The Packard engine grey paint question. Unless you are doing a 100 point restoration and going to have it judged at a PAC or PI Meet. Why not just pick the nearest color you can find and paint the block. Outside of some so called experts who is going to know the difference.

John S.

I can't answer your question why the ultra is stuck in park.
I would like to bring to attention two important things that you should look up in the manuals section.

There is a complete three volume manual set here on the ultramatic and anotehr source here is a complete set of STB's covering the model years 1948 through 1956.


John S.

I think many persons that comes to this forum doesn't realize that when Packardinfo first got started how hard about four or five persons worked and what they contributed to get things going.

Brian and I were part of this effort to get things going with what we and others contributed from our private collections of information about Packard's from our personal libraries.

The difference between Brian and myself he still contributes greatly to Packardinfo while I have chosen to step back
and just post on occasion, which is why I am no longer a forum ambassador as I was in the past.

Part of the reason that Packardinfo was started because some of us were tired of clubs like PAC wanting people to contribute information to them about Packard's then not willing to share that information freely with other Packard lovers that weren't members of PAC.

In closing Brian probably knows more about 55 & 56 Packard's than most any other person that I know and he shares his knowlegde freely.

John S

Just got done reading that Car & Parts will no longer be in publication after November this year. That is going to be a big blow to the automotive hobby. They have published a lot of automotive history over the years, they have been in business.

I have kept every issue of Car & Parts that I bought over the last 30 years.


John S

It is very sad that Gerd has left and all his posts have been deleted. With him gone this leaves a BIG BIG HOLE in this forum.

I think that I know the main reason that Gerd decided to get out. I would like to have been able to recover a deleted post from last week that was directed at Gerd, that was only up for a few moments, which I read.

I hope Gerd that after some time away from the forum you decide to come back.

Hardtop maybe you and I can possibly keep alive some of what Gerd started

John S

I read a good many car tests over the years done by Tom McCahill. My brother I couldn't wait till the latest issue of Mechanix Illustrated came to the house.

While it is well know that Tom liked his big Chrysler Imperials, but when he tested a car no matter what brand it was, he always gave his readers an honest opinion, and wasn't afraid to say when a car was a piece of junk.

John S.

Welcome Malcolm: The picture Ipsoted of the Darracq V8 I fround on the internet but can't remember on what web site I found the picture. I will try and do some reseach and find out for you. Thanks for the other information you posted

John S

Owen: Studebaker produced diesel powered trucks from 1962 through 1964. In those three years 702 diesel trucks were produced. The diesel engines used in the trucks were Detroit Diesel. The engines were the 4-53 four cylinder 212 cid engine horsepower 130, 3-53 three cylinder 159 cid engine horsepower 97. Both engine were two strokers.

John S

In latest issue of the CBN finally had one piece information that pertains to the Packard V8 engines.

It is stated that Utic built V8 engines until 7/30/56. For what it is worth Stu Blond claims that his employer has a NOS Packard 352 short block with a casting date of 7/30/56.

Owen a good thing you posted the V8 question in this forum it certainly has gotten more of a response than the same question you posted in the PAC forum

John S

Mal: The engine powering that Summit was built in my home town of Williamsport, Penna.

John S.