday to the PACA AGM and because it was wider than the broken original Stan, Wade's machining man, had narrowed it up so now the seat parts could be re-installed.

Then onto the engine again. With me observing the oil gauge capillary fitting on the right side of Big Red's block for signs of life = oil, Wade put the recharged booster battery to work. After some cranking, oil started to emerge from the block fitting so the Oil gauge capillary was reconnected to the block. Because of this my observation post was moved to the front seat of Big Red with my focus on the oil pressure gauge. And it moved, not much about 5lbs, but at cranking speed it is reassuring that oil IS flowing through Big Red's engine oiling system. Next was installing Big Red's head, with first a clean up of block and head surfaces. On with the new head gasket, on with the head and new washers and after a quick polish the domed and chromed head nuts. Torquing down in increments in the standard tightening pattern on a hot and humid day saw these duties rotated with Wade starting each sequence and me finishing them off. At this point I left the workshop to slip into my other life of babysitter, what a contrast!

Quote: Steve,

Regarding the spray paint, a couple of pic's below, it's rated to 120C/250F which should be more than adequate for it's crankcase/sump application. And paint is made by PPG Industries.

And regarding cleaning of our air cleaners, it's usually "as normal". The huge dust storm we had back in September was "abnormal", see this previous post. And you've increased my knowledge of Australia, when I looked up Great Victoria Desert, learn something new every day. The Great Victoria Desert is probably about 2,000kms west of Sydney and for dust to travel that far takes a combination of exceptional conditions to occur.

Attach file:

---

  (39.74 KB)


  (38.61 KB)


  (22.46 KB)


  (31.72 KB)


  (23.22 KB)


  (35.35 KB)


  (45.53 KB)


  (44.17 KB)


  (41.88 KB)


  (46.67 KB)


  (23.92 KB)


  (43.23 KB)


  (41.14 KB)


  (31.45 KB)


  (29.32 KB)


  (39.70 KB)


  (38.38 KB)

Thank you Mal, you never size to amaze me
Seems like the same kind of spray paint is here available to but under a different name and distributer.

Btw Mal have you considered making some videos of the first start and running of the rebuild Packard engine? Im not sure how many people here would wnat to see it, but I would like to.

Friday 12th February 2010

A couple of hours at the workshop this morning. While Wade worked on cleaning up some parts I was commissioned to make a gasket for Big Red's water pump. Proved more difficult than I initially thought as I didn't have an old one for a template. Measured up a piece of gasket material and cut to the rough size required. Used a ball-peen hammer carefully tapped out the water pump studs positions on the gasket paper. Then, using a punch set, cut the actual stud holes and placed the now 5 holed paper over the studs and against the block surface then hammered out the circular internal hole. Again using the hammer managed to hammer out the outside edge of the right hand side of the gasket. Cutting the hammered part off, then used that to trace the rest of the outside outline onto the gasket paper, couldn't tap right around the water pump block fitting because of obstructions. Result? A reasonable MBM gasket. Wade cleaned up the mounting surface of the water pump on the wire wheel then I gasket cemented all surfaces and installed the pump back onto the block. Wade also mounted the coil bracket and coil on Big Red's head, re-installed the temperature gauge sending unit and some other little tasks. Oh, and I found we had a template all along in the form of the old gasket. It was on the water pump housing but unless you looked very closely couldn't tell it was there. Only found when Wade went to clean up the gasket surface!

Wade and Gina are going to be away in New Zealand for the 2010 South Pacific Wild West Wander from early next week and wont be back until about mid March so reporting on workshop and related activities will slow down somewhat. I will be doing some work on the '41 and I'll report on that as it progresses.

Quote:Steve,

I'd certainly like to do a video but I don't know if I can. When Wade's '34 first fired up someone with a camera phone took about 30 seconds of video but it never got downloaded because these was some software problem in doing it. And I only have a cheap digital camera which is great for the pic's I take and post. But I think it probably has a video mode and, being a technological dinosaur, I haven't discovered it yet, even by accident! I will however investigate this to see if it will work. If not my #2 son has a little handi-cam thingie which I might be able to borrow for the big event. Then comes the problem of posting it here so my "tech support", #1 son, may be called upon to get the images from me to you.

Attach file:

---

  (29.33 KB)


  (35.44 KB)


  (34.43 KB)


  (35.57 KB)


  (35.08 KB)


  (40.59 KB)


  (37.46 KB)


  (40.45 KB)


  (40.24 KB)


  (41.35 KB)


  (33.27 KB)


  (33.35 KB)


  (24.39 KB)


  (39.99 KB)

Mal, I was 19 when my brother-in-law taught me how to make a gasket with a ball peen hammer. He was already an accomplished body-man and mechanic. I learned a lot in his garage. Brought back some good memories. I am a tad older now.