Re: 1948 Packard not starting

Posted by JWL On 2020/4/18 12:02:31

Do you have the crankcase filled with oil? Make sure it is full. Silly question, but...

ALSO, DO NOT RUN THE ENGINE!!!

Your oil pump may have lost its prime when you had the pan off. Two ways I am aware of to prime the pump. Some recommend taking the oil pump cover off and packing the area with the gears in grease. Another way is to pump some oil into the line that provides oil to the filter and pressure gauge. This is a direct path to the pump and will get oil to its gears. About a quart should do it. Try making a line that connects to the block and pump the oil in with a hand pump like a pistol type oil can.

You can check to see if the pump is working by cranking the engine WITHOUT STARTING IT after injecting the oil by the gauge or by removing one of the 1/8" NPT plugs on the RH side of the engine. There are a series of these along the lower part of the block just above the oil pan. You should get a reading on the gauge or see oil being pumped out of where the plug was.

It is not uncommon for these engines to have their oil pump lose prime after an oil pan service or sitting for a long period.