I replaced the same grommets on my 23rd Series...and chose to make an incision on each one (from the center out) to allow simply slipping them on. Not exactly how I prefer to do things, but it worked...and the incisions are not obvious to casual (or even semi-formal) observers of the engine compartment.

Jeff, what's the width of the whitewall itself? Looks nice!

Perfect. That did the trick! Thanks Howard.

Dave

Folks: I'm somewhat embarrassed to be asking this, but here goes. I'm getting ready to adjust the timing on my 23rd series (with Auto-Lite distributor). I'm feeling around the base of the distributor, and I can't detect anything that "feels" like the distributor clamp, much less figure out what tool I need to get in there to loosen it. It seems like a very tight clearance under there. Do I need a mirror, or do I need to get up underneath the vehicle, or what? I assumed this would be easy, but I guess not for me. A picture would be helpful!

I would recommend you obtain another plate from the folks at Under Cover Upholstery and Paint, Inc. They offer some interesting products.

http://www.ucuap.com/Products_PackardParts.html

I ordered a plate for my 23rd series a couple years ago, and it was an exact replica. Any decent jeweler will be able to duplicate the Packard font. If you do order from these folks, specify that you do not want the screw holes pre-drilled. They sent me a plate where this had been done, but Murphy's law quickly proved that they did not line up exactly with the holes in my cowl. They quickly supplied me a second plate without holes, and I took care of that task myself. I couldn't be happier. I have kept the old one in my glove compartment, ready for inspection, just as Kev suggested.

Looks to be a Super Deluxe Eight Victoria Convertible Coupe. It is clearly a 23rd Series car, which would make the 127" wheelbase correct for a Super. It is missing the belt molding around the deck lid which would easily identify it as a Custom. And since the engine number crosses correctly to a Super, it all seems to make sense. The VIN plate would tell all...is it missing?

For what it's worth, I bought a NAPA battery (model BAT 7205) 2 years ago for my 50 Super. Your car would take the same one. Its dimensions match the original exactly, so no issues fitting it in the tray and the holddown. I think it cost around $140. See here:

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=NBE7205_0398998961

It weighs 40 lbs and has operated perfectly for me. And I've never fussed with a battery tender (in Michigan, my car hibernates in the garage for ~ 4-5 months every winter)...and I even keep the battery cables (size 00) attached.

Although this item was featured in the online edition of the Detroit Free Press last December, I just don't recall seeing it mentioned here in the forum. I stumbled across this myself today, so I thought I would pass it on...it is really stimulating. Forgive me if this is "old news."


http://www.freep.com/article/20121202/NEWS01/120823062/The-Packard-Plant-Then-and-now-interactive-comparison-photos?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CSPORTS06

Regarding your trouble re-starting when hot, recommend you check out the excellent thread below written by one of our friendly forum ambassadors, BH. I have often experienced the hot start problem in my 23rd series if it has been shut down for longer than 10 minutes or so, but I have always been able to easily re-start the car under these conditions if I floor the accelerator to open up the choke (i.e. I'm dealing with a flooded engine following a "hot soak" as decribed in the below thread). Recognize that this may not be your problem, but it's certainly very possible and easy enough to test. Until I learned this technique, I had significant difficulty getting it re-started. Haven't had any problem since that little discovery 5 years ago.

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=8144&forum=14&post_id=87720#forumpost87720

I agree with 49packard on trying to return to 6v. And that will resolve your issue of your overdrive solenoid. Regarding the spin-on oil filter...if you can tell it's a sping-on by looking at it, I would probably recommend looking into returning it to the original arrangement. When I bought my 50 Super, it had a totally incorrect filter housing (looked like something from later in the '50s) and rubber inlet/outlet tubing. I bought the correct housing and steel tubing from another colleague here on packardinfo.com and installed that instead. Looks much better now and will satisfy the most rigid of purists.
As for the wire wheels, I have the same ones. Purists (and I would classify myself as one of those) will always point out that these wheels weren't available until 1952. But I think they look fanastic on the 48-50 models, and I point out to them that an owner could always have taken his 48-50 into the dealer in 1952 and bought a set of wire wheels.