Hooking up a tachometer would show you if the enngine speed is is fluctuating and help you in your diagnosis.

On mine the fronts were not wired and it was difficult to get the extra wiring in and look neat, But with enough perseverance it was done.

When I got my first Packard it was a 1940 and when I went to put signal lights on it I was pleasantly surprised that the rear lights were already wired for it. I think maybe all the rear wiring harness were standardized because of this.

I have just finished putting a new packing in my water pump. The shaft was worn and the packing was very hard and brittle. I had the shaft built up and remachined and got plumbers 1/4 inch packing string with graphite and packed it in. As road conditions are not good for driving I let it run for 1/2 hour and it appears to work fine. I wont drive it till the spring to know for sure how this will last but the machining was my only cost as I made my own gaskets and scrounged plumbers packing from a friend.

On my 37 I always wondered who would have drilled those holes in the bumper. Now I know what should be in there and will be looking for one.

I dont think it is neccesary to remove the chrome bar but it has one large nut on the bottom under the fender and a hard to get at nut under the dash. Use masking tape and rags to prevent scratching the paint when lifting the wheel, It will shift on you while you are lifting it out.

Universal inner cables are available at most part stores. if not in stock they can order them. Be careful when cutting the size and crimping on the end. If as you suspect the outer cable is kinked you have to remedy that situation first or suffer more breakage.

Its been 2 years since I done mine. Icant remember if there were caged nuts but I dont think so. Either way I had no trouble doing them by myself.

Having just installed new auburn radials I can feel your pain.I laid the tires bacside down on the ground and with difficulty and sore fingers and masking tape on the edges I started at one end and just wound the outer cover around carefully. the second one was much easier. the center cover plate is held in by the outer cover.

I think it would be better to remove the existing pump and put a blockoff plate on rather than take a chance on the pump breaking up due to no load and over flexing of an already torn diapraghm.