tbirdman Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 I've been struggling trying to install the radiator shell. I have installed the radiator shutter assembly onto the radiator, and now I'm trying to install the radiator shell over that assembly. The radiator on one side won't line up with the holes...it seems like the shell won't sit on the shutter/radiator assembly deep enough to allow the screw holes to line up. They are missing by about an 1/8".Is there some stupid and obvious I'm overlooking? I had the radiator flushed and the shutters chromed but no modifications of either or the shell. Do these usually go back together fairly easy. The only thing really that was taking apart was the shutter assembly.The positive news is while working on it, I dropped a screw. While looking for the screw I found the contact piece I was missing for the spare coil swittch I had. Not sure how it got to wgere I found it. I can now complete my sales transaction with Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 The shell mounting tabs on top of radiator (attached to radiator) may have gotten Bent. On the '29s there's a large tab on each side that bends fairly easy and is the up/down position adjustment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34PackardRoadsta Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 Damn, sure is great to get a screw sometimes! I had the same problem with my 30. I did not have any tabs on the top of the radiator that I remember. I ended up using clamps to force the shell to align with the holes (gently, but with increasing force). I have included a photo of the top of my radiator as it meets the shell. Is yours like this?TomEdited to get photo to display Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 I just remembered that I have a picture of one of the tabs, I was talking about. The tab is barely visible protruding from under shell rear edge, in center of picture, where the upper mounting screw goes thru: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34PackardRoadsta Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 Speed,Definitely different from the 30 (great, another difference ). I have edited my post so my photo shows up.Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 Yes, the '30 appears to have a much Larger mounting bracket there, than the '29s bendable tab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 I'm really glad the '29s radiator has the bendable tabs, cause I had to bend them down a lot, since he made the radiator a little too tall (about 3/16"), when the Recore was done. So, if anyone gets their radiator Recored, make sure they control the overall height accurately. Modern radiators don't need to be that accurate in height, so some Recore shops don't realize that.I also had to reduce the thickness of the shock-absorber-pads below the radiator (at 2 lower radiator mounting bolts), so shell would mate up to front splash-shields properly and front edge of hood would be square with shell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdman Posted March 1, 2008 Author Share Posted March 1, 2008 OK it's not the tabs as the holes line up vertically (if the unit is standing up), it's horizonatlly that the holes do not line up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 Okay, it's front to back, correct? Is the shell not going far enough back on the radiator? If so, can you tell where the shell is hitting the shutter/radiator first. Are there mounting bolts that need to removed from radiator, at top or bottom, that are keeping the shutter-assembly from sitting flush against the front of radiator? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdman Posted March 2, 2008 Author Share Posted March 2, 2008 Thnaks for all the suggestions. OK, with a little persuasion, the bolts went in. As I got more in they pulled the shell in to better alligment with the holes. I thought it would had lined up better, but I guess with the replating etc, tolerances were off. Can't figure out how I ended up with extra washer and not enough nuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34PackardRoadsta Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 Did you check in the coil? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdman Posted March 2, 2008 Author Share Posted March 2, 2008 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 34PackardRoadsta</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did you check in the coil? </div></div>Well it was 1 AM this morning when I finally had most of the screws in so I decided to wait until I had a good night sleep to look for them. I did have a good night sleep as I finally declared victory over the radiator shell. Previously I had been defeated twice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34PackardRoadsta Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Congrats! It always amazes me how much longer this stuff takes than I planned.Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl B. Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 If Packard had moved at the speed we do in building them, gee, think how rare a Packard would be!!!! B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdman Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 Sometimes it seems as it is 2 steps forward and then 3 steps back. Though not being a daily driver, I just back off and then try another time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Try explaining to a customer who knows next to nothing about cars or mechanics how it can possibly take so long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdman Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 Or to your girlfriend or wife why you are spending so much time in the garage. Hey that may be a positive result of taking so much time Of course I made it a worse place to be with installing the TV, sereo and heater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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