Maintenace intervals

[WCraigH]

Whilst perusing the latest copy of "Auto Restorer" (a newsletter-type monthly), I read the fourth installment of "Coast-to-Coast in a '39 [Plymouth], part 4", the INCREDIBLE story of a Curt McConnel who drove from the east to west coasts of the USA a couple of years ago using back roads (minimal paved and mostly dirt)!!! It is an incredible read (the guy should publish a book). But getting slowly to my point...

While in south-central Wyoming, (incredibly), he encountered another fellow vintage traveler and his wife (Paul and Brenda Kortekaas, with companion cat & dog) in the Red Desert, which at that time was a quagmire of mud. They were driving a 1940 LaSalle from west-to-east!!! Talk about an incredibly improbable encounter! So this is weird enough, right? Not so. It turns out that the Kortekaas had just bought this 1940 LaSalle with the idea of driving it round trip from CA to MN and on some dirt roads at that! This guy apparently feared nothing (to say nothing of Curt McConnell!)

Well, the problem with the '40 'Salle was that the rear diff in it had a bad leak (which Paul hadn't bothered to check) and by the time they had gotten "not too far", the diff started making a "bad noise". So, by the time they were in Utah, the diff was howling, despite some roadside repairs. It seems that 1940 LaSalle rear diff replacement parts are few and far between in the Red Desert.

I shall leave the rest of their adventures to those other publications.

One more anecdote before I get to my point. When I bought my 1955 Pat and drove it from Salem, OR to Las Vegas, besides the reverse polarity battery problem previously related: the rear end was making a "funny noise" and the brakes "barely worked". Thankfully there were not that many other cars on such a route, so being able to barely stop was not such a big problem. Oh yeah: one other thing. Early on in the trip, I made a pledge to my "new" Patrician: If you get me home, I will restore you! While this is Christine-like (remember the Steven King movie "Christine" about the 1958 Plymouth Fury?), it did work for me. My 1955 Pat got me home and strangely enough some things started working which did not before, somewhat like "Christine". But I digress...

Now, to my point: Collector cars originally required relatively frequent maintenance intervals. Maybe on the order of once every 1,000 miles. For the modern SoCal communter who has to drive from, let's say, Cucamonga to downtown Los Angeles every day (I know someone who did this), then you're talking 1,000 miles a WEEK!

Of course OUR collector Packards do not see much mileage, but I do have two questions:

(1) is 1,000 miles (or whatever) reasonable given modern oils and lubricants?

(2) what are YOUR maintenance practices?

P.S. Sorry for the loooonnng preamble.

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[Guest Randy Berger]

Craig, another really good post! As I only drive about 3,000 miles or less per year, I change the oil/filter in the fall and then button it down for the winter. I grease it whenever I'm in the mood or 1,000 miles whichever comes first. I check tranny, tires and oil constantly during summer when I'm driving it. I probably will put new anti-freeze and tranny fluid in the spring. Tranny fluid about 5 years old, but doesn't smell burnt at all. I repack front wheel bearings in the spring and adjust brakes (will really pay attention to rears this spring), and check rear-end. I like the new "blue" grease from Kendall - won't wash away. I repacked U-joints (front and rear) this year. Probably won't do that again for a couple of years. Spray rubber bushings on swaybar and TL system with silicone whenever I think of it (once a month).

If oil looks dirty during summer I change it and filter - bought 12 filters for $72.00 - not bad.

I am going to try the Zaino brothers wax this Spring - I hear great things about this product. I keep a mileage booklet in glovebox and note when I do these things cause I just can't remember like I used to. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" />

YFAM, Randy Berger

[Capt. Gartforvets]

Craig new to the site I despirately want to read the 4 part series on Curt McConnelle trip in the 39 Plymouth can you tell me how to find the 4 edditions or copy the artilces for me the magazine ended in 2020.  Thanks so much.  I too am looking for a wy to reach Curt of you can help with that by any chance.

 

Thanks for any help,  The Captain

[HH56]

Just FYI, this post is several years old and both Craig and Randy have passed away.  Craig passed many years ago and other than snippets on internet archives, his Panther website and all that knowledge is no more.  Randy only passed a couple of years ago but again, much knowledge was lost.  Maybe someone else can help with your link to the articles in question but if not, info may not be forthcoming.

Edited March 6, 2022 by HH56 (see edit history)