Re: First steps? '49 Packard
Posted by HH56 On 2024/6/25 11:57:18
Good advice about placing some oil in the cylinder and also pay attention to the valves. If the engine is stock, the 49 Custom should have the 356 which was Packards finest engine but could be a bit prone to rusted and sticking valve stems on long sitting engines. After 30 years yours could be affected. You might need to do a compression test to verify their condition if the engine does not want to start. Whatever you do be sure and use fresh gas when trying to start the engine. Old gas and additives sitting in cans or worse, lines and tanks deteriorates and even if the engine does manage to start the gas has been known to deposit something on valve stems when they are hot. After the engine cools and is then tried starting again a day or two later the deposit on the stems has turned to something any adhesive company would be proud to market. In several cases it has taken major disassembly and brute force to free the valves.
If you try cranking several times without results then after a few tries also recheck the plugs. Often on those inline 8 engines a lot of cranking without starting will tend to wet and foul the plugs which doesn't allow a spark to form. Also make sure the coil is getting a good solid voltage. Make sure the battery cables are the stock cables or at least a 0 gauge and better at 00 gauge. Unless everything electrical is in pristine condition it is a good idea to NOT use any cable sold today at a local parts store. Even those offered as being for 6v tend to be a bit too small for Packard large engine use. Battery also needs to have a fairly large CCA capacity because the large starters will cause some voltage drop. If the voltage drop at the coil in the wire coming from the ign switch falls close to 5v the spark may be too weak to jump even a plug in good condition.
Here is a chart showing the various dipsticks Packard used. The stock dipstick for the 356 would be D for the Custom 8.
Attach file:
dipstick.jpg (77.28 KB)
If you try cranking several times without results then after a few tries also recheck the plugs. Often on those inline 8 engines a lot of cranking without starting will tend to wet and foul the plugs which doesn't allow a spark to form. Also make sure the coil is getting a good solid voltage. Make sure the battery cables are the stock cables or at least a 0 gauge and better at 00 gauge. Unless everything electrical is in pristine condition it is a good idea to NOT use any cable sold today at a local parts store. Even those offered as being for 6v tend to be a bit too small for Packard large engine use. Battery also needs to have a fairly large CCA capacity because the large starters will cause some voltage drop. If the voltage drop at the coil in the wire coming from the ign switch falls close to 5v the spark may be too weak to jump even a plug in good condition.
Here is a chart showing the various dipsticks Packard used. The stock dipstick for the 356 would be D for the Custom 8.
Attach file:
dipstick.jpg (77.28 KB)This Post was from: https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=273298