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Awesome! Lookin' forward to it!

Glad to hear you are having such a good time driving her, and she's going better the more you drive.

-Garrett

Boy, I'm getting behind posting on my blog. But there is much to tell. I have to wait 'till I'm in front of the laptop so I can edit and post photos.

This is a quick blast from the iPhone.

Briefly, I'm driving her, and she runs really well with the fuel tank issue corrected. A couple of days ago, she developed a miss throughout the RPM range. I had been running some ATF in my oil in an attempt to free up the oil rings. Thought maybe I had fouled some plugs, but BigKev suspected ignition.

He was right on the money, as I had earlier replaced everything except the condenser. I'm sure many of you know what a bad condenser can do. It ran pretty well for a while with the old one, but finally, it wanted a better spark.

A quick trip to NAPA, and 12 bucks and an AL-869 later, the engine was running better than ever. Much more torque than before, and no miss at idle.

I also will conduct a seminar on repainting wheel covers. Coming soon, when I get a chance to sit down at the laptop.

Burning less oil now.

Many thanks to BigKev, for his suggestions on how to free up an engine that had been dormant.

I used his technique of adding ATF to the crankcase and driving for a while. Drained the oil, and put in 7 quarts of fresh 30W Rotella, drove some more, and decided to try the technique of pouring ATF directly into the carb while revving the engine. Killed a lot of mosquitoes (Florida state bird) in the process. I then squirted some Seafoam carbon cleaner in the carb to clean out the ATF. I think she's smoking much less now. I will continue to drive more, in the hopes of the oil rings seating properly.

In the meantime, I'm very happy with the Alabama Crimson Tide girls winning the Women's College Softball World Series!

Roll Tide!

Joey, How is your project progressing? Haven't heard anything in a while, but I suppose you are too busy driving the wheels off of your 48. I get really charged up every time I read your post. I almost feel like I was right there with you in the passenger seat on your first test drive. I hope all is going well with your project. I would love to meet up with you and Garrett some day, but I don't think the world could handle it. After I changed the rear end gear ratio in my 48 Super 8, I am beginning to really enjoy driving it. Maybe some day our paths will cross. Packardtaximan

Roger,

Thanks for the kind words. It would be great if all of us could get together someday. I'm certain we can find a way- I'm ready for a road trip, if the 48 can make it. I'm thinking I may have to do some valve guides or re-ringing before I can take her on that extended a journey. And maybe a gear change, as you mentioned. She cruises pretty well at 55 or so now, but does like to smoke and drink...


I am going to have the pleasure of meeting Mal from Oz, when he comes to Florida in October. He contacted me, and is interested in going to the Packard museum in Fort Lauderdale. I have never been myself, and plan on accompanying him there.

I haven't posted in my blog for some time because I'm too tired when I get home to sit down at the computer. The heat pretty much wears me out during the day. At least it's cooler here than Chicago or DC.

I do have you to thank for some of the progress on my car. I really appreciate your generosity with some the parts issues I've had. You stepped right up and came to the rescue!

The latest development is that I finally got the speedo working. It had been stuck at 33,177 since the fifties, according to a lube sticker. Works fine now, didn't even have to remove it. It does read about 5 mph high, due to the tires being a little shorter than the original 7.60-15s it came with. Tires will be my next big expense.

Please keep in touch, and stay posted for more updates!

Joey

Hey Roger,

I would really enjoy getting to meet you and Joey some day, and many other Packardinfo members. It has been a pleasure to share my adventures with you all, as well as getting to hear yours. I still have many obstacles to overcome before my '52 will be able to make any long trips. Perhaps our paths will cross someday. I hate to be the homebody, but there is always the Packard meet in Salado Creek, Texas.

Your friend & fellow Packardinfo-er,

-Garrett

Quote:Joey,

Looking forward to seeing you and the museum. Would be even better if you could come in your Packard, if that's possible? Another thought, any other PackardInfo members in the vicinity would I'm sure be welcome to join us on the day, with or without their Packards!

Well I'm happy to report that the '48 is smoking much less than ever. I had been dumping all kinds of stuff into the engine, even resorted to pouring ATF into the carb while revving the engine, in an attempt to free up the oil rings.

I had read at some point that BigKev said that his '54 Clipper eventually stopped burning oil the more he drove it. So I was hopeful. Mine was, at one point, using about one quart every fifty miles or so, and I had been scrounging in my shop for just about any kind of 30 weight I could find to throw into it.

A couple of weeks ago, I found an old unopened can of Motor Medic oil additive, so in it went. Still smoking. I could smell it driving, and could see it as I pulled off from a light, along with the people in cars behind me waving the smoke away from their faces, quickly changing lanes, and so on.

Finally, I found an old can of Marvel Mystery Oil, that I had been using for years to loosen bolts and stuff, so I poured it into the crankcase too.

Now, I can't see the smoke, and the oil level has not dropped precipitously as it normally did.

Maybe the rings are starting to seal!

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One of the first things I did with my '51 was add a Marvel Mystery Oil Lubricator. I think that it has helped the engine and besides, it's such a '50s thing to have under the hood.

Started painting wheels today.

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