My next project? 1921 Packard Coupe

3 minute(s) of a 548 minute read

Good News or Bad News. 

The bad news is that both the armature out of the Lagonda's generator and the spare that I had on the shelf both have problems, so yesterday I delivered them both to be rewound. Ouch!

The good news is that as promised I am back working on the Packard. With the chassis and body away with Aaron and the bulk of the engine bits at Crankshaft Rebuilders I can concentrate on some of the lesser bits that I still have here. The cylinder head has been thoroughly cleaned and all the surface rust wire brushed off and it now has its first coat of engine paint. 

Cleaning the head involved removing the priming cups. What a motley collection! Three are re-usable after some cosmetic work, two have broken handles and so present something of a problem. Do I use the centre out of one of the good ones and have two cast or do I look for replacements? 

This brings me to the sixth. This is a totally un-original and quite ugly replacement and has to go. So this means that I am now looking for three original type Priming cups. Please have a look in your boxes of small spare parts.

Finally with gritted teeth I have removed the covers of all four Gabriel snubbers. The two from the front were full of mud-wasps nests. The two from the rear are basically in much better condition. Having said that they will all be totally stripped cleaned, the tin-wear wire brushed and painted before being re-assembled. At least two will probably need new webbing straps if someone knows of a friendly supplier?

While you were reading all this I have dismantled the water-pump and have repaired the broken flange using a total of three full sticks of bronze rod in the process. The shaft will have to be replaced as it is badly pitted under the seal. Naturally the main body will have to be machined to provide a snug fit into the front of the cylinder block. The correct copper compression ring seal came in the very comprehensive set of gaskets from "Olsens"

I was really very pleased with the quality of their gaskets and the speed of their service. I thought that their price was extremely fair.

Hi all

Thank you for the suggestions Pete, Anthony and John. 

Pete, I trust that you change of location is going to be beneficial.

I will follow up your suggestions re the snubber tape. I have bought "stuff" from the Restoration Supply Co before. Not always totally satisfactory, nothing wrong with the quality or service just not quite the "right stuff".......

Re the priming cup I really only need one to replace the non original one as I am sure that I will be able to repair the two ones with broken arms. If I cannot do it myself I am sure that son Steve will be able to assist.