Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

Made it safely to Idaho with some stops in Ohio and Wisconsin. We looked at America's Packard museum in Dayton, OH on Saturday. Some beautiful cars! And it made me feel good to see what mine might look like some day. I even noticed a few things missing on my car, like the piece of metal under the grill that directs air to the radiator.

On Sunday, we visited Henry Stellings in Prentice, WI. He restored a number of cars over the years, and had some parts I was interested in. He has a freshly rebuilt motor that I was interested in, but it was worth more to him than I was willing to pay. My engine runs just fine, but I'm looking for an uncracked spare, just in case. I was able to find a couple of things I was looking for. I got front fender braces and a radiator support that has an unmolested set of fender mounts. Also picked up a pair of rechromed bumper ends and a NOS trunk locking trunk handle. I don't think the bumper ends are right, they have hexagons. My understanding was that the hexagons were only present on the 120s.

I also bought a spare wheel. Interestingly enough, it has slots around the perimeter. Henry was pretty sure it was off of a 1937 115c convertible. Mine do not have slots. Backspacing, profile, and hole pattern are all the same. It will work fine for a spare, but my dad was following me in the car yesterday and said that my right rear wheel was wobbling a lot. Maybe it's bent, and if so I'll be looking for a wheel that looks exactly like mine, not just quite.

Mal, I had a package from you when I got to Idaho. Many, many thanks my friend.

Going to put my flex line on today as well as a fuel filter. When I drove the car yesterday, I had some surprisingly vapor lock-like symptoms. I'll put the fuel filter on to rule out rust from the tank, and test drive it when it's not 95!

Attach file:

---

  (53.79 KB)

Ken,
Wish I knew you were in Dayton, I would have driven my 39 Six Sedan to the museum to meet you. Glad to hear you had the opportunity to visit the museum. I expect there may be a few parts in their 'for sale' inventory for your 37.
Pat

Ken, my 115C has hex head bolts for the bumper guards. My wheels do not have any slots in them and the rears wobble slightly. Have a safe journey.

(o{}o)

Weren't the slotted wheels used with or part of the tire chain accessory? I have them on my 47 and recall a service bulletin or article on the proper use of the slots and chains. When were the chains first available?

Quote:

Pat,

I was going to put the word out on the forum, but in the chaos of moving, I didn't get a chance until Thursday or Friday, and when I went to go update the forum, it was down. That's how it goes, I guess. My last name is Packard, and there is sort of a family interest, so I'm planning on coming back to Dayton (and Warren) with my dad in a few years.

If I'm in your neck of the woods again, I'll look you up!

I was looking forward to meeting you as well, and would have brought my '40 down. As Pat said, we could have brought you up to the museum's parts department.

Quote:

That's my fault for procrastinating! By the time I was able to put the word out, I didn't have a way to do it. West, I have your business card, but I don't know where it's at. There will be another chance one of these days, I'm sure of it.

Cutting the floor board for the car today, as soon as I get a little more motivation (coffee) in my system. I'm not going to bolt it in because I'm hoping to find someone to do the body work in the near future.

I put the flex hose in Friday, and promptly discovered that I have a fueling issue. The car would start and idle promptly and smoothly, but as soon as I put the car under any load, it would sputter and die. I initially suspected vapor lock, but repeated the test when the ambient temp was about 70 instead of 95, and it did the same thing. I took a marine gas can and plumbed it to the fuel pump, car works great.

The power seems a little a low, and it still smokes a lot, but it runs really smooth. I'm hoping the more I operate it, the smoother it will run. I've put about 20 miles on it so far. I did lose two hubcabs though! They were probably not restorable anyway, but it was still annoying. I believe they came off on my parents driveway, so my dad will keep an eye out for them. The car has been christened however- my wife decided Evelyn was a period correct and appropriately elegant name.

Edit: The fuel starvation is caused by a cracked fuel pickup tube. The car I took it from was so rotted out that I removed the tube from the trunk. The brass line had some pitting, but was pretty decent. When I put it in my tank, I had to bend it slightly, and it cracked. I sealed it up with some Bill Hirsch miracle putty, but that was clearly insufficient. When I'm working on the car full-time again, I'll solder or braze the crack, or perhaps put on a new piece of tubing.

Early 37 Juniors had wheels without slots. Most of my 37's are early ones and all have no-slots. I believe sometime during the model year they came out with the slotted wheels and also curved door handles. (have been told the 36 and early 37's had straight door handles and would get caught on mens sleeves, hence the change. At one time I had conv curved handles and was told they were wrong for a 37 then the person came back and said yes they were later 37's, and still correct.

Well, based on straight door handles and no slots in my wheels, looks like my car is an early '37. Sure wish I had the original VIN. The gent I bought the car from had bought it without a title, then put the title (and VIN plate) from a parts car onto my car.

My Packard project has entered a new phase. :) I guess technically I have two now. I will definitely need seat belts....

Not too much going on due to work, geography, and baby. Still scrounging parts. Wiring harness on order, found an air dam. I am going to send my carb off in a while, I don't want to do it too soon since the car is sitting.

Also looking for a clean pair of front fenders in the Western side of the country.