Some engines require disconnecting and plugging the vacuum advance to check timing. I don't know if that applies to your car.

See https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?start=0&topic_id=25666&order=ASC&status=&mode=0

*sigh* I think it was largely my fault in not having the idle set correctly (again). I got it nice and hot, brought it down to 375(ish) in High, worked through the huffing and chuffing with the idle screws, and rechecked the timing. Everything was back on the spectrum. It wasn't THAT fast, maybe 475(ish), but seemed to be enough to bring the advances into play. Will get to road test tomorrow, but I think it's probably much closer to where it's supposed to be. Thanks, all!

On the upside, with the standard Olds Melling pump with stock relief valve spring (it came with a "high pressure" spring for optional installation), I've got great oil pressure on my formerly rebuilt V-8 and the lifter ticking is now gone. I did not opt for the high pressure spring as I expected it would not increase idle pressure but would boost the higher rpm pressure more than really necessary. I'm observing a steady almost 3/4 scale indicated pressure on the gauge at all rpm.

One surprise when I disconnected the internal vacuum tube to the vacuum booster is that it was mostly full of engine oil. The oil pump bushing appears to be tight, no play. I've not yet disassembled the original pump but am thinking the air ingress is from the vacuum booster rather than the shaft.

Packard for many decades employed a "floating pickup" combined with bypass oil filtration, to provide superior filtration with a single filter. Bypass filters filter out smaller particles than do full flow filters. The floating pickup is intended to pick up the cleanest oil as heavier particles sink, ensuring no large particle gets circulated.

I just replaced my pump several days ago with Jack's Olds kit. In addition to the rigid pickup, I also noticed that the pickup sits higher than the Packard original, like about an inch. I take this to mean you won't want to let your oil level get low or you'll soon be sucking air.

I have a front fender question/observation as well. I see many Packard models from the late 30s through 41, that have front fender spare time mounts and some that don't.
Are there specific years, models or options that have the side tire mounts? Can someone direct me to the "Source" to get a firm grasp of the subject?

I doubt your timing chain is off. You can check the timing marks on the damper by putting # cylinder on TDC to see if the timing marks are correct. In some cases, the timing mark pointer may be different on some models than on others.

The generator is 30 amps and the field coils draw about 1.5 amps. So if you ohm field to ground it would be like 8 ohms, and arm to ground should be not even 1 ohm.

If this fails, simply clean the connections and check again. Then remove the inspection cover and check for wear on the brushes. There are two generator sections in the manual so I would run through them both; if the brushes are worn, you’ll have to clean the commutator too.

New Member. When is the next Packard Meet scheduled?