Here's the trunk and trim for the '48 Victoria. Problem is this guy is selling 5 Packards (48-49) as a lot and he wants a lot for them....$21K. They are all parts cars or worse. But it looks like there is a '48 Custom Victoria in there with complete trunk and trim. Way out in Oregon.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1395076877712607/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post

Like Wat, I'd be looking closer to 6K for that Custom 8. Especially since I would need to have it shipped all the way across the country, and that would not be cheap. But that doesn't address the bigger problem which is convincing my wife that we NEED another Packard. Especially since my Panama isn't done and we are quickly running out of parking spaces.

-Kevin

It should go up first, then forward with the bottom end coming out first. If I remember right there are hooks at the top that hold it on, plus some sort of wire hoop that holds on either side of the lower. It's been a couple years since I had my seat out last and I'm having a hard time remembering exactly what it was like.

-Kevin

A part of me really wants to get that '48 Custom Eight Convertible Victoria. Yes it would be a project, but it would be a blast to rebuild that car right, and bring it back from the dead. And the convertibles had the best lines of all models of those years IMO.

Someone talk me out of it.

-Kevin

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Not a dual-point distributor thankfully. Plug wires are all new and I routed them so they don't cross each other and do not contact anything metal, just in case.

I checked for vacuum leaks with carb spray around everywhere I could think of. No noticeable change to the sound and speed of the engine. Valves were adjusted with the engine out of the car. They have not been adjusted since running the car.

Coil, condenser, points, cap, rotor, wires, and plugs are all new. So unless one of those components is bad out of the box it shouldn't be due to those.

How would I check the distributor cam and bushings? Maybe the problem lies there?

I'm assuming the timing light is good. It's new but just an inexpensive one from Harbor Freight. When pressing the trigger I can see plainly that the pattern of flashes is not consistent. It's quick, then slow, and it obviously is not steady. So it seems like something is causing #1 to fire erratically.

-Kevin

I started the Super up today to try and tune it better. I can hear the engine stumbling some, like a miss, and the engine shakes some. It definitely does not run as smoothly as it should, and perhaps even a lack of power.

The timing marks on the timing light are jumping all over with the engine running at 600 RPM. I can't get it to go lower.
I'm unable to get a reading and have no idea where to set the distributor.

Is this a sign of a worn distributor? If the distributor needs a rebuild, how do I do that?

-Kevin

Carb rebuild kits can be ordered through big Packard suppliers like Max Merritt and Kanter. Mike's Carb and Daytona Carb are two other sources. Any of those will have what you need and can probably ship immediately.

I used a gallon bucket of Berryman's carb cleaner when I did mine. It comes with a basket to put parts into and drop into the solution. I let them sit for a while then pulled them out and cleaned them up. It's a very messy job. Acetone would probably work too but smells very strong and is very volatile.

There might be some videos out there going over the rebuild of similar carbs. The biggest thing is to take lots of pictures while you disassemble and keep everything labeled and organized.

-Kevin

Is there another parking space there to put a third Packard? Just give in to the disease. There is no point in fighting it.

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Lol. I'm not expecting a speed demon here, but was just surprised at the difference between two cars with the same engine and transmission.

I had no idea that the rear axle ratios were different between the two years. I just assumed they were all the same. That would definitely explain some of the difference I felt.

Regarding the tune on the Panama, compression is good across all (145-155), timing should be on but I might need to double check, and I've never adjusted the throttle linkage. The car does seem to run rich (based on plugs) though the mixture screws have been adjusted using a vacuum gauge.

I'll look into adjusting the pull rod to the carb to lower the speed for direct drive. It seems to "hang" a bit as it stands now before it drops into direct.

I've tried the starting in low and switching to high, and was rewarded with a loud and violent clunk. Haven't done it again since.