endicott_jb
Well-known member
That's a purty car zz. You sir are an artist and a master at metal working. My hat's off o you.
1936 Packard
- Thread starter zzrodder
- Start date
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Old Iron
Well-known member
First time gettin them in the sun seems like it starts their heart to beat and they start to take on some new character.
docrock100
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2014
- Messages
- 92
ZZ, I was wondering where you were sharing your pics of your builds. I just found this site and there is some talented guys on here. The 34 Cadillac turned out great. I never saw it finished over at the other site. This current build is as always amazing. I can hardly wait for the grill and the hood ornament. The flying eye on the Cadillac was an incredible piece of artwork. I am glad this site lets you show your builds all the way. Keep up the awesome work and thanks for all the pics
zzrodder
It ain't grey hair, it's chrome!
Thanks! Yeah, the mod at KB pulled the 34 Caddy build because it was 'off topic' - in other words, censored for turning out shiny. That's what makes RRR so cool, freedom of expression is encouraged and there is a place for everyone.
Before starting to put on the front end, I need to get the airbags operating 'cause I can't get a jack under it to work underneath. Though the Heidts front end seems well engineered, the air bags are kinda small, actually more of a compromise retrofit for their coil spring kit. Bigger bags need less psi to lift and give a softer ride, so I'm installing a pair that are the same as the rear ones - 7" dia. instead of the 5 3/4" dia. ones on it now. Another thing that bugged me was the 1/4" air fittings and the fact that they were barely accessable through a notch in the backside of the mount. Solved all that, new bags mounted and the lines now come out the top, easier to install and maintain.
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Torchie
Well-known member
Bag system looks great ZZ.
And not really knowing much about them your post was very informative in regards to the difference in bag sizes.
Like everyone else looking forward to seeing this creation with the front sheet metal on.[P
Torchie.
And not really knowing much about them your post was very informative in regards to the difference in bag sizes.
Like everyone else looking forward to seeing this creation with the front sheet metal on.[P
Torchie.
05snopro440
Well-known member
Those new bags look huge compared to the ones that came with it, but I agree with your reasoning for the change and hope it smooths out the ride.
Out of curiosity, was there any clearance issues with putting in the larger bags? Do you run hard line for your air bags?
zzrodder
It ain't grey hair, it's chrome!
I think it's just 'cause the original bags are so tiny.... Yes, I had to trim the sides of the spring towers a bit and redrill the mount holes to move the bags 5/8" inward.
Starting on the right front fender rehab/modifying, trimmed back the wheelwell edge like on the rear ones, you can see the third pic how much the rear of the fender will need to be extended to mate up to the lower cowl edge, due to their 5" forward from stock location. Last pic is the drivers side fender - that's daylight showing through
- lots of metal to replace Attachments
jclars
Well-known member
Same here. In fact, very similar experience with my Jag front, as clearance only allowed the 5" Slam Spec. bag (5.5" OD). I now know what I might have to do to get around the 170 psi needed to get them to a safe driving height. May have to start looking at clearances...
Thanks for the tutoring ZZ!
And I don't know half of what you are doing, but it sure is turning out nice.
John L.
Old Iron
Well-known member
I'm glad you're showing all the suspension stuff [cl
I'm thinking of doing an air bag setup on my 48 GMC and have never done one before [P
If you posted the manufacture of the bag system, I missed it so forgive me if this is a rerun of what you already posted. Are you using Ride Tech or who ?
I'm thinking of doing an air bag setup on my 48 GMC and have never done one before [P
If you posted the manufacture of the bag system, I missed it so forgive me if this is a rerun of what you already posted. Are you using Ride Tech or who ?
smallfoot
He's rockin' the "Nuttin Special"!
Seeing the info about bags is cool. I know squat about that and it might come in handy. That's a cool old Packard ZZ...
zzrodder
It ain't grey hair, it's chrome!
The kit I'm using is from Airbagit.com. I know some people don't think highly of their products, but I've had no problems, this is the second time using their system. Yes, most of the components are "offshore" parts, but what isn't these days? I like the compact valve block it has and it's really hard to beat the pricing.
Rust repair --- I thought the right fender was pretty solid but closer inspection showed a bunch of pinholes, had to replace a 5"x20" section. Left fender is much worse, I got one section tacked in with another larger piece yet to be cut out beside it. This is the result of the good ol' days driving on tar and gravel roads - it got stuck on the inside of the fenders, water got between and the rust worms moved in....
This is where my Eastwood planishing hammer is handy for forming the curved shaped patch panels.
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Torchie
Well-known member
Beautiful! [cl[cl [P
Torchie.
Torchie.
Old Iron
Well-known member
Really nice work ZZ [cl
05snopro440
Well-known member
Wow, awesome work!
The more I see that body together the more I see it in a Champagne colour or Champagne and Silver colour [dr. It will look good in any colour and I know you're partial to black, just my mind working...
zzrodder
It ain't grey hair, it's chrome!
Rust repair to the left fender is done so I bolted the grille shell in and started work on lining things up. Using a string line to center it, blocks to set height, much measuring to be done yet before I can make the center mount in front of the rad right over the steering rack. Major thing to get right is the height of the fenders and grille so the hood slopes down properly, also to get tire clearance when it is at full drop like this. I also need to make the underside fender braces that tie to the rad support, curve over the tires and bolt to the top of the outside fender lip.
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smallfoot
He's rockin' the "Nuttin Special"!
Nothing like the simple tools to keep things looking right. A string really comes in handy eh? Looking great zz!!!
serrata
Well-known member
I'm interested to see what you'll do with flowing the hood into the top of that grill shell.
The grill looks much more angular than the rest of the lines of the car.
I really like the smooth sleek lines with occasional near-sharp edges, like on the fenders.
[P
The grill looks much more angular than the rest of the lines of the car.
I really like the smooth sleek lines with occasional near-sharp edges, like on the fenders.
[P
Country Misfit
I tell you... I get no respect!
That is looking great! I"ve been waiting to see how you do the ft.end+hood. I dont think most people realize how big the fenders and grill shell are. Packards are xx-large.Keep up the great work!!
zzrodder
It ain't grey hair, it's chrome!
Yes, the grille is big and angular, but that is probably the defining feature of Packards from the late 20's thru the early 40's. If you had a side by side lineup of all makes of 1936 cars, a Packard is immediately recognizable without seeing a nameplate. Also sometimes referred to as having a 'tombstone' shape....
zzrodder
It ain't grey hair, it's chrome!
Doesn't look much different but it took a bunch of hours of tweaking, measuring, welding, grinding, and mental strain to get to this stage.
Problem was tire clearance in turns, no way to avoid contact until lifted to slightly above ride height.
First part of the solution was to radius the wheelwells, I used a piece of 3/4" tubing split in half to form the new edge (actually an improvement over the thin old edge that had several repairs due to cracks).
Still not enough clearance
I split the grille and rad support to widen them 2", thereby moving each fender outboard 1", problem solved. I still have to do a 1/2" pie cut to the top of the grille shell to get the front peak to slope down a bit. Now I can get the rad support mount made and build the underside fender braces. Unless you held up a stock grill to the shell, it's hard to tell it's wider and since I'm going to make a new stainless grille anyway, it's no big deal. Side benefit is that I can now use a rad that is 2" wider.
No work tomorrow, it's Canada Day [cl, off to a car show....
Problem was tire clearance in turns, no way to avoid contact until lifted to slightly above ride height.
First part of the solution was to radius the wheelwells, I used a piece of 3/4" tubing split in half to form the new edge (actually an improvement over the thin old edge that had several repairs due to cracks).
Still not enough clearance
I split the grille and rad support to widen them 2", thereby moving each fender outboard 1", problem solved. I still have to do a 1/2" pie cut to the top of the grille shell to get the front peak to slope down a bit. Now I can get the rad support mount made and build the underside fender braces. Unless you held up a stock grill to the shell, it's hard to tell it's wider and since I'm going to make a new stainless grille anyway, it's no big deal. Side benefit is that I can now use a rad that is 2" wider.
No work tomorrow, it's Canada Day [cl, off to a car show....
