Here is a picture taken by me on my last visit to the museum in 2010. This is the tag on the Dietrich in question. It is mounted on the driver side in front of the front door. Just a photo for info purposes as Ozstatman took better and more pictures of the car than I did.

If anyone is interested in seeing the other pictures I took that day, this should link you to the album. I am not a great photographer.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hqkbEv2yrS5GLYFQ8

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  body tag.jpg (83.24 KB)

I used Horseless Carriage when I shipped mine from Connecticut to Florida. They were very professional and were very flexible with me as to pick up date and delivery date. They did have to put off pick up by one day but they were right on top of it when they let me know about the delay. I don't know how the price compares to other shippers, but it was much less than the number I had been guessing at. I would use them again.

Parts ordered from Max Merritt. I ordered up a water pump, radiator cap, hose and clamp kit, and thermostat. Packard green enamel has arrived and is just waiting for the water pump to show up to paint it before installing.

Thank you for all that you do, Big Kev. This site has been an invaluable gift to the Packard world whether it be enthusiasts or owners. I have had lots of unposed "how come" and "why" questions answered without even having to post the question, just by stopping by daily. I love looking at the photos in the owner registry and seeing so many of our Packards still run in the wild. Donation made.

My thought was I would get the radiator hose kit that Max Merritt has listed in their parts catalog. Hopefully all the appropriate springs and bends are already in the hose. If anyone has purchased their kit, hopefully they can say whether that is true or not.

Thanks for confirming what I had considered doing. Often the helping hand is what is needed to instill confidence.

As an update, I was at the car yesterday with a more mechanically inclined buddy who is working on a Model A and a Studebaker Dicatator, and he asked me for a long handled screwdriver and had me start the car. He then proceeded to do a test I had long known about and long since forgotten (if you don't lose it you lose it), of putting the blade of the screwdriver to the water pump and the handle to the ear. The bearings in the pump are definitely chattering up a storm. That thing definitely has to go. Also, as luck would have it, not a drop leaked from the car during the 10 minutes it ran.

I took step one last night and ordered up a quart of Packard Green engine enamel from Bill Hirsch. Next will be ordering the pump, thermostat, and upper and lower hoses. One paycheck at a time.

Thanks for the insight, Chris. I'm glad you mentioned the fact that if I use the pressure pump that I not go too high with pressure. The Salesman Data Book shows that 1941 has a sealed cooling system to raise the boiling point. It shows the pressure of the 180 engine to be 7 lbs. Also I will definitely have something to stand on because like you said, it's a pain working over the big fenders.

It has been about 40 or more years since I "helped" my father work on the '37 six and from what I thought I remembered, the water pump seemed like a fairly easy swap out. I'm sure my memory could be off. When you mention it being involved, what were you referring to? The shop manual and the Motor's Manual are pretty vague on the replacement simply saying the radiator does not have to be removed to change the water pump. It seems to rely on the serviceman having a prior knowledge of having replaced a pump. The car is stored 10 miles away so I don't always get all the pertinent info on one trip. Hopefully I am correct in thinking that the pump sits at the top front of the block. The Parts book as well as the service manuals show cut aways of the engine which are not a lot of help in this case. My thought was to drain the coolant, remove the fan belt and any attached hoses, unbolt the pump, clean the surface, replace gasket and pump, reconnect any attached hoses, refill coolant. The steps I left out are lots of swearing in between. The coolant tube won't be coming out because as long as it's not a leak in the radiatior I do not plan to remove it.

Please feel free to point out where I am going wrong or what I should be considering. I won't be tackling anything for at least a couple of weeks as I gather parts and input and fore warned is fore armed. I am not too proud to take any help or foresight on this that I can get.

Anyone have any experience or feedback on ultraviolet leak detection kits? I was about to pull the trigger on ordering a hand pressure pump when this option came up. Thoughts?

Thanks guys.

I will look into getting one of those manual radiator pressurizers. I tend to think that it is not overfill, because this is the first time there was any leakage on the floor. I had not added any coolant to the radiator prior to this incident. Also, the end of the overflow tube remains dry.

Assuming that it is the water pump, should I look at replacing anything else besides the pump and gasket?

I was in the garage occupied by my 41 180 Sedan doing nothing related to the car when I noticed a small pool of coolant sitting under the front. The car was not running, nor did I start it, but a quick look underneath didn’t show much more than that small pool. I opened the radiator and since the position is awkward if you aren’t standing on something, I just stuck my finger in. Dry as far as I could get my finger in. I’m going to guess it had been leaking at least the last time I had driven it but I hadn’t noticed. I came back to it a few day later and added distilled water. It took about 3/4 of a gallon to fill it to the neck. I started the car and got down to look under the front. At first very little dripping then more and in a pretty consistent, but not huge, flow. It looks like it is not coming out of the overflow tube but I can see liquid on the brace under the radiator. My guess is either the water pump or the radiator core. The Motor’s Auto Repair Manual would make it seem as if removing either or both the pump or radiator is fairly simple. In my world it never is, so I am looking for some thoughts on whether 1- I may be correct on thinking it is probably one or the other of the radiator or pump 2- how big of a hassle is this job for someone who is not the best mechanic on the block and is always worried about causing more damage. Maybe I should just have it taken to a shop and have someone else deal with it while I pay through the nose. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.