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Hi Dave

Congratulations on being featured, read and enjoyed the article thoroughly. You set a fine example of the conservator approach to classic car restoration and preservation. Would that there were many more people that did as you have for a half century and counting. That's a wonderful car, I've had the pleasure to see it a number of times, everytime amazed by its mostly original condition.

Steve

Dave, Im still trying to figure out how and why your axle broke? Rough road? Metal fatigue? Do you mind sharing that with us?

No Cormorant here yet. I can hardy wait, Congratulations Dave.

My thanks to all of you who read, enjoyed, and commented on the article; it's been a great 50 year journey, made more-so due to the company of some of you folks.

BDC, those rear axles are really monstrous and robust, I suspect failures were nearly unheard of. When inspecting the break, it was a clean fracture and a major part of the fractured surface was fresh, clean and bright steel but with a small segment of age discoloration so I suspect the axle had a flaw from the get-go. Not an easy axle to find, right and left are different lengths and the use was only on the 34 Eight (1100-01-02) and those 33 Eights with 14 inch brakes.

I would think the axle could be welded. The axle on our Speedster broke during the 10,000-mile one-month run around the U.S. in 1995. A guy who normally fixes farm equipment in L.A. (that's Lower Alabama) welded it before the replacement part arrived. The welded axle is still in the car and has gone several more thousands of miles.

I did consider that, West, your repair has done well but there are more stores of axle repairs with poor outcomes than successes. If I were unable to find another axle I was going to have a new one manufactured but in the end I finally found an entire rear axle assembly, the brake drums and everything in between, from the McGowan Bros. up in CT for just $200 or so.

I'll take a look at the broken stub today and see if a picture might be informative.

The stage coach carrying U.S. Mail with the Cormorant has not arrived in Austin. Maybe it is stuck up in Salado and staying at the Inn? Looking forward to reading O_D's article.

(o{}o)

Hi Dave,
it takes a while for post to come to the U.K with the Cormorant but I'm looking forward to reading your article about you 34. When did the axle break?
Take care
T

When did the axle break?

It broke within a week of my getting the car home from the 1999 Centennial in Ohio, probably the next time I took the car out. I was about 2 miles from home, stopped at a traffic light; the light turned green, I did the usual with the clutch and gas but the car didn't move even though the speedometer showed speed. Took me a second or two to figure out what had happened. AAA flatbed to the rescue.

Well The Packard Cormorant finally arrived. And, although it's been a while, well worthwhile with Dave's clear, well written and interesting article more than compensating for the wait. Dave, thankyou for sharing your story and the various insights into your Packard and passion.