My next project? 1921 Packard Coupe

2 minute(s) of a 548 minute read

At last I have got the engine more or less stripped down.

The centre main bearing cap sure is a mess. It looks as though the village blacksmith had a go at welding aluminium for the first time. Good try but not nearly good enough.

Looks like a new one needed.

2-3-2011

I have taken the liberty of reproducing some sketches that David McC has sent to me. Hope that you don't mind David.

2-4-2011

Hi Brad

Thank you for the thought. It seems that this failure was quite common in early Single six engines. In the overall scheme of things to machine a new cap is not all that difficult. Any second-hand replacement is going to be at least 75 years old and I know just about how that feels. I just hope that no-one expects me to work for another 25 years without having something fail. It would be a nice thought but just not realistic. After all not even the AACA Judges are going to see it once the oil pan is buttoned up so there should not be any worry about a loss of points for a non-original component, or is the rumour that they have x-ray vision actually true.....

On the theme of replacement parts can anyone suggest a source of gasket sets for the early series six engine. I don't mind cutting my own paper gaskets but it would be nice if you could obtain die cut gaskets for places such as the cylinder block to crankcase joint.