Packard Forum Index » General

In order to get some "running in" miles on the rebuilt engine in the '41, went for a leisurely drive in the Coupe this morning. Sydney provided a beautiful, clear blue sky, winter morning, with temperature about 8C, or 46F. I'd been meaning to drive in early, ever since the Coupe was back on the road early last year, to take some pic's with the Sydney Opera House in the background, but never got round to doing it. The "running in" provided the spur needed to get me going. After leaving home at Epping, proceeded along Victoria Road to Sydney then to Mrs Macquaries Chair where I proposed to take the pic's. But the trees along the foreshore coupled with my cheapie digital camera didn't allow me to do justice either to the setting or the Coupe. And because I'd driven in early, thought I'd be able to pick the best parking position for the pic's. Wrong, that's reserved for tourist buses! And even at the early hour involved there were bus loads of tourists which precluded that from happening. So leaving Mrs Macquaries chair behind, I drove to the other side of the harbour via the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and en route and on my arrival at Milsons Point took this video.

I know, I know, driving and taking a video at the same time doesn't make for safe driving. Have already had the rounds of the kitchen from my good wife over this lapse in judgement.


Stopped underneath the northern end of the bridge which provides alternate views of the city and the Opera House, then returned home via the Pacific and Epping Highways. The round trip put another 30 miles on the engine, making a total of about 120 miles since the rebuild.

And I will return to Mrs Macquaries Chair, in the near future, much earlier in order to beat the tourist buses and also with a better camera. You'll have noticed in the pic's, the running boards are not yet back on the Coupe, so that's what I'm off to do now. Finish the sanding still required, then next week take them down to the workshop for painting and remounting.

Attach file:

---

  (33.69 KB)


  (43.42 KB)


  (32.36 KB)

Looking sharp Mal!!! My wife likes the pic with the bridge and opera house in the background.

Looks good Mal!!


How are the running boards coming along?

Beautiful, both the car and the scenery. That last image is very pretty.

Mal, thanks for sharing your early morning drive photos with us. Sydney is such a beautiful city. It reminds me of San Francisco. I am liking the look of the '41 sans running boards. Do you know what Packard did when they offered the running board delete option. I know you have a king's ransom in time, effort, and money restoring the boards, but you might want to think about ordering the running board delete items from your local Packard dealer.

I am off to a local watering hole in about one-hour to join other Austin Formula One fans in watching the Canadian GP. I'll drive my2007 Honda S2000. I used to go to Montreal for the race and enjoyed it very much. Can't wait for F1 to come to Austin for the US GP in 2012.

Take care,

John

Mal, thanks for sharing the road trip. Beautiful vistas, beautiful automobile. Your tours and trips make me want to visit Australia.

I also like the look without running boards, AND without sidemounts Isn't there someone reproducing the rocker panels?
It's a beautiful car!

Perhaps they've come from parts cars but I know of several folks who have done the "running board delete" conversion and I'd guess that the parts can be found, though perhaps not easily.

Did the trip into Mrs Macquaries Chair again this morning, Monday because it's the Queen's Birthday public holiday here. Again a bright, clear, crisp Sydney Winter morning, just beautiful, very little traffic on the road, great for driving. Was up early, 4:30am local time, to watch Australia get thrashed 4 - 0 in the Soccer world Cup by Germany and went in after that, beating the buses but without an upgrade on the camera front. Did take some pic's but no videos. Unfortunately the trees also obscured the view in this position, C'est la vie. By the way, the car is about a 10 footer, closer and you'll start to see the little things that detract from it.

Thanks for all the great comments, Sydney and it's harbour are very pretty and if you're thinking of ever making the trip down-under you won't be disappointed. We'll throw some prawns(shrimp) on the Barbie at the workshop when you do.

Regarding the running boards or rather the lack of them, progress is being made to get them back on later this week. Need to finish sanding them then will paint the undersides with POR-15 and the rhino'd topside with bumper bar paint. Although that could be dependent on other factors, see below. The option of going sans running boards is really not an option. Not for the scarcity of parts, although that is a factor, or my personal preference to retain them, I like the look with the running boards in place. But the primary reason is no less than that great largely unrecognized Packard authority, my wife Kath. Irrespective of your learned gentlemen's opinions and advise, "she who must be obeyed" always had the last say in this matter!

On the way home the OD started making expensive sounding noises. Lots of rumbling sounds but not all the time. Will engage the OD but seems to stay in it rather than dropping out when speed drops below 15 mph as stated in the manual. Not always but most of the time. Tried to lock out OD, also per the manual, which advises to do so by depressing the clutch at any speed below 60 mph and operating the lock out cable. Lots of grinding noises so I didn't try to force it. The manual also advises never to lock out the OD while not in motion. I'd done that earlier in the week, but before I read the manual, seems I may be my own worst enemy if that was a contributing factor. Because of all this, the patient('41 120 Coupe) may need a referral from it's present doctor(Wade) to a specialist(Peter Packard or PeterL) for diagnosis and further treatment.

Attach file:

---

  (48.21 KB)


  (43.79 KB)


  (45.32 KB)


  (47.86 KB)


  (48.25 KB)

My experience with my own o.d. sounds very similar to yours. I've come to the point where I NEVER engage or disengage the lock-out while in motion, and it seems to like that way best.