Re: 55PackardGuy's '54 Clipper Deluxe

Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2015/6/21 22:49:44

Haven't been on for a while. Been driving and tinkering.

Learned a couple of things:

1. Manual transmissions can leak. Mine was down on lube. Drained and re-lubed with some seal sweller/softener added. I'll see if it still leaks down the road. Seems to shift better into 2nd, without having to wait as long to avoid a "crunch." Maybe loosened up the synchronizers?

2. Front springs do not last forever. Left front has notably sagged lower then RF. No room even for a shim, because coils are so close together. Think I'll replace both.

3. Sure rides nicer after mechanic got lube chart to find ALL the zerks. This chart is in shop manual. I TOLD him I thought it said the U-joints should have 140 wt. gear oil. He greased them. I checked the chart again: even though they look like plain grease zerks, they are NOT supposed to be greased, but lubed with 140 wt. using a grease gun. I drove it a few miles with the grease in there, but I doubt it hurt anything. Going back tomorrow for correct lube.

4. The Mechanic got the instrument panel out. Lubed the speedo cable. He used STP which I think was OK, although manual calls for grease. He said the cable was burned in two places. It doesn't make any noise, but still pulses a little on the dial.

5. Temp and Fuel gauge still not working. Mechanic checked the circuit breaker to them behind the panel, and it had power. He thought it was the voltage regulato, which the manual says is part of the circuit for sending power to those gauges.

NOW THE QUESTION: Where the heck is the Voltage Regulator for the Instruments? Both the Temp and Fuel gauges can be affected if the regulator isn't working or isn't grounded, according to the shop manual. BUT the shop manual does not give any hint where it is. The mechanic said he thought it was under the middle of the dash.

Any thoughts?

Many Thanks.