51 Packard Driven at last
I have taken the '51 out for a test drive, the first time it has been on the road in about 45 years. It felt very good.
Although there was still a lot to do to get the car finished and fully ready to be registered we drove it successfully and without incident, and managed to get back home OK.
With the help of my sons (- who all came home for the event) we took the car off the blocks it had been sitting on for the last year or more during restoration, and out of the garage under its own power. Then after a few 'test climbs' and reverses up and down our steep driveway, it was out onto the street for an approximately one mile drive around the back streets.
My biggest concern was whether the un-restored Ultramatic was going to work or not, after sitting around unused for about 45 years on garage floors. So, after startup I was feeling very disappointed for a few moments when I selected High range on the Ultramatic and found the car only moved forward a few feet, before sitting there, revving and going nowhere. It seemed I might have to push it back into the garage and consider the next move. So I had another go, this time in Low range, and it moved up the drive easily this time.
(Since then I've been told that it can take a few seconds for the converter to pump up, and it seems that was the problem).
With sons manning some large blocks of wood to chock the wheels in case the tranny or brakes failed on the slope, and my wife manning the video camera we backed and forwarded up the driveway a few times, until I was sure the fully restored brakes were ok (including park brake) and the Ultramatic was behaving and wouldn't leave me in 'angel gear' on a hill.
My youngest son and I then ventured onto the street and headed up the hill, with another son following in a modern just in case. The car was minus a muffler and tailpipe, so everyone could hear us coming. Then cruised slowly for about a mile, until back home, whereupon I was able to give reverse gear a good test by backing into the garage.
Then followed a few whoops and hollers and we celebrated with a goodly number of alcoholic beverages well into the night.
The car is drivable now. It braked well and even steered well despite not yet having had a wheel alignment. Engine sounded sweet (aside from being very loud) and pulled well although it hasn't been properly tuned yet. Temperature sat mid-range also. Oil pressure 30psi hot at idle.
I have placed one small (1 minute) video of the drive online, you may want to view it at
Short movie of the test drive Sound on for the best effect!
Update: Had the car inspected and on Wednesday it was fully registered for road use.
There are still quite a lot of things to be done, but the exhaust and headlining is fitted. Other items to get done are: wheel alignment, voltage regulator adjusted, fit the carpet, door trims and handles, fit the rear seat and a hundred small things as well. Also need to get the wipers working better (- they barely move).
Also, the Ultramatic is locking in direct drive when I slow to a standstill, causing the engine to stall unless I shift to Neutral. I'm told that this could be caused by the governor,or maybe a sticking valve. If it is a stuck valve, it might free up with a bit of driving.
It is great to have the car finally drivable after eight years of work restoring her.
Will post some more photos soon.
Ready to take the first drive [img width=450]<a href="http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Larry51_2009/media/Packard%20Project/First%20Drive%20in%2045%20Years/VIDEO003203_zpse2c8d914.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Larry51_2009/Packard%20Project/First%20Drive%20in%2045%20Years/VIDEO003203_zpse2c8d914.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo VIDEO003203_zpse2c8d914.jpg"/></a>[/img]
Heading out after driveway tests [img width=450]<a href="http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Larry51_2009/media/Packard%20Project/First%20Drive%20in%2045%20Years/DSCN348721_zps1f57f232.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Larry51_2009/Packard%20Project/First%20Drive%20in%2045%20Years/DSCN348721_zps1f57f232.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSCN348721_zps1f57f232.jpg"/></a>[/img]
[img width=450]<a href="http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Larry51_2009/media/Packard%20Project/First%20Drive%20in%2045%20Years/DSCN348733_zps11fc2dca.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Larry51_2009/Packard%20Project/First%20Drive%20in%2045%20Years/DSCN348733_zps11fc2dca.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSCN348733_zps11fc2dca.jpg"/></a>[/img]
After the exhaust and bumper bars etc were fitted . . . [img width=450]<a href="http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Larry51_2009/media/Packard%20Project/Bumpers%20and%20Exhaust%20Fitted/Lres0016_zpsdfee362c.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Larry51_2009/Packard%20Project/Bumpers%20and%20Exhaust%20Fitted/Lres0016_zpsdfee362c.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Lres0016_zpsdfee362c.jpg"/></a>[/img]
This Post was from: https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=152666