Re: "Waking Sleeping Beauty" .... The Blog!

Posted by Jim L. in OR On 2011/3/3 21:50:14

Although I planned on waiting until tomorrow to start and test run the '55, I found that I had more time than I thought I would this afternoon so I gave into temptation.
Even though I haven't replaced the water pump, I figured I could run the engine for a few minutes - if it would indeed run.
I checked all the fuel connections (the glass fuel filter bowl had leaked before) then poured some gas down the carb and fired her up. Without too much dithering, start and run she did! I let her run at fast idle for a bit then goosed it and hit normal idle. At this point, I thought I'd check on that fuel leak and got out to check. To my horror, the entire top of the engine was WET! I quickly shut her off (I did have a fire extinguisher handy) and investigated.
The good news is that it wasn't gas. The fuel system was tight. The bad news is that it was ENGINE OIL. I grabbed some paper towels and cleaned up the mess but couldn't see anything obvious. The only thing to do was try and restart and jump out for a look. The engine started immediately which was gratifying. Also the engine was ticking over about 500 RPM so the oil volume wasn't as much. It looks like one of the fittings under the oil filter cannister is leaking and spraying oil - helped along by the fan. I then turned her off.
REVIEW TIME: The oil pressure gage showed good pressure while the engine was running. The gas gauge functioned though I didn't think about providing a ground for the coated tank until after I installed it. The engine toward the end of the test started running a little rough. On a hunch, I checked behind the car and saw that the right side exhaust port had ejected another bunch of seed husks. The drivers side threw out its own bunch of crud - including the mummified remains of at least one mouse.
Conclusions: I need to take the oil filter cannister off and apart and see where the leak is. The gas gauge can wait for a while. The roughness of the engine idle MAY be caused by back pressure in a clogged up exhaust system. I may stick the shop-vac hose up each tail pipe and see if I get anything but if the engine can't force it clean, I'm not too hopeful about the shop-vac. I never did a compression test but that couldn't hurt. I can't get over the idea that once the engine catches, she runs really well and then slowly starts running rough. Hence the back pressure idea. Could also be not all lifters are filling due to the oil leak (the engine did clatter a bit at the beginning).
Please - Anybody chip in with advice and experience here!
Packard engines and their foibles are new to me so EVERYBODY knows more than I do.
I'm devoting tomorrow to the Packard if the promised break in the weather happens - probably even if it doesn't and can use all the help I can get!