Re: 55PackardGuy's '54 Clipper Deluxe

Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2014/8/15 20:28:18

Thanks, 51Packard. I think I'll get a mechanical gauge at some point.

The good news is, with a fresh change to Castrol HD 30 weight, and going back to the original sending unit, everything seems to be swell.

The moral could be, not even at a 30:1 ratio is Marvel Mystery Oil a suitable oil additive for this engine. Also, I plan to stick to oil that at least claims to be Heavy Duty.

The oil change took 6 quarts, so I believe there is probably some STP laying down in the pan on top of whatever filth there may be. Even though I added it when the car was warm and drove it afterward, which is the usual procedure to make sure that STP doesn't just sink to the bottom, I believe it did.

Anyway, no more oil light nonsense for now. I'll cruise it for a ways this weekend and see if there are further developments. For now, it looks like it was, once again, something quite simple.

Next oil change, I plan to have them drop the pan and clean it out.

More to come on that.

For right now, I have installed the new hood mechanism, and, not surprisingly, it needs adjustment. The safety catch works just fine, but the main latch is too loose, causing annoying hood rattle. There is too much space between the hood and the shroud. So, which way do I turn it to tighten it up? I would think righty tighty, but when I did that, it wouldn't catch at all. Some fiddling obviously required. Then, do I tighten the nut inside the spring? And how do I get in there to do it?

I could use some input on adjustment. Also, still wondering why the hood can't be closed without pulling the safety latch out of the way with the release in the middle of the lip of the hood. It looks like someone tried (unsuccessfully) to solve this problem by bending the front of the hole in the bottom receiving mechanism on the shroud. Looks like something is out of joint somewhere with the front of the body. Old accident stuff?