Re: what to check out when buying a 110?

Posted by Packard Newbie On 2017/7/19 19:32:09

Hi Megamotorhead,

I am by no means an 'authority' on 'buying stock Packards' and there are tons of guys on this site that have forgotten more than I'll ever know about these cars, but I bought a '39 Six about a year and a half ago and have learned a 'few' things. My car was actually advertised as a '120' and I went to look at it expecting a straight 8. I had done a fair bit of research and knew that the wheel base was a 'tell' on the model. When 'my' car turned out to have a six cylinder and a 122" wheel base, I then thought it was a '110'. I bought the car and started calling it a 110 until someone on the site corrected me. 1939 6 cyl cars were called 'Six's and I don't think they became '110's until 1940.
One thing that has plagued me since getting my car is trying to get the steering box to any semblance of factory specs. In mine, the side-thrust bearings that 'support' the sector wheel were disintegrated and I scoured every bearing resource I could come up with and could not find them. I would sure look closer at the steering play if I bought another one.
I also did a fair bit of checking on the engine #'s and the VIN ID plate. There is an 'anti-theft' # imprinted into the fire wall and the engine block ID #'s are letter-coded; I.E. 'B' denotes 1939, 'C' 1940, etc.. Packard did not have a 'numbers matching' method of coding their engines, but I would ensure that a) the main VIN ID plate is THERE, and record it, the firewall # and the engine ID and check with the guys on this site and they will be able to give you a pretty good idea if things match up.
I found it amazing how many new-old-stock and remanufactured parts were still available for these cars. And there is no way to say enough about the folks on this site for their constant help, advice and clarification on 'all-things-Packard'. I can also say I have never had any 'buyer's remorse' for having bought my car and am still as enamored with is as the first day I set eyes on it. If you do pick up this car - congratulations... and welcome to 'Packard'.