Hi Guys,

I have a 54 Pacific, as of late Ive had the engine out refreshed it and put it back in. As the Car went back together I had the carb rebuilt. Once it was running we noticed the brakes were soft and the master brake cylinder wasnt doing it's job. Upon replacing it I can't put the car into gear with the engine idling without it stalling.

Also the generator light has been on, (this has been ongoing and did not begin with the new master cylinder) The generator is charging the battery some but Im not convinced it's getting the job done 100%. I have not yet had the generator tested.

Any thoughts on what changed? Im a novice Packard mechanic.

Thanks
Andy

Hello Gentlemen,

Your information has been really helpful. I've placed the putty on the valves and rotated the engine. The putty was compressed to allow for 3/16" clearance so Monday I'll drop the head off to have it evaluated and possibly milled.

My question now is the gasket. It was new, now it has gone through being placed on the head torqued/compressed twice and removed, yet it's never been under engine preassure. Is it okay to use or should I get another?

Thanks in advance.
Andy

Thanks Howard, BigKev,
I'll look into these items.

I do know the nuts are not bottoming out on the studs.

Andy

I laid a straight edge down where I could though I did not remove the head bolts. Everything seems good.

I didn't use a sealant, what do you recommend?

I was hoping to get some input about my 1954 Packard. I'm in the process of putting the engine back together after being rebuilt. It's a 359 with a 288/327 head. I did not have the head "checked" but visually it looks fine.

I assembled the head with a new gasket, copper side up, onto the block using the original head bolts. I did have new washers made that are taller (about the height of three of the original washers since the cast head is shorter than the original aluminum) I torced the head to 62lbs with two different wrenches in case one was off in the pattern described in the manual.

With all that done I filled the engine with fluids and before I got around to trying to start it the head began to seep antifreeze around the perimeter of the block and at a few of the nuts on top. Instead of going any further I pulled everything back off revealing antifreeze in cylinders 4, 7 & 8.

So the antifreeze is cleaned up but any idea what I might need to do differently? A friend mentioned replacing the head bolts?

Thanks for your time.
Andy