This note is for Ross:

I did a little research. Type A (the original trans oil) is essentially AW32/46 hydraulic dyed red. Type F is a little heavier on average.

If the problem with these old transmissions is worn parts (especially gear to body and gear to cover clearances) then why not try mixing Dexron (AW32 plus modifiers) with AW68 hydraulic to increase line pressures?

The specs for these transmission oils are all over the map and I suspect things like Lucas are just heavy hydraulic oils that increase line pressure.

That sounds like a small vacuum leak somewhere. Try turning the idle screws out a little bit (record the amount). If the problem gets better then start plugging vacuum lines, although it could be inside the carburetor as well. Sometimes the choke pistons wear and suck vacuum. It could also be the vacuum advance as the ports are uncovered at light throttle.

I've used the blind head screws as well (only flat like the original rivets which fold against each other). Once I had a hood set up and when my back was turned some knucklehead decided they weren't tight enough so he wrenched them down and screwed the whole thing up. He was management's favorite and fortunately spent most of the day sleeping or smoking. Of course he was paid tons more than me just like in a corporation. I didn't care as long as he wasn't screwing with my area. In fact I thought they should have let him stay home and send him paychecks in the mail. Of course management came in and bxtched, but when I pointed at their pet they said it great.

Anyway, the screws need be only tight enough to compress the lockwasher. Once you have the hood on the car and everything is set up, apply penetrating loctite (green) to each nut and let sit overnight. Those hoods were riveted in a jig to exacting specifications with soft rivets. Forget about that one - it's another one of those Packard secrets.

The 16th series V-12s can also crack like crazy, so something was being done wrong at the factory. Ken Fahnestock had a 38 Su8 that he used for years, and Turnquist had one that got totalled. It's still around. The 16th series was Turnquist's favorite driving series. These problems sure stoke the fires of the Cadillac crowd. I knew an old timer named Kavenagh who bought a pair of 41 Lebaron's. He was a Cadillac guy (owned a 38 75 from which most of those old CCCA caravan photos were taken) and after dealing with the windows he forever swore he'd never own another Packard.

As for the vehicle plate, as long as the VIN is good the standard plate can be used. Nobody from the cops is going to say "Hey you can't use that plate in place of a decal." I've also seen them titled using the motor number.

The old full power brakes were a sales item. Later on it was found that only a trained driver could mangage them properly in an emergency. State police forces often opted for manual brakes preferring the superior modulation which performed better on timed pursuit routines.

There is at least one modern car with full power brakes - the Chrysler Dart. They are just like the old days, but with computer control they should do okay in an emergency.

The reason residual check valves are not part of the disc brake system is because the calipers must have zero psi to release.

Recently I handled a case of spongy brakes in a new car. It was not properly bled at the factory. The symptom was that as the brakes got hot they faded too much. The same symptom as worn out drums. Determining the problem required testing the braking force at each individual wheel.
Of course I didn't get paid because these car companies don't like people are intelligent. I've seen people get paid for ruining a new engine, while I get stiffed for diagnosing computer control problems due to shoddy work at the factory.

The high amount of brake pedal travel in the modern system is due to the amount of fluid displacement required by the disc brake. The more the pedal moves, the more work is being done. In the duo servo system the motion of the drum provides self energizing action and so displacement is not required - thus the firm brake pedal feel. To see what I am talking about, pump up the pedal on a modern car. It usually is very firm until the motor starts, then the booster takes over and the spongyness is from power assist.

Personally I think the only benefit of ABS is that of reducing spin out on ice patches (Fred Duesenberg died after hitting an ice patch with the brakes applied).

The problem with TreadlVac is catastrophic failure, worn out drums, and non-availability of asbestos linings. So I can't blame people for trying to do something about that. Personally I think the thing is rotten engineering because it subjects the ram seal to motor vacuum. That is junk.

Today's brake systems are engineered for people who don't know how to drive. I know how to modify a brake system to make the pedal feel like a rock, but I don't do it because it would reduce stopping power.

I guess the number I was looking at was for a .040 over piston which is closing in on 1/8 of an inch.

Dear mearch:

Any backfire that can break a starter housing indicates a serious problem.

You need to go through all the systems, firing order, timing, valve timing, and check everything.

The best scenario is advanced ignition timing. But I'm not sure if there is a way to foul up the spark plug wires to cause your problem.

Even a bad primary connection could cause that thing to open prematurely half way up on compression. So check everything.

Hope this helps.

If the car is indoors and there is a beam handy, you can hook onto the two fender bolt brackets on the cowl, triangulate to the front and lift the thing up with a block and tackle. Then push the car out of the way.

When they put the nose on at the factory the wheels were on the car, but they winched the thing in place using a few specific angles of approach. I have pulled those clips single handed using a hoist.

Dear John:

Not possible. The 359 bore is almost 1/8 inch larger (if my numbers are correct). The service limit is .045.

Looks like bolt on items to me.

I think the hood ornament looks much better than those surfing bird things.