My next project? 1921 Packard Coupe

3 minute(s) of a 548 minute read

Hello Chris

The water enters from the water pump via the slot at the front, exit holes are at the bottom and in-between the cylinder barrels to avoid cold spots on the cylinder walls. The way it is designed is to take the water to the rear of the engine so that it circulates around the entire engine passing into the cylinder head through a series of transfer holes exiting back into the radiator from the front of the head. The Chamber pressed into the plate tapers in depth towards the back ensuring even distribution. The Manufacturer of the plate is fellow Vintage Drivers Club (Aust) member David Dewar, 84 McDonald Road, Korrine, Victoria 3979, Australia. I will send you his e-mail and telephone # via p.m.

Well the predictable has happened! The water pump eventually came out of the front of the block. The problem is that it came out in pieces. The base plate of the pump had really become attached to the block, virtually rusted solid. As it is it has taken several days of patient tapping, copious quantities of penetrating oil and careful application of heat. As a consequence the main body of the pump parted through the bosses that the base plate attaches to. I am sorry but anyone who has not looked at a Packard Single Six water pump will think that I am mad. Anyone who has had experience with this water pump will know exactly what I am talking about.

The question now is. 1.Is the Single six water pump used in any other Packard models? 2. Is there anyone making a reproduction casting of the water-pump body?

3 Does anyone have a second-hand water-pump available for purchase.

Please help if you can or even if you think that you may be able to.

2-16-2011

Stop the Panic!

Having cleaned up the bits and had a quiet think I believe that the water pump is a relatively simple repair. All i need to do is strip out the impeller and shaft (something I was going to do the replace the stuffing gland with a modern water seal) face off the two surfaces and make three new "spacers" using some brass bar. To make a job worthy of a Packard these probably will be spigotted into the two faces and through bolted with some stainless bolts. It should then survive for another 80 years. Where I broke a couple of little segments out of the outer flange can be built up with some bronze and then machined flat. Presto a fully rebuilt water pump with the added benefit that these new components will not rust.

2-18-2011

Hello Ken

I am sorry but you will have to wait a little longer for Photographs. So that you can appreciate the problems, attached is a drawing with proposed modifications very kindly supplied by PAC Australia, membership secretary David McCredie.

The green "worms" show approximately where the original three cast iron "legs" had fractured. The plan is to machine the broken stubs off flush and to replace them with brass tube"spacers" located by stainless 1/4nf through bolts that will hold the water inlet end of the pump in place.