Re: Just bought a 1941 Packard 120 - Considering a frame off resto
Posted by Bob J On 2023/11/18 15:25:02
Please feel free to do anything you want with your car, it's yours!
I know that you are anxious to see if it runs, but really...why? There is no hurry right? I know it may not be winter where you are, but at any rate the days are getting short and it is a good time to putter away inside until the spring brings in the nicer weather. In the meantime do a nice careful disassembly of the main engine parts that will allow you to achieve a nice running unit once all things are in place. So what if you get it running now to simply hear it go knowing there is no way you would drive it like that. You are not needing this car Monday to go to work. Relax and enjoy a calm and directed approach to bringing an 80+ year old car back to life.
It WILL run, these old flatheads are pretty much guaranteed to do so unless you see a con-rod sticking out the side of the block!
Pull the carb, water pump, starter, generator, master/wheel cylinders and radiator off and send them all out for rebuild.
Pull the head off and remove the valves so you can thoroughly clean them and their seats along with the cylinder head's combustion chamber.
Order new spark plugs, points, condenser, oil filter, coil, plug wires, battery, cap and rotor so the ignition side is good.
Pull the gas tank and get it dunked. blow out the fuel lines while it and the pump are off.
Run new cables/wires to the starter from the battery. Run new wires for the ignition and starter, brake/tail lights, headlights/signal lights.
While all that is going on, redo the brake shoes and replace the brake lines. Check the drums for wear and resurface if necessary. Inspect wheel bearings/seals. Free up the emergency brake cables. Drain and replace the transmission and differential fluids.
Then when the rebuilt parts come in 6 months or so later you reassemble, put in new oil and water and dump some fuel in the carb and hear her fire up easily and take her safely for a spin.
Then you have a car, not just an engine that runs (poorly) with no confidence in the rest of the machine.
Have fun!
Bob J.
Attach file:
Engine-1a.JPG (460.65 KB)
Engine complete dr side 1.JPG (403.10 KB)
I know that you are anxious to see if it runs, but really...why? There is no hurry right? I know it may not be winter where you are, but at any rate the days are getting short and it is a good time to putter away inside until the spring brings in the nicer weather. In the meantime do a nice careful disassembly of the main engine parts that will allow you to achieve a nice running unit once all things are in place. So what if you get it running now to simply hear it go knowing there is no way you would drive it like that. You are not needing this car Monday to go to work. Relax and enjoy a calm and directed approach to bringing an 80+ year old car back to life.
It WILL run, these old flatheads are pretty much guaranteed to do so unless you see a con-rod sticking out the side of the block!
Pull the carb, water pump, starter, generator, master/wheel cylinders and radiator off and send them all out for rebuild.
Pull the head off and remove the valves so you can thoroughly clean them and their seats along with the cylinder head's combustion chamber.
Order new spark plugs, points, condenser, oil filter, coil, plug wires, battery, cap and rotor so the ignition side is good.
Pull the gas tank and get it dunked. blow out the fuel lines while it and the pump are off.
Run new cables/wires to the starter from the battery. Run new wires for the ignition and starter, brake/tail lights, headlights/signal lights.
While all that is going on, redo the brake shoes and replace the brake lines. Check the drums for wear and resurface if necessary. Inspect wheel bearings/seals. Free up the emergency brake cables. Drain and replace the transmission and differential fluids.
Then when the rebuilt parts come in 6 months or so later you reassemble, put in new oil and water and dump some fuel in the carb and hear her fire up easily and take her safely for a spin.
Then you have a car, not just an engine that runs (poorly) with no confidence in the rest of the machine.
Have fun!
Bob J.
Attach file:
Engine-1a.JPG (460.65 KB)
Engine complete dr side 1.JPG (403.10 KB)
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