My next project? 1921 Packard Coupe

4 minute(s) of a 548 minute read

Wow! Winter has returned to Melbourne with some really nasty cold wind days so work has slowed just a tad. The Packard is just too big for my single car garage/workshop so I am working in the carport open to the worst of the weather. None the less I should have the rear panel ready to remove soon but first Being a dutiful grand parent we are off to Adelaide, South Australia, for a few days helping to our ninth grandchild celebrate her first birthday.

10-3-2010

Our Long weekend away was great fun our youngest grand-daughter is quite a lady. we have not seen her since she was just two weeks old.

But enough doddering! I have just returned from my radiator man. The honeycomb core will have to be replaced as prior to forcing silicone adhesive into two or three areas one of the previous owners had had a real good go at "fixing" some leaks. Despite trying several different solvents it appears impossible to remove ALL the silicone and even if that was successful it would still be extremely doubtful if satisfactory repairs could be carried out.

I am told that there is a reliable supplier of new honeycomb radiator cores in New Zealand. It just costs money!

10-10-2010

While some people can wander around the countryside others are hard at work. Although As Heather Moss can confirm we did take a few days to catch up with the same son in Adelaide to assist in his 40th Birthday and his daughter's (our 9th Grandchild) First.

Sorry that we missed out on seeing you all but you seemed to always be going to where we had just left or something like that. 

Meanwhile with second son Steve's assistance great things are happening to the Packard. as you can see in the attached pic that I have not been sleeping.

Virtually all the original timber in the body frame has been retained and every joint taken apart re-glued and screwed back together. Lowering the waist line is virtually completed and has been an extremely successful operation.

10-11-2010

Hi West

Many thanks for taking the time to look for me.

I believe that I may now have the clock, speedo and small gauges all under control. I am just waiting on the confirmation of the availability and condition of a wheel and the hand controls. I am also waiting to hear some more regarding a pair of door latches. 

Meanwhile work goes on at an almost daily rate.

Regards

10-14-2010

Little or no work today. The weather forecast is for high winds, heavy rain and snow on the nearby hills. For those still enjoying an Indian Summer in the USA this is supposed to be Spring in Australia. We have a saying here in Melbourne, "If you don't like the weather, wait until after lunch! It should have changed at least twice by then!"

Despite the weather here is the latest progress photograph. The modifications to the timber frame are now virtually complete and all joints re-glued & freshly screwed, I was lucky enough to find a box of new slot head screws hidden away on a shelf in my chaotic workshop/garage. If you look closely you will see where the trunk floor has been extended out to form the base for an "occasional" rear seat/parcel shelf.