Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

Thursday 27th January 2011

Quote:

Dropped into the workshop, for a couple of minutes, and saw that Graham had returned the rough cut alternator mounting plate for Mat's '34. Speaking of Mat, he's probably winging his way to the PI Meet as I type this. Good luck to all the Aussies and the other PackardInfo members attending.

Attach file:

---

  (21.14 KB)


  (25.93 KB)

I suppose Wade already knows this, but you can't just block off the oil cooler plate with a flush plate unless you've modified the interior of the side plate internal jacket. If not, there is no path for the cooling water to reach the rear cylinders.

Wade probably does, but thanks for the heads up just in case! Looked at some of the pic's I've taken recently and see what you're saying. The take off on Mat's side plate for the oil cooler has been capped for some time but the cap is domed so water will circulate. As Wade has said on numerous occasions, Mat's '34 has been "got at"

Attach file:

---

  (42.15 KB)


  (28.00 KB)

Saturday 29th January 2011

No not Wade's Workshop today but Camden County Customs, aka Hot Rods by TJ. During the week received a call from Chris, starliner, enquiring whether I'd like to see what progress had been made on his '48 Club Sedan Woodie since early December? I did, and arranged that Chris would pick me up on his way through. Best part about that was the ride was in Chris's '54 Clipper Super Club Sedan. And after the drive there and back I'm impressed with the way it goes, handles and stops(BTV and all!). In fact Chris has been so impressed with the '54 Clipper's handling that things like Jag rear end, IFS and disc brakes as well as converting to RHD for the '48 have been shelved in favour of retaining the original suspension and steering!
At Camden County Customs found the '48 '49 Woodie, more of that later, now has a roof! The roof came from a HQ Holden Station Wagon and because TJ had been unsure whether he'd find a roof which would fit without too many dramas that was why the original roof had been cut off and stored in case it had to go back on! TJ says he now sleeps better at night. I took many pic's of the '48'49 while Chris and TJ discussed what had been done as well as what was to come. Chris also brought with him the radio he bought on eBay for $22(only bidder) but shipping to Oz was $120, and it's the right one, ugly hole in the dash now filled. During the course of all this three guys arrived to see TJ and the cars he was working on. They are all old time Hot Rodders and I was able to reminisce with them about cars and characters from my mis-spent youth. In fact it turned out the Hot Rod '28/29 Model A 3 window coupe I once owned had been owned later by one of these guys who converted it back to a Sports Coupe! Also turns out this same guy knows Harvey, went to the same school and now sees him about once a week. Small world.
Anyway back to the '48, '49. Asked Chris to pop the bonnet(hood) which he/we did after a bit of fumbling. This was the first time I'd had the pleasure of popping a bathtubs bonnet(hood) and experienced first hand how it opens from either side - a neat piece of engineering. Once under the bonnet(hood) my attention was taken by the Thief Proof Number, but I don't think I've made a "discovery" like I did with Michael's '52 Touring Sedan. Then to the ID plate, and there I was able to point out to Chris his is a '48 re-numbered as a '49 so that explains the . Dave, for your research, see pic's below of Thief Proof, ID and Engine Numbers. I see that the engine number is in the range of '48 22nd Series cars but this is explainable by being re-numbered as a '49?

Link to Picasa Album of todays pic's

Attach file:

---

  (29.54 KB)


  (37.75 KB)


  (37.35 KB)


  (27.18 KB)


  (40.33 KB)


  (39.41 KB)


  (34.25 KB)


  (63.01 KB)


  (44.84 KB)

Short video of Chris's '54 Clipper Super Club Sedan.

Chris's car look great Mal.

Monday 31st January 2011

Arrived at the workshop to find Old Blue.....gone! Actually this was expected because Wade has sold the old girl! And that's why there was some cleaning and minor adjustments carried out on her a couple of weeks ago. However I was sworn to secrecy at the time until the deal was done. What happened was that Barry, bksmith, has had his '37 120 Touring Sedan up for sale for some time and hadn't had any interest until recently when 3 serious buyers popped up. The first of whom Max, from Geelong in Victoria, bought the car. Now with more buyers than Packards to sell, and knowing that Wade had mentioned he was interested in selling his '37 120 Touring Sedan, AKA Old Blue, Barry referred one of the buyers Wade's way. The day Wade gave Old Blue a wash was actually the day David and Shelley, the now new owners, arrived to inspect and go for a test drive in the old girl. Old Blue departed the workshop, probably for the last time, Thursday of last week. One of the things that Wade told David and Shelley before they left was that in the 23 years he'd had Old Blue he'd never had a puncture. And wouldn't you know it, half an hour after they drove out Wade received a phone call to say they'd just suffered a puncture! But luckily it happened outside a tyre store, so salvation was at hand, and a new tube later were on the road again. David and Shelley are from the Gold Coast area of Southern Queensland and will be driving Old Blue home in the near future.

Although the workshop is now lighter by one Packard I tried to redress the situation somewhat by arriving with the radio for Chris's '48 '49 Woodie tucked under one arm and a box of timber pieces, Chris had fixed or made for Wade, under the other. Then it was into Big Red and off to Burt Bros to pick up the resurfaced flywheel, rebuilt pressure plate and new clutch plate for Noel's '39. It was good to be out chasing Packard parts in a Packard. Back at the workshop Wade re-installed the flywheel, then the pressure and clutch plates in the '39 with a little muscle assistance as required. While Wade was doing that I started on the next stage of the alternator mounting bracket for Mat's '34. And with my lack of skills there was a whole lot more measuring and checking before I started scribing lines on the mounting plate. And still more checking and measuring as I went. The lines were the centrelines for the series of holes I had to drill to mount the plate on top of the engine side plate, because if I'd drilled a hole in the wrong place it could have been very unforgiving. Fortunately all were OK, although I did drill two holes I needn't have but they are not in a critical area. So now we have a mounting plate for the alternator that fits on top of the side plate in Mat's '34. Still more work required because six of the holes require countersinking to accommodate some of the short studs where the oil cooler was located.

Wade was also busy under the rear of Mat's '34 where he was replacing the right rear spring. He'd started late last week, by taking Mat's spring out, and was partway through replacing it with one of the originals from The Fossil. Wade had had a pair of rear springs made for The Fossil in lieu of the originals so just happened to have a pair "on the shelf". The replacement spring is now almost in place but a snag has been struck. The head on the spring centre bolt from The Fossil is 0.566" in diameter while the head on the spring that came out is 0.499", not a great deal of difference but enough to stop the replacement spring from seating into it's mount under the diff housing.

During the course of all this Harvey arrived, literally bearing gifts. Something practical for Wade, some new springs for Super 8 harmonic balancers, as well as other balancer internal parts. While for me, just see the pic's below. In return Wade was able to supply Harvey with the Sylphon thermostat he needs for one of Vince's '39. And tomorrow John, Appin, is bringing his '40 110 Sedan over for some help on his OD per this thread. I happened to see PeterP, the previous owner of John's car, at a car club meeting tonight and he has passed on some advice which might be useful tomorrow.

Attach file:

---

  (42.17 KB)


  (22.71 KB)


  (41.06 KB)


  (28.92 KB)


  (34.87 KB)


  (35.06 KB)


  (35.64 KB)


  (46.53 KB)


  (30.25 KB)


  (36.68 KB)


  (34.72 KB)


  (45.84 KB)


  (44.05 KB)


  (31.52 KB)


  (30.75 KB)


  (35.95 KB)


  (34.99 KB)


  (36.43 KB)


  (37.35 KB)

Tuesday 1st February 2011

Quote:
Unfortunately John couldn't make it into the workshop today, it'll probably be tomorrow so with Appin not 'appining, turned to Mat's '34 rear springs again. Wade G clamped the leaves together on the right rear spring taken from Mat's '34 and removed the centre bolt. Then the replacement spring mounted in the '34 was similarly dealt with. Centre bolts were then exchanged so Mat's spring centre bolt is now in the new spring. It was still a fight to get the centre bolt to align with the diff housing mount entailing jacking of springs, pry bars, brute strength and swearing. A combination of all that finally cracked the code and the spring slipped into place with the centre bolt head secure in the mount. U-bolts and lower mount back on together with shock absorber mount and all tightened up. Wade mentioned that when he pulled the U-bolts off last week that most of the nuts were only finger tight and two spring washers were missing! Went back together with the correct number of washers and properly tightened.

It was then the left rear springs turn to be replaced. First the old one came out, relatively easily, hardest part was the front spring mount pin which needs to be driven out through the valance panel. When the pin came out instead of there should being a "spacer", for want of a better term, that goes between the inside end of the pin and the washer and nut which hold it in place there wasn't one! A search of the shelves failed to find a replacement so instead settled for a large thick washer thing which required it's centre to be bored out to fit and, Voila, we had one. That sorted, the spring centre bolt exchange again took place but this time with both springs out on the workshop floor, making it somewhat easier. Then the replacement Fossil spring went back in, also necessitating jacks, pry bars, brute strength and swearing, sometimes called "words of encouragement". And on this side the lower shock link, although it had a nut on it, didn't have the rubber bush or the necessary retaining washer. All I can say is it now does, thanks again to Wade's wonderful supply of Packard parts. Mat's '34 is now back on the shop floor and again sitting like a Packard should.

Speaking of pulling things off the shelf, Wade pulled out a new muffler he'd brought in from the US for The Fossil but didn't use for the restoration. Looks like Mat's exhaust system will be the beneficiary of this together with new engine and tail pipes which will require Tony, of Quikfit Mufflers, expertise.

And Terry, traumjagaercat, with the lower spring/shock mounting plates off Mat's '34 I was able to do some measurements for you. Although I'd said I'd do this some time ago the right opportunity only just arose and I didn't forget! Will forward these details separately once I'm able to decipher the scribbles I made to record the measurements.

Attach file:

---

  (37.90 KB)


  (43.49 KB)


  (39.15 KB)


  (29.09 KB)


  (35.20 KB)


  (45.99 KB)


  (27.84 KB)

G,day Mal,
Sorry to see "OLD BLUE" gone but seems to have gone to a good home.
Thanks in anticipation for the drawings. You seem to be doing well with all these new fabrication challenges Wade gives you to do
Take care
Terry

Hi Mal,

WOW! Looks like you have been very busy at the workshop. The car is looking fantastic... Are you sure it's the same car?

The PI meet was fantastic, your going to have to come over to experience it.

Russ & I get back next Sunday. Ill try and catch up with you & wade next weekk if I get a chance

Cheers,
Mat