Anybody out there in Packard land have an easier way to time a Standard Eight than pulling the starter out and static timing it with the flywheel mark and a light bulb? I was thinking I might be able to crank start it with the starter out and time it with a gun. I think I have a pretty good handle on the rest of the process. Thanks in advance...

Scott

BigKev,

I have two eight foot florescent light fixtures kicking around and you are welcome to them. They are in good shape and I may even have some bulbs. They are the plain jane type, bare bulbs without covers. I like "lots" of light in my garage but I had to pull them down when I converted from a swing up to a roll up garage door. Send me a PM if you want them.

Scott

Thankyou both BigKev and HH56,

My education continues for things automotive with Kev's link, and HH56's document zooms into the nitty gritty technical aspects for the 1901 springs that I will need.

To both a big -

You probably already have this but it's all I could find in my stuff. Hope your model is one listed.

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Mal,

I found this website that helps to explain spring rate and other things "Coil Spring" related.

http://www.afcoracing.com/tech_pages/spring.shtml

Hopefully it may have some answers you are looking for.

Personally:
A house w/2 car garage, but just a garage would be nice :)

But if my wife is reading this....
then the parts list i need is on the work bench. the link to the parts dealers is here, to the left :)

That looks beautiful and like an awesome project to start. Best of luck to you, unless i win the lotto, then of coarse i'll have to bid myself.

Guys,

Thanks for the advice and info - it is much appreciated.

Mal, I looked up the spring rate in my parts book. As best I can determine, for a model 1901 without side mounts it reads:
Part no. 348377..... 1525# x 74 rate. I can't interpret that for you but for comparison my limo with sidemounts it would be Part no. 364609..... 2300# x 120 rate. Quite a difference.

Just as different chassis and bodies had different shock absorber tuning (valving), if you check the parts book you'll see that they also had different spring numbers (rates) for different body weights and passenger loadings. In earlier years Packard did quote the spring rate in the parts book so perhaps if you have a 41 parts book you could find that data for your specific chassis and body type which your spring maker would certainly need. But though I appreciate the shipping cost issue, I'd recommend buying new springs from someone like Kanter's who has already done all the work to spec them out.

The spacer you see if a cheap way to restore car riding height by compensating for spring fatigue by jacking up the coil. Though a common enough practice years back, it surely detracts from ride properties.