Re: 1934 Eight water pump

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2022/5/1 14:56:03

Certainly you can eliminate the oil cooler and full-flow filter, Packards with earlier iterations of your engine had neither and are fine, very capable machines. What's really important is that, in eliminating them, they took proper steps to maintain the oil flow thru the pressure regulator and back to the engine internals. If the car has been in regular use since the cooler and filter were removed and it runs well with good oil pressure and no bearing or other internal noises, it may be safe to assume that all is well and was properly done.

Other than 1899 and perhaps a few other very early years, 1934 has Packard's highest survival rate at over 3%, so finding the original oil cooler housing will be very challenging. Cars that were once considered parts cars have become candidates for restoration. As to the internal cooler core itself, even if you found one it would almost certainly be useless, but simple enough to fabricate a bypass, most all of us with 1934 Eights and Super 8s have ready done that. And repro full-flow filters are available.

Assuming you're comfortable with the oiling question, I'd get the IR temp gun working and diagnose your cooling system problem. If not, I'd tackle the lubrication question first. It should take a half hour or less to remove the water pump once the coolant has been drained.