Yep. Packards until 56 were all positive ground. Regular motors are series wound so not polarity dependent--although there is a question about the heater motor. It would be very interesting if you would see if that one is. 55-6 they were not but another poster said 51-4 are. I just don't remember.

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The battery is hooked up positive ground is it not. Almost sounds as if that's backward or else the ammeter maybe is wired backward from someone changing it in years past. A speed increase alone should not result in any more discharge from the battery.

Last one I went to there were cars, parts, seminars, lots of socializing and there were several someones who could answer almost any question about any car. Lots of people drove modern cars or flew in so driving your car was not mandatory--although there was a tour in conjunction and to be eligible for some prizes you had to drive your car on the tour. You could have your car judged or just displayed at the big finale.

Believe clip was this style--but maybe not the particular one shown. Restoration specialtieshttp://www.restorationspecialties.com/ carries a good supply of these and others if you don't have a local source. You can download their catalog and several of the clip pictures are full size for easy matching or finding something that looks like it would work.

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Looking good, and engine actually starting is always a positive. Don't recall anything in charging circuit as being problematic so guess just good old fashioned troubleshooting. Someone not too long ago mentioned having sticking or bad brushes.

Am sure there will be enough suspects for all to grab a share of the blame but more likely their buying public & advertisers are as fickle as the newspaper crowd.

I used to be one of the mag publishers best friends but when they all pretty much started running the same press release verbatim or all testing the same cars (or any other item--name it), it's time to thin.

Am sure others will defend them but as to Motor Trend & Hot Rod, still glance at them while waiting for the car to be lubed but there has, IMHO, for several years been very little worth reading & paying good money for.

And probably be one to lament the fact they are no longer around if they do go under.

Have a look at the heat dissipation thread. Owen_Dyneto has brought up a couple of excellent points re the torque converter being a cause of excess heat. If the fluid is dark and smells differently than fresh, would still look to the high range clutches and pressures though.

Not sure color has any advantage other than looks. Radiator paints are usually specially formulated to provide better heat transfer. The one Eastwood sells (at double the cost) is thinner having less pigment to provide less insulation according to the propaganda. Think adequate air flow is more important.

Don't believe Packards were any worse as to making heat but do believe they were a little more critical to thinner fluid because of the bushings. Some of the other transmissions used more tubing and case passages to route the fluid, wheras while Packard did this when possible, due to their design so much depended upon using a rotating hollow or drilled shaft with rings riding in bushings to supply piston pressures.

The oil cooler was standard--maybe not as efficient as some--after all the water was already at a minimum 160 degrees and the exchange area fairly small--but still helpful. Other cars had no coolers--just a finned torque converter to dissipate the heat.

Concur with PackardV8 on this one. The fact that the trans was slipping both in the past and now is apparently heating to the point oil darkened indicates a mechanical problem.

The two most likely:
1) either the linkage and resulting throttle pressure is not accurately sensing the speed load and commanding enough pressure to the system or
2)that pressure or another is being diverted due to a leak around one of the bushings or sealing rings.

The pressure keeping the high range clutches tightly engaged varies and is dependent on load. Too little pressure will allow them to slip with the friction overheating everything. The more heat, thinner the oil, more slippage, more heat until a point is reached where the car sits there unable to move.

With your mention of the slipping, would check the linkage adjustment very carefully. Too low a throttle pressure caused by bad linkage adjustment will cause all the slipping problems you mention. Unfortunately, so will a bushing that is leaking pressure.