Re: Power to the People (Part 3)

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2011/4/13 9:24:58

Dave, when someone asked you last week whether Packard ever made a 2 brush dynamo you said "Are you kidding?"

Yes, PackardV8 asked that question and I was so shocked (not a pun) by it, I didn't respond, I couldn't believe he hadn't ever looked at a postwar generator. The answer of course is, yes they did, just about every generator Packard used after 1936/37 was a two-brush unit with a conventional 3-pole regulator (cut-out, voltage and current regulation), I believe the juniors made the change before the seniors. After the change from timing-chain driven generators, the units were a mix of Delco and AutoLite, no more Owen-Dyneto.

But, these are all belt-driven via a pulley and thus have front and rear bearings and not easily converted to fit your timing chain drive system. Don't know anyone who has done that and suspect it would be quite a chore as the armature of the 2-brush units is MUCH to short to reach into the timing chain, even if the front mount and bearing etc. could be eliminated. But I have seen one or two 3rd brush generators running with modern voltage regulators - not sure how it's done. Still seems a sleezy (pardon my purist leanings) fix.

Do you want me to call a couple of the local premier auto restoration shops that specialize in this type of thing and see what they do? I hate to see you alter such a lovely and authentic piece of auto history.

PS - if the prior owner had the shocks laying in a box, what's the chance he also has the original generator control laying around somewhere? And as long as you drive in daylight with just the drain of the ignition system, you should be able to drive 100-200 miles at a clip without having to stop and recharge the battery - gives you time to figure out how to fix it in the most appropriate way and still enjoy some road time.