Re: Proud New Owner of a 49 Packard Club Sedan

Posted by PackardusOctavus On 2018/10/19 9:23:31

Project Update! The Overdrive is fully operational! I had the shop raise the brake pedal height, because my car has the "padded" gigantor accelerator option, and my foot would hit the accelerator when braking, a heart stopping moment each time. Also, I went to take a look at the under fender ducts, and the lug nuts were STUCK. My son and I bent a four way and they did not budge, so I had the shop take them off and put them back on.


The bad news is that a compression test shows that No. 3 cylinder has but 36 lbs of compression. I have looked into the cylinder and the piston is black towards the exhaust valve. Whether its a valve, piston, or something else, the head is going to have to come off. My car has chrome acorn nuts as head bolts. Were these a Packard option, or are they aftermarket? I'll need to know so I can replace them.


I plan to get the acorns off, then blast the studs with PB and let them soak for a while before lifting. I've got the good metal putty knives already for the effort. It looks to me like I have to remove the intake/exhaust manifold to get to that side of the head, so I'll soak those fasteners, too, beforehand. Any other tips/pitfalls to look out for?