Proud New Owner of a 49 Packard Club Sedan

Posted by PackardusOctavus On 2018/9/4 17:00:44

I just got my dream car, a Packard 8 Club Sedan with Flow Thru styling! Its a 288, three speed and overdrive. Its pretty highly optioned. It has a few annoying issues that I need help with.

1. It seems to run awfully hot. Its not losing coolant, but after about 5 miles the temp gauge is all the way over. Radiator has been recored, and block has been flushed. I'm afraid to drive it further for fear of warping the head or otherwise damaging the engine. I have not eyebaled the thermostat to see if there is one there, or if it is correct.


2. The overdrive is not functional. It appears to be fully wired, but will not engage. The knob was all the way in. I (unfortunately) decided to mess with the knob. It got it out about half an inch, but no further. I could then hear the overdrive solenoid clicking, so I removed the fuse from the OD relay. This stopped the clicking, but something was still going on, as the battery kept draining and was dead overnight. I disconnected the ignition side of the overdrive lockout switch, and the battery no longer drains. Could the lockout switch be bad, or stuck in an on position? Perhaps it is connected backwards? How do I tell if its connected backwards? Shouldn't the knob be able to come further out?


3. Where does the ground wire for the heater motor attach? I can't find anything obvious within it s reach.


4. What is the foglight wiring? Is there a relay somewhere?


5. Can someone explain the oil pressure sending unit? Mine seems to have a rubber tube coming off of it that goes nowhere.


5a. The oil filter is not plumbed. Where does the return line go, and does the oil pressure sending unit have an aperture for the "in" to the oil filter? Its a 288; no hydraulic lifters.


6. What is the deal with the radio? What is a "Control Head?"

7. What's the deal with the starter button? I understand that the gas pedal starter was a nightmare so they went with a dash mounted button. However, the 49 Club Sedan has a dash button, but my 49 parts car does not, and I see no gas pedal starter.


All information will be greatly appreciated! I'll post pics soon.