Re: Safe Highway Speed

Posted by su8overdrive On 2022/8/1 16:04:09

Glentre, the above gents give you terrific, knowing advice. Gear Vendors and others offer aftermarket overdrives with anvil strength used in monstrously powerful rods and the like long used by many with big luxe barouches of the '30s.
No one can whine about "originality" unless they've nothing better to do than crawl beneath your car looking for sin.

If you change to a taller rear axle, and/or add overdrive, remember, it is hard to "over-gear" a Packard or most vintage cars. Bear in mind they were often first sold to drivers who came of age when Dobbin was still common or principal transport, and third gear flexibility seen as the mark of refinement, and luxury.

Remember, the expression "going like 60" was still in popular use into the '40s, and the first modern, limited-access, divided highway was 1940's 160-mile Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Even in a newer Packard than yours with taller rear axle and overdrive like my '47 or its kin, with 1941-42 Buick Century/Roadmasters, the only cars available off a showroom floor in the '40s able to best the ton (100 mph), I envy your bucolic Virginia surrounds, where you have some lovely undulating two-lane "blue highways," because i prefer a leisurely pace. You rediscover your car at 40-50, or slower; what the English used to call "pottering."

Something right nice about murmuring along at 40-45. As you probably know, one of the most beautiful drives in the nation is the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, with its 45-mph speed limit and not one sign or billboard allowed.

Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't let those in Kleenex cars cow you.

Your 384-ci eight is a magnificent, strong engine. I prefer it over the Twelve even as Maurice Hendry liked the Pierce 384 inline eight over their 12.
You've got as nice a Packard as East Grand ever built.