Re: 1937 120 Conv. Sedan - Blanche

Posted by TxGoat On 2024/5/29 10:39:39

My car behaves about the same way. I suspect the radiator is partly clogged. The engine runs well and the coolant never boils. Of course, the hotter the weather and the hotter the engine, the more likely vapor lock becomes. It seems that cooling on the 110 and 120 Packards through 1937 was marginal at low speeds. I think this is due to restricted underhood air flow. As far as I know, no fan shroud was ever used, and the narrow radiator core and other considerations limits fan size and pitch. The 1938 models had redesigned inner fender panels that probably went a long way toward better cooling. The '38s had a better water pump and pressure cap, too. In cool weather, up to about 80F, my cooling system does a good job. As temperatures climb above 90F, the engine runs hotter, but does not boil over or lose coolant. The gauge will read 175 to 180 in cool weather, and will climb to 190 to 200 in hotter weather when driving at 50 MPH or so.
It gets very hot around here in summer.

When you shut down a Packard, the engine will absorb heat from the hot exhaust manifold. This is normal.
With modern gasoline, this can cause carburetor flooding and may contribute to vapor lock. Park facing the wind, if you can.