John N. Packard
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Posts posted by John N. Packard
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Thanks Ron & Bruce for your kind comments. I'm still not satisfied with my graphics. Also, I would love to do color as both of you do. I've had multiple solicitations from Leesburg Printing down in Florida. I'm tempted to check them out to see what a color version of the Bulletin would cost. They also handle the mailing which might be the means to persuade our Board to give them a try. We switched printers several years ago from offset to xerography which cut our cost in half but also resulted in poorer picture quality. Our Region is a conservative bunch and the newsletter is a major budget expense; so I'd better tred lightly. They'll probably say "You're an award winning newsletter; so why do you need to change?" I'm really not eager to go the color printer route for over 200 copy distribution. Yes, the bar gets higher each year; but I think we are probably our own severest critics!
jnp
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I'm pleased to report that I received the "letter" today also for the Chesapeake Bulletin. Congratulations to all and I look forward to joining you at the awards banquet! Ron, I disposed of 9 gallons of drain oil at the recycling center today. I could have topped off Wayne's 14K tanker with it on his way north! Oh well, perhaps I can catch the next delivery.
jnp
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You guys wear me out just reading all your plans for 2004. I'm in my third year of retirement and still don't have any of my cars fully restored. I've had my new garage for five years and still don't have two steel tables refinished and installed as work benches. The place is so cluttered I can hardly move around. The Gear Start transmission that I rebuilt for my '54 Patrician sits on the bench waiting to be installed. I can't get the torque converter to mate up properly with the transmission housing. Should probably have not replaced all the bushings. Now I have a leaky headgasket on the '54 after detailing the engine compartment and accessories. Can't get the rebuilt WCFB Carter carb set up right. Have run out of gray primer surfacer so the right front fender sits on the floor waiting to be painted and installed. Am not happy with the dent removal and body filling that I did on it. Haven't touched the '40 Club Coupe or the '47 Custom in months. Now the brake lines need to be replaced on my Dakota pickup. I have them but don't remember how they were installed along the frame rail. Sigh
jnp
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Hey Terry,
I found a timing chain for my '37 Super 8 in the Yellow Field this year. I started not to go down but saw a person selling out of the trunk of his '99 300M. Turns out it was all Packard stuff and he left within an hour of his sale to me. You never know what or where you are going to find that rare item!
jnp
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Hey Terry,
I've been suffering with a bad cold since before Thanksgiving. Got the flu shot too; so I guess it is not the flu. Did a lot of yard work prior to the back-to-back snowstorms and experienced a touch of sore throat. It took me all day on both Friday and Saturday to clean up the snow (one foot each day) and it has been downhill every since. Also explains my time spent here and watching the political campaign shenanigans on CSPAN!
Bruce,
I will selectively edit a word or two here and there to tone down statements made in articles that I receive. However, one contributor even objects to that so if I have a problem with his current contribution I just don't print it. The trick I guess is to edit without changing the "character" of the person's writing. I bought a piece of software once that would evaluate writing based upon a wide variety of standards. It got so that I could write most anything to satisfy that piece of software.
jnp
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I carpooled for 16+ years with two WWII veterans. I've heard every one of their war stories many times during our two hour per day commute. They both served in the South Pacific, one as a Navy aviator and the other as a Seabee. The aviator flew mail in to the troops as well as other contraband (cigarettes & liquor) that he was able to get on board. At the end of the war he signed his own release orders, bought a '37 Packard convertible and drove home to Baltimore from the west coast. A buddy totaled his car when he got home; so sadly the Packard no longer exists.
jnp
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Talk about someone who states his mind in no uncertain terms, that's Howard. I remember when I joined Chesapeake Region in the mid sixties Howard would report back to the club about national AACA events that he attended. He never minced any words; but reported exactly how he felt on the subject. To his credit he became a national officer and served two terms as President. He not only stated his mind; but also worked hard to improve the organization.
jnp
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Ron,
I got caught in this same trap a few years ago. One of our outspoken members and frequent contributor wrote a piece critical of the club and its leadership. Unfortunately I published it and incurred the ire of the members who were mentioned in the article. They in turn wrote strong replies that I felt obligated to publish since I had printed the original piece. Our newsletter rating dropped that year. Since, I have studiously avoided printing anything that controversial. If members want to hear the criticisms, let them attend the meetings.
jnp
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Here's a direct quote from the 1954 Packard and Packard Clipper Facts Book:
"Packard's L-Head Engine Design is superior to Valve-in-Head
As indicated in the illustration below, (see attachment) a comparison of the Packard's L-head arrangement engine with the V-8 valve-in-head design shows that the Packard arrangement has fewer moving parts to wear and become noisy. Because of its clean simplicity of design, the L- head engine is definitely superior by a wide margin for smoothness, quietness, and trouble-free operation. This arrangement, plus a special angle-set valve arrangement, permits the practical benefits of Packard's deep-breathing, high turbulence and high compression type combustion chamber. In the more complex valve-in-head engine, valves are mounted over the cylinder and actuated by long push rods. Because this engine has over 100 more moving parts than the Packard L-head, the average valve-in-head engine has a much more complicated problem of lubrication, adjustment, and wear."
An interesting comparison don't you think, just prior to the introduction of Packard's own V-8 designs in the 55th Series model year?
jnp
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Brian,
I get much quicker answers to my technical questions on the '51 - '54 models by posting them on the AACA Technical Questions portion of the discussion forum. My assumption is that most of the participants here are V-8 owners who don't necessarily have knowledge of the earlier models. I'm often reluctant to answer questions at either location because often someone will challenge your answer. I think that has become increasingly true over the past few years. Many persons who frequently answered technical questions don't seem to be active anymore. Also, the V-8 owners in particular seem to be interested in upgrading their cars to modern technical standards; whereas we who own older models often are more interested in restoring them to the original condition.
jnp
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My father did not own a car in 1941. We were invited on a Sunday afternoon drive by friends. The car radio was on and I believe the program was the Shadow. It was interrupted to announce the attack on Pearl Harbor. As a five-year-old I didn't fully understand what was happening; but I was certainly aware of the fact that the adults were very concerned by the announcement. Can't remember the make of auto; but would guess that it was a Chevy.
jnp
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Just received the December issue of the Schoharie Valley Rambler and read Ron Springstead's farewell article. Ron is retiring as editor after 10 years and turning the job over to Debbie Soucia. Congratulations Ron on a job well done and welcome Debbie! Also this issue contains an article by Herman & Cande Zapp who completed their trip from Argentina to Prudhoe Bay Alaska. Everyone who knows about this couple and their great adventure will enjoy reading it.
jnp
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I'm using the corbin clamps on the upper and lower radiator hose and the transmission oil cooler on my '54 Patrician. The other type of clamp as shown on the eBay auction is what I plan to use for the radiator hoses. Not sure if the corbin clamps are right for the 25th series cars. Please post your cross reference or email me a copy. Thanks!
jnp
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Dave,
Just installed an exhaust pipe from Kanter on my '54 Patrician. Perfect fit and reasonable price.
jnp
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Peter,
Are you aware that printed indecies exist? One covers Vol. 1, No. 1 (1937) to Vol. 42, No. 6 (1978). The categories are Ads, Articles, Articles-Racing, Articles-Technical, Book Reviews, Meetings, Meets, Meets-National, Museums, Obituaries, People, Quizzes, Technical Details, Tours, & Vehicles. In subsequent years beginning in 1985 an index is printed in the November-December issue for the current volume. Hope this helps.
jnp
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Albert,
I think you will have to heat shrink that connecting rod!
jnp
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Bob,
I have two '54 Patricians; but the serial numbers don't match. One was sold originally in Knoxville, TN and the other in St. Louis, MO. Both were originally "Orchard" green. One with the nylon matellise interior, the other wool broadcloth. The roster keeper in PAC for '54 Packards is Sigurbjorn Helgason of Reykjavik, Iceland.
jnp
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Peter,
I believe Hudson offered a similar system in those years called "Drivemaster".
jnp
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Ebber,
The electromatic transmission is a vacuum operated clutch that allows you to shift gears without manually operating the clutch. A number of manufacturers offered a similar system; probably in response to GM's introduction of Hydra-matic drive. Packard did not offer a truly automatic transmission until the Ultramatic was introduced on the 1949 Golden Anniversary models.
jnp
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John,
I would like to point out that the tent at Hershey is manned by volunteers. The person to whom you spoke probably was not a PAC officer; but a volunteer member. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the volunteers are totally unaware of the article or the issue you raise. If the article is full of false information, why not just accept that and move on? What is to be gained by continuing to attempt to get a retraction or public apology? The credibility of the Cormorant publication will stand or fall based upon the accuracy of what is published in it.
John Packard
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HALFWAY! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Interesting Article
in General Discussion
Posted
Peter,
The car shows are a money maker for the organizations that promote them. AACA has an antique car display and Mustang raffle car sales booth at the Harrisburg Auto Show each year. On Saturday the Corvette Club has a show of 50 plus vehicles in one area of the complex. Literally hundreds of people of all ages come through the farm complex to look at the cars, sit in them, and dream about owning one. I have no idea how many sales the show generates; but it sure does feed the public's love affair with the automobile. The internet can't possibly generate the same interest that these shows do.
jnp