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Wednesday 29th July 2009
Prior to going to the workshop rang John Cain the importer of the radial tyres for the Coupe and he advised that the second two are arriving in Oz in the next few days. Wade is travelling up to Newcastle to meet Barry, whose '38 V12 arrives on the same ship, and will pick up the tyres then as well as some other parts, and if it works out Barry will drive the V12 home to Tamworth. Looks like I'll have to get cracking on getting the new wheels ready for the new tyres. Also rang Harvey and arranged that Wade and I would go over later in the morning to see the '39's he's working on and specifically the front seat back plates with a view to replicating them for the '41.

Arriving at the workshop found it to be full of fumes because Wade had the '34 up and running again. Yesterday he's filled the diff and trans on it with oil and wanted to circulate it as best he could in a static environment. And when I say up and running the back end of the '34 was up on jack-stands and in gear so the diff and trans were working although not under load. Wade ran it for a fair while to get the engine and cooling system hot enough so that the shutters opened. And they did! Took a while because the engine is not enclosed and wasn't under load.

Next was getting our stuff together to visit 1) ABC Bearings, 2) Lee Brothers, 3) Harvey and the '39's and 4) Jaycar. At ABC, Wade was seeking to source some plugs for the new cam follower roller bearings. Didn't have anything but suggested machine screws. So at Lee Bros, while I secured S/S screws for the Coupe's new cowl beading, Wade obtained some hex headed machine screws and taps to suit.

Harvey and the '39's were next and it was nice to see "Kermit" sporting it's re-chromed bumpers. Looks finished now. Examined Kermit's front seat back retaining plates and took pic's of them. Yes I remembered the camera today! But I didn't take any pic's of the "bump stops", for want of a better term, on the '39 120 Convertible Coupe. Haven't looked at the '41's setup yet but will do so tomorrow. Harvey showed Wade what he's been up to and what he's going to do. This will probably entail taking out the 120's engine as it has, as they say in the vernacular, "issues". There is a lot, a real lot, of scale and rust as will be evidenced in the pic's taken and the water pump is seized. The car has sat for the last 15 years so this is no real surprise. And Harvey was saying something about a hole being welded up in one of the pistons by the previous owner. After refreshments of tea and coffee our travels continued.

At Jaycar it was quickly in and out, purchasing some cable ties. Then on the way back to the workshop talking about John and the rebuilt engine Wade is going to swap in for him it was decided if possible to go see John so Wade could look at a few things on the '39 before it hits the workshop. John was available, Wade looked at the '39, in particular the carburettor a Tillotson Y R2 and the radiator hoses. Talking to John previously it transpired that when he bought the '39 a whole heap of spares came with it including a '38 floor shift trans. This now gave me the opportunity to see the trans and from the outside it didn't look too impressive but taking the top off it LOOKS good inside. Together with a pair of brake dust sealing rings(my term - they cover the gap between the brake drum and backing plate to exclude dust, etc from entering the brake assembly) we left John's with Wade better equipped for the job when the time comes.

Back at the workshop I cleaned up the Coupes cowl and POR-15'd the strip under where the new cowl beading will be installed. And earlier this morning I'd found the cowl beading, where I'd left it of course, in my top desk drawer. Still haven't worked out how to flat bend the beading, because of it's too ridges, without kinking it. Even rang the supplier but his experience was limited to straight runs of tape type beading although he did suggest soaking in hot water, bending and then compressing under weight or using a heat gun to warm bend it. Not sure yet what we're going to do but as I have extra beading a little used and lost in experimentation will be well worth it.

Then I turned to the '41's running boards. Needed to finish removing the excess rubber still remaing and for this I rounded up an old wood chisel from home. With high expectations sharpened it up and it turned out to be next to useless. So back to the original plan and out with my trusty scraping knife and after a pleasant 2 hours the boards are now smooth and relatively free of petrified rubber. Any residue remaining will be taken care of when they are sand blasted next week.

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Hi Mal
That Wheelbarrow now just needs an engine and you can drive it!
Barrie

Thursday 30th July 2009

First up at the workshop Wade checked the bore of Big Red's engine because he's going to purchase new pistons rings. Wanted to be sure it was 0.060" oversize, which it was. Then checked the ring thickness, the top three compression rings all 1/8" while the oil ring is 5/32". Because Wade wanted to check this was correct I referred him to O_D's post of:
Quote:
Wade, happy that the ring sizes were confirmed, then asked John to see if he could source some locally. Expectations were high, following finding rings for Kevin's '35 locally last year, but it was not to be this time. So Max, looks like you'll get some more business from Wade in the near future.

After that turned to the cowl beading for the '41. Decided to try heating again with John's hair dryer, not that John needs a hair dryer, but this time to heat the outside of the beading and stretch that side so the inside doesn't buckle. A test heat and stretching, by manually pulling the outside bead, saw good results. So we, that is Wade, continued until enough of the beading was curved to approximate the bend required on the top of the left side cowl Installation was left to me and this was accomplished by using an awl to pierce a hole through the beading starting at the top of the cowl then a S/S self tapping screw was inserted but not done right up. Holding the beading in place the next hole was similarly made and a screw inserted. This continued, until reaching the last hole of the 9 required, the beading was trimmed to give an end to that piece. All accomplished, the screws were then tightened up and the bonnet(hood) was closed to apply pressure which should smooth out any minor variations in the beading. Same again for the right side and all was done.

Next turned to the underside of the '41. Now the running boards are off, I can access areas of the frame and underbody that I couldn't last year. So started scraping the surface rust, dirt and paint of the newly accessible areas in preparation to POR-15'ing them prior to re-installing the running boards shortly.

And earlier, before going to the workshop, I'd phoned Spectrum Rubberhttp://www.spectrumrubber.com.au/index.html who may have clips for the fore and aft trim pieces on the running boards because some broke during dis-assembly. Couldn't believe it when I found their site and under P for Packard was a listing of various parts available. But it was too good to be true, as I found out when the guy there told me their range was now quite limited. Nevertheless on Saturday, timing permitting, I'm going there to see if they have any clips and taking samples as suggested.

During the time I spent under the '41, just like old times with nose, eyes and ears filling up with dust, dirt and rust particles, Wade had turned his attention to Big Red. After the success with the cowl beading on the '41 Wade started on Big Red's. But because the beading is much bigger the hair dryer wouldn't generate enough heat to permit it to be stretched and shaped. Looks like a heat gun is required. Then he filled Big Red's diff up with oil, he'd filled the trans up yesterday, so the drive train is now lubricated. And finally he started on plugging the oil holes on the roller bearing shafts of the cam followers. Because of the hardness of the steel, a starter, an intermediate and a bottoming tap are all required to tap the threads required for the machine screws bought. And when I left, early due to another commitment, Wade was part way through doing the sixth of the sixteen required.

And on the way home, dropped into Bluey's Ute Worldhttp://www.blueys.com.au/# which is next door to the workshop. There I enquired if they did Ute bed lining spraying. Answer - No, but try Rhino Linings.http://www.rhinolinings.com.au/auto/default.asp
I've just now emailed Rhino a query about their product and await a reply.

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Mal,

Would it be possible to get a little more detail on the rocker arm repair & more Pictures? These are always in need of service, and I am very interested. It looks like Wade has a plan, and getting along with it.

Thanks,
Jim

Friday 31st July, 2009

First up at the workshop, in response to Jim's request, was to take some pic's of the rocker arms with the new rollers, together with the plug for the roller end of the pin and the machine screw for the other end of the pin. And yes Jim, Wade does have a plan and once it's done intends to go into detail about what he did and had done, so stayed tuned! For more pic's go to this Picasa album and scroll right to the bottom, but I think the best of them are displayed below. Note, Wade wanted to know if I had a pic of the new rollers before they were machined, I checked but don't have one. Reason he asked was because they had a thread and nut on the end now secured with a circlip and being threaded for machine screw plugs.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ozstatman/WadesWorkshopJuly2009#

The rest of my time was spent underneath the left side of the Coupe scraping, scraping, scraping. More difficult than the right side because of the fuel line being in the way. Will have to finish the cleaning on Monday as I got kicked out of the workshop when the guys went to lunch, Sorry, that's a lie, they said they were ready to go to lunch but I could have stayed but rather then get more paint, dirt and rust in my eyes, ears, nose and mouth took the opportunity to depart at that time. But returned later in the afternoon to pick up a running board trim piece to take with me tomorrow to Spectrum Rubber who may have the clips I need.

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Thanks so much for the update and pictures, Mal. Wade has really come up with a great looking fix. I am very excited to hear more when he is finished. I can see this fix has much more load bearing surface, and the roller bearings should last a very long time.

Thanks,
Jim

I hope you have good luck with the cam roller fix. I don't have any details and only heard second-hand, but that method was tried by a well-known restoration shop here in NJ some years back and failed in a very short time. Of course there could have been some other reason, but everyone I know uses the Egge replacement rollers and pins.

Buggered last night, so no update done, but that just means a double dose today!

Tuesday 4th August 2009

First up at the workshop the engine crane was used to lift Big Red's engine then lower it so it could be laid on it's side. That done Wade proceeded to remove the internals including pistons, rods, main bearing caps, crankshaft and camshaft, with a few surprises along the way - the oil ring on #3 was broken and most of the big-end bearings were worn! Just as well Wade decided to go ahead and tear it completely down.

While Wade did that, I was under the coupe scraping, scraping, scraping. Don't think I'll ever be satisfied with the result but there's only so much you can do in such a situation. A "body off" resto would be nice but, seeing I'm not in a position to do that, what I have done will have to suffice for the time being at least.

However before starting anything I received a call from Chris of Rhino coatings asking if their local branch had contacted me yet. They hadn't and it wasn't that much longer before I received a call from their local guy, Peter. Discussed with Peter the feasibility of my requirements and also about texture, colour, slip and grip of the product and will find out more tomorrow when I take the running boards over.

Wednesday 5th August 2009

My plan this morning was to:
- See Peter about the spray on ute lining for the running boards.
- Then to Brookvale, taking the running boards and wheels to the sandblaster.
- Then literally around the corner at Brookvale is a powdercoater and see him about coating the wheels red after the sandblaster has done his thing.
- Then to Warriewood, relatively close to Brookvale, on the way back to pick up some Marine Clean and Metal Ready.

EDIT - Also phoned John Cain the importer of the new radial WWW tyres I'm expecting. John advised my tyres are held up along with Barry's '38 V12 as the containers are waiting to be x-rayed at Customs pleasure.

All this changed at the first stop where Peter assured me he'd be able to do a good job re-rubbering the running boards with a smooth, shiny black finish all for the princely sum of AU$220.00. Didn't have a reference point for price but based on plain running board rubber, which I couldn't use anyway and costing in the vicinity of AU$400.00, it seems like a good price but of course it will be dependent on the result. Peter also gave his opinion of powder coating wheels, which was not good, as well as recommend a sodablaster much closer to home at Seven Hills.

After contact Marty, the sodablaster, I was there in about 15 minutes and he then quoted AU$160.00 for the pair of boards and AU$40.00 each to do complete steel wheels, outside, inside and center. Although the wheel charge was up on the phone quote I received of AU$30.00 each, the rough phone estimate for the boards of AU$200.00 to AU$300.00 balanced the equation somewhat. So left the boards and wheels there and hopefully they'll be ready later this week. Marty also had an adverse opinion of powder coating wheels and both recommended 2-pack paint. When I told this to Wade later he suggested I talk "nicely" to Harvey who might be able do the paint job for me.

Then back at the workshop and, after catching up with Wade, got under the left side of the Coupe and proceeded to apply Marine Clean via the medium of spray bottle assisted by an old paint brush. Part way through this though Harvey arrived because "Kermit's" O/D cable was stuffed. Because Wade was going to take the hand brake cables for Noel's '41 160 Business Coupe's over to General Instruments for new ones to be made, he offered to have an O/D cable made up using the one from the Convertible Coupe as a pattern. The chance of a road trip prompted me to quickly finish the left side of the Coupe and off we went. And I also took the opportunity to talk "nicely" to Harvey while he was there and YES, he'll do the wheels for me.

Besides the above, the head and cylinder block from Big Red were also loaded into the ute. First port of call was Graham, Wade's engine guy, for a look over the block and head and both checked out OK. Second, around to Steve for chemical cleaning of both and they should be ready in about one week. Third, stopped in at Jaycar for some thick shrink tubing to enclose the blinker wires for protection as well as cosmetics. Fourth, General Instruments where the hand brake and O/D cables should be ready by the end of the week. And last, ABC Bearings, because I hadn't taken a pic of the chosen roller bearing/s before they were modified to suit Big Red's cam rocker arms. However, because Dennis at ABC couldn't identify them without a better reference than, "you know, the ones I bought a couple of months ago". Wade will return with the invoice when the new cables are picked up. All this to provide a "before" pic of the roller bearing just for you guys!

Back at the workshop I Marine Cleaned the right underside and Metal Readied the left underside. Then, rinsed off both sides, if that is the correct term. All I know is I got pretty wet with all that water flying around as well as the obligatory drops in eyes, ears and mouth. While that was going on Wade covered the rear blinker wires with the shrink tubing and then turned to cleaning various engine parts in readiness for the rebuild.

And a sad note. Late last night received an email from Michael, our club President, advising that Paul '54 Convertible owner had passed away in his sleep on Friday night. Wade and I will be attending Paul's Funeral tomorrow in Old Blue and Paul's '54 will be there.

Quote:
Dave,

From memory, failing that it is, Wade had contacted Egge who advised they no longer had the rollers or maybe it was the pins, that's why this solution is being used. The roller bearings are automotive cam roller bearings so they should be suitable for Wades rebuild.

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Thursday 6th August 2009

Sad start to the day attending Paul's funeral with Wade in Old Blue. Met Wade at the workshop at West Ryde then proceeded from there to the Christ Church at Lavender Bay for the funeral service. Paul obviously had a lot of friends as the church was very well attended.

Returning to the workshop, I'd intended to Metal Ready the right underside of the Coupe and then POR-15 under both sides. However all that changed when I checked my phone messages to find that Marty from Sydney Soda Blastinghttp://sydneysoda.yodelaustralia.com.au/ had called a couple of hours earlier to tell me the wheels and boards were ready for pickup. Phoned Marty to learn he was leaving his premises shortly, to pick up a new vehicle, so I quickly high tailed it over there. Results on both the wheels and running boards are excellent but instead of Soda Marty used Garnet, which is a better media for the type of work required so he told me. After that phoned Harvey, because he both lives and works nearby, thinking it would save me another trip to deliver the wheels for painting. Learnt that Harvey was neither at home or at work, however he suggested I drop the wheels off at his house so that solved that.

Back at the workshop finally got to Metal Ready the Coupes right underside. And while lying under the Coupe squirting, squirting, squirting, had a thought(not a regular occurrence at my age) to use the ute liner on the underside of the running boards instead of POR-15'ing them. I know this is close to sacrilege being an advocate of POR-15 but you've got to think outside the box occasionally. Also Metal Readied a few things that Wade needs painted for Big Red. Wade will clean up a few more parts and Metal Ready them tomorrow morning, then when I get there in the afternoon all will be ready for POR-15 and no doubt it will include my good self, as that stuff has an inexplicable affinity for my skin. During all this Wade was cleaning up more parts and in particular Big Red's crankcase in preparation for it to make a number of passes through the parts washer tomorrow.

Then when I returned home, had a message from Harvey who advised he'd already sourced the 2 pack paint for me, Mazda True Red, from VG Auto Paints.http://wwwvgautopaints.rtrk.com.au/?scid=11969&kw=4070695
See link for pic's of Mazda True Red -http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4750860

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Friday 7th August 2009

Had the granddaughters over in the morning but Packard work carried on through the medium of Harvey phoning. Harvey advised that the wheels now had 2 coats of primer on them but he couldn't put colour on because of a change in the ambient weather conditions. I'll contact Harvey early next week and go see him, and the wheels, because he wants visual confirmation of the colour choice selected.

Down to the workshop where Wade had been cleaning parts in preparation for POR-15 in the afternoon. But before that Wade re-installed the radio in the Coupe and it's working well. Then I was left to my own devices with all the blokes adjourning to Eastwood Rugby Club for Friday lunch. In their absence I POR'd under both sides of the Coupe and the various parts Wade had strung ready for paint. John also left me a key so I could exit the workshop when I was finished. He needn't have bothered as I was still going when they returned. Started on the left side and it was tough going trying to reach and paint between the frame rail and the body with the fuel line as an obstacle. Must have taken half my time just to do that side. In comparison the right side, although awkward at times, was relatively straightforward. And the parts strung up on the windchimes were much easier to deal with, although they too presented their own challenges.

And of course I ended up with POR-15 on me, on both knees from sliding around upside down on the creeper under the Coupe, and a number of drops on my face and one in the left ear. I tried to clean up the first lot of drops with some POR Solvent, but because I left the cleanup for a while wasn't able to remove it all, plus it stings like hell! Probably carcinogenic and/or toxic so if I grow another head, and ones ugly enough, you'll know what caused it! The granddaughters though will be a bit put off because of "Poppy" sporting warpaint.

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