Re: KPack

Posted by HH56 On 2021/9/24 10:44:35

If the bolts attaching whatever pieces that leak are tight I doubt there is much you can do if a particular seal or gasket is already leaking other than remove and replace it. Some have had minimal luck with one of the modern snake oil products guaranteed to swell dried seals or gaskets and stop a leak but I doubt if many did for long term and especially not if the seal has cracked or sealing surface became roughened. Back in the day some seals and gaskets were just made of leather or natural cork which can dry, crack or shrink. Some of the old paper gaskets also shrink or become brittle so they cannot hold much pressure against them.

Modern materials have come a long way in curing those ills and most seals and gaskets can be replaced with a modern composite or even with a thin layer of RTV. Unfortunately some specific items Packard used may have been custom made or designed around an item in common use then but not available today in anything other than old stock.

A lot of engine leaks come from the front seal or timing cover and run back. Sometimes the oil filter gasket can seep and of course, the oil pan holes getting distorted just like the transmission pan is another source of leaks. The oil pan drain plug gasket can be replaced with nylon or a new fiber gasket of even copper if one of those as long as the machined plug or pan surface is not damaged and is the actual source of the leak.

Not much to be done with power steering other than change the seals and pay attention to the orientation when doing so. If the rod sat in one position for years sometimes there is a faint corrosion ring around the rod at the spot where the rod and seal were positioned together. With the high pressure against the seal that damaged area will seep a bit every time it moves across the seal. If other spots on the rod have corroded or become rough nothing can be done wihout a renewed rod.