So Far So Good...Just a Couple More Tweaks To Go!!!

Posted by Packard 1948 On 2015/10/18 17:36:15
Hi All,

I just visited my dad and his Packard.

He is SUPER HAPPY with the power steering and the engine/transmission run great!!!

He started it up this morning and the engine purred like a kitten after about 2 turns of the crank with the starter motor...the choke clicked into position and the engine did not miss a lick to/from breakfast.

The only minor tweaking needed now are the following:

1. The brake lights will occasionally stay illuminated after driving. Since the switch is a pressure switch my first thought was that there was internal pressure in the master cylinder after the engine heated up the brake fluid and it would expand. I checked the vent in the cap and it works great so that is not the problem. Since the issue is intermittent (seems to be based on temperature as cold morning it happens less) I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I assume the R&R procedure involves unscrewing the switch and installing the new switch and bleeding the brakes.

2. Overdrive. As mentioned above, the engine starts up right away and the choke seems to be adjusted fine because the engine purrs REALLY nice at a slightly high idle and does not pop or sputter. The choke will open and reduce the high idle as advertised as the engine warms up. He indicated that when the engine is cold the overdrive will not engage however it will always engage after the engine is warmed up. I cannot see how the OD would be affected by the choke high idle because the throttle linkage is not affected by the choke high idle cam.

3. Wide Open Throttle misfire. When the transmission is out of OD (direct drive) and the throttle pedal is pressed firmly to the floor the engine will sputter however if the throttle pedal is raised off of the floor ever so slightly the engine runs great. I cannot imagine this issue would be because of a fuel delivery problem because wide open throttle verses 97 percent of wide open throttle would not be that big of a deal. He would never notice this because I doubt he will ever floor it except to downshift out of OD.

4. Fluid leaks. The only fluid leaks under the car as noticed when I laid down next to the car and looked underneath and looked at the concrete of his favorite parking spot is a couple of drips from the oil pan drain (it does have the copper gasket and I tightened the bolt down snug...not too tight), some minor droplets from the transmission (cannot tell from where) and the rear axle pinion seal (dang...that is a new seal).

5. Power steering works mostly good. Low speed turning at tight turning (parking) still has a hum and it seems that the assist is not as strong as I would like (slight pulsating sound and feel in the steering wheel). If he ever lets me take the car away from him again (last time I kept it for 5 months) I will try to add a couple of washers to the Flow Control Valve spring to see if I can hot rod the pump a bit since the original pump has the output specs more suited for the Bendix actuator and I am running the Monroe actuator and it needs some more Ommppphhh. I did add three washers to the Pressure Valve and bumped it up from 650 PSI to 1000 PSI and that did help however I guess (hoping in vain) that the humming noise is from the FCV limiting flow to the actuator and therefore that is causing the pulsating feel/noise.

6. Rear axle noise. He does notice this one. There is a "Whoom...whoom...whoom" noise from the rear axle that increases in frequency with an increase in speed. Does not seem to be a function of throttle, steady state, or coast nor does the noise change with side loads when turning left or right. The only thing I can think is that it would be coming from the pinion nut adjustment because I had the pinion nut off to replace the rear pinion seal and lost it's marks when reinstalling.

Anyhoo...That is my report.

Still...running Packard + Power Steering = Happy dad!!!

THANKS AGAIN!!!

Bill

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