Re: New Packard owner questions....

Posted by Loyd Smith On 2008/11/13 0:53:32

Of all the advice that you've gotten so far, by far the best is to drop the oil pan and see what you've got. In addition to having bought and started bringing this car back in 2004, I remember these cars and their well-known oiling problems. Anecdotally, about the best that you can expect from even the newest of the Packard V8 oil pump designs or modifications is about 75,000 miles - and that may be pushing it a bit. Unfortunately, when I had my engine rebuilt, I did not know about the adapter kits and Melling high volume oil pump modification. I have one, now, and before my car has 25,000 miles on the rebuild - with its PI, "remanufactured," oil pump installed - the adapter kit and new pump will be in the car. Yes, it's a PIA to drop the oil pan but, if you have a leaking rear main seal, you're going to have to change it anyway and, while you've got the thing in the air with the pan off there will never be a better time to FIX a well-known and recurring problem with these cars. If you wind up having to go to the shop with it and replace the rear main seal, it would be a good idea to go ahead and obtain the adapter kit and Melling pump and install them. NONE of Packard's nor any of the ensuing band-aids tried in the years since they went out of business has succeeded in actually FIXING the engine's oiling problems. The adapter and MUCH more efficient Melling oil pump is the only viable permanent FIX for the problem that I know about. Just good insurance if you plan on using the car for anything other than pulling on and off trailers several times a year.

Just my two-cents worth on the subject - whatever your problem turns out to be. It's hard to tell how many miles your car has on it since its restoration - or what kind of engine work was done on it. The Packard V8 has ONLY ONE major problem in normal driving and that is the CHRONICALLY RECURRING oiling problem. Different set of dogs if you intend racing it but, then, big Packard Patricians with Torsion-Level suspension, power brakes, power steering, power seats, power windows, air conditioning and more useable space than most modern SUVs weren't really designed for that anyway.