Re: Swich dash super 8 1938

Posted by SaddleRider On 2017/1/6 13:38:30

Wow - thanks for the info - you are obviously more familiar with the pre 1932 cars and their literature than I am.

Yes, of course the earlier cars with UPDRAFT carbs. had a manifold layout so it was then practical ( with no "down-draft" style intake manifold, carb., etc. in the way) to use a exhaust manifold "muff" for cabin heating. Never saw one on a 20's era Packard myself. New to me - thanks again!

( Side note - You may be aware of my prejudice that all Packards that do not have red closineau hub-cap emblems that say "PACKARD TWELVE" should be immediately shredded and sent to Japan where they can be made into something useful.....! )

We disagree on the Pines issue. Again, given the outstanding over-engineering of Packard cooling systems, I think you are wrong - no way in the world a PROPERLY MAINTAINED Packard cooling system can warm up as fast as blocking off the water flow at the cyl. head, ( as is universal in modern practice for well over half a century).

A list of present era cars with the Pines system compared to the modern practice of "pellet" types that cut off the flow of water at the cyl. head says it all! Again, my prejudice...the Pines Winterfront.....inefficient, costly, unnecessary.

Sorry, no practical way of complying with the request for a photo behind my own dash - too stuffed with wiring to make head-or-tail out of it.

As another side-note, I never understood the psychology of most of the pre-war Packard buyers. The guy who ordered mine new, paid extra for a number of fairly expensive options, including the factory radio. Yet he wouldn't shell out for the outstanding factory-installed heating system! Cant figure that out.

I am the second owner; and I like my creature-comfort - so yes, I installed a conventional "after-market" style "Packard" water-type heater bolted to the firewall, with a switch mounted UNDER the dash. Yeah..I know..I SHOULD have set it up so the "factory" provision for lighting indicators built into the dash works with the under-dash heater switch...!

Yes, some modern "big rig" diesels do have radiator shutters, and for good reason - diesels, being more efficient than gas motors, turn a greater proportion of the energy in fuel into mechanical energy, with less lost as heat. Even with modern "pellet" type thermostats, the air-flow coming in thru the radiator opening on big diesels has to be cut off on very cold days, for a number of reasons not relevant to our discussion regarding Packard cars.

Bottom line - my experience with Packard cooling systems....if you can get ANY Packard product to warm up quickly with only a Pines system to restrict the air flowing thru the radiator, you've got one badly maintained Packard!