I can't complain about gas mileage... I get 18 mpg or better in mine. Of course, I'm not hauling kayaks.

Those relays are great, but I paid a lot more for the Bosch variety!

Would you post the part numbers and link? I'm going to use one for a headlight relay. I'm already using them for my police siren (horn) relay and for my overdrive relay.

I'm sure we probably all like our cars, but I feel compelled to say that I really like my Packard.

My day car is a 2000 Sebring convertible. I drive a 60 mile round trip every day to work in it. It's sporty, it's fun, and I love driving it. On the other hand it has a continual problem with rattles.

Tonight I drove my Packard up to the spray car wash, over to Autozone (right, try and buy an oil filter there!) and just up and down some roads for the pleasure of it.

My '49 rides smoother, doesn't rattle, and has almost ZERO road noise. It is truly a pleasure to drive.

When I was having gas tank rust trouble I used to worry about stop lights in high traffic areas. It wasn't unusual to have my engine die at embarrassing times. I had a moment tonight where I pulled up to a stop light and couldn't hear or feel my engine running. I put my head out of the window and stepped on the gas. It was fine... it was just quiet.

My wife hasn't ridden with me much since the time we had to push it off the road (rusty tank) a few years ago. I think I'm going to get her back out there and see what she thinks now.

I really like this car, and I am so thankful for this forum and the help that so many continually offer. Thank you so much.

My grandfather (who died at 93 years old) told me the story of how his own father had died.

His father (my great grandfather) had been complaining that he didn't feel well. He called his friend, a mortician, to come by the house in Kansas City and pick him up to take him to the doctor.

His friend arrived, driving their hearse. On the way to the doctor's office my great grandfather died, right in the hearse.

My grandfather was grinning broadly when he told me the story. He said, "It was great! All they had to do was turn right instead of left, and they took him straight to the funeral home. That's the way I want to go!"

For what its worth, I drive my '49 at 70 mph from time to time with no issues at all. It's just a plain old 288 with overdrive.

What I find though is that I don't LIKE driving it that fast. I'm always thinking about, "Hmmm, did I get that axle nut tight last time?" and things like that! I guess I'm too close to the car, and I know how bad I can be with forgetting to finish things up.

That said, I'm VERY comfortable driving along the freeway at 60 mph. I like going in the slow lane just so I can have people pass me and give me a thumbs-up. That's always fun.

As brakes go, I'm not thrilled with my brake system. If I had the know-how I'd put disk brakes on the front. I just don't know how to do it.

Jay

Would you opt for ceramic, paper, or do you think it makes a difference?

I agree that fixing the tank is the right thing to do, and the only longterm solution. I won't be able to do the tank this season.

I have a clear glass, nylon mesh fuel filter in front of my carburetor. However, I also have a big cartridge-loaded diesel fuel filter between that and the carburetor. The diesel filter is a 2 micron screw-on filter cartridge that looks like a modern oil filter.

I really thought I had my bases covered on fuel cleanliness. I do get some rust from my tank, but my idea was to catch the coarse stuff in the glass filter, and remove everything else in the cartridge filter.

I guess I was wrong. I just picked up my rebuilt carburetor this morning, and I was told that it had been full of rust.

I told the guy there about my filter arrangement. He asked, is that 2-micron filter ceramic or paper? I replied that it was probably paper. He said that the sharp rust particles will cut their way right through paper filters.

OK, I didn't know that.

I can't afford to drop the tank (again) and get it treated. Is there any kind of filter than anyone has had good experience with that will protect my carburetor?

Jay

Will the article or information be available anywhere other than in the Cormorant?

I don't receive that any more.

Jay

I found last weekend that I needed to get my carburetor rebuilt. Here in Indianapolis we have a good rebuilder, Van's Carburetor and Electric.

I thought, "Let me try and give my business first to one of our Packard parts vendors. They deserve first place."

I checked one online catalog, and found a carburetor listed for $210, rebuilt. I checked the other (nearer) one, and no price was listed. So I emailed, and inquired. Their rebuilt carburetor was $470. Hmmmm.

On the way to work this morning, I took the carburetor to Van's, where the estimate is in the $170 range.

When I got to work I emailed the second ($470) vendor about what I considered to be a rather outrageous price. His reply was that the difference between him and the other guy was that

(A) if my fuel system was perfectly clean they would stand behind their carburetor. Wow, thank you!

Further, he said that

(B) everyone who bought carburetors from the $210 vendor wound up buying them again from him.

Do I look like some kind of idiot? I hope not, at least not online where you can't see me

However... Has everyone noticed how nice I was to not name the vendors? I truly am glad that they're there, and I am not trying to go after them. But having said that, I really resent the kind of attitude that came from my $470 friend. From whom, I might mention, I have purchased shocks, a fuel pump, overdrive solenoid, headlight doors, and myriad other parts. They are within driving distance from me. It's the last time I give them first shot at anything, though. I'll look everywhere else first.

I'm just glad there are still some places around, like Van's, that will take an old carburetor in, do a professional job of rebuilding it, and not hit you with a high-handed attitude and an exhorbitant price tag.

Jay

FWIW, I'm getting 17-18 mpg with my '49, 288 engine with R-11 overdrive.

I love driving it too, I should mention.