Re: Shutter Thermostat Mods

Posted by NeedsRestoration On 2017/12/24 13:17:48

[quote]Owen_Dyneto wrote:
You've got to go back in time to the 20s and before to appreciate the need for winterfronts ..

+ + +

Of course Owen is correct - gives me a chance to harp on, to illustrate one of my pet theories - how "classic era" engineers came up with expensive and complex solutions to problems already eliminated by more modern thinking!

Actually, for the reasons Owen pointed out, radiator shutters are still seen today on "big rigs".

Modern big truck diesel engines are so efficient, even with internal themostats in their water cooling systems, they'd never warm up in really cold weather without the shutters blocking the air flow.

The introduction of 'modern' anti freeze (for example, glychol-based solutions) available in any auto parts store or dealer eliminated the need for shutters on passenger cars and light trucks. So by the early thirties, those shutters on cars were unnecessary, even harmful & thus obsolete.

Let's be honest - those monster multi-cylinder motors produced by Packard, Piece Arrow, Lincoln, Cadillac? To get smoothness ? Sure they were smoother, if you bolted the engine rigidly to the chassis.

The introduction of the rubber mounted motor in the early 1930's made them obsolete too - the multi cylinder concept was an outstanding engineering solution to a problem solved by simple rubber engine mounts !

Heck, my 4 cyl Toyota is as smooth as any big-engine classic.

Bottom line, those multi-cylinder monsters, along with their radiator shutters, were another example - obsolete before they rolled out of the factory!

But all this does not solve the problem asked by the guy who started this particular "thread" /what to do about shutters on classic-era big Packards.

At the risk of repeating myself, I think operating radiator shutters are neat !

So again, my recommendation is "bite the bullet". Buy that new expensive Sylphon ( as Owen notes, they will probably last longer than we will! )

And make sure the shutter mechanism is propertly set up and lubricated. Yes, there is a powerful "return-to-closed" spring in there - help it do its work by making sure the system is set up properly.

And add an "in line thermostat to your radiator hose, to insure quick and stable warm up.

Then drive the heck out of that pre-war "big" Packard ! When properly maintained, they are a delight to drive.