The only old car I've ever heard her say she liked was an old Mercedes 230 SL convertible (red, of course). Having owned a '74 240D for 20-yrs I'm keenly aware of the insane cost of restoring and even keeping these cars up to snuff. That's what got me into doing really major projects on my own. I couldn't afford the $60/hr the Mercedes mechanics cost back in the mid-late '80's (in Boston). What I've found is most people buy these things so they can stare at that little pointy star but they can't afford to do ANYTHING to the car so it just wastes away and very quickly becomes a mess. And why is it that the electrical system is always a wreck. How many times do you see one tail light out and the other as bright as the sun?

Anyway, it would be a fun car to drive and those parts would be a little easier to work into the budget if it was her car.

Wow, now THAT'S what I call Ho's power.

Our ladies of speed indeed!!!

Hmmm, good question, maybe it was more a matter of available Horsepower than the state of the refrigeration technology. My I-6 only had about 100-HP I don't think the I-8 had much more than that. I can't imagine what a compressor would have done to the performance. When was the first V-8, 1955?

That's a riot!!!

Yeah, she always knows where I am but even still she wants an intercom in the barn so she can call me. A man has to draw the line somewhere. Next thing you know I'd be wearing the baby monitor. Maybe I can get her her own car WITH A/C, that's not a bad idea. Didn't the '50's have that?

To mention Proverbs like that to a wife, a man would have to have a harem of wives so he'd have better odds at having a few left when the dust finally settles.

WWJD What would Jesus drive?

How long did it take your wife to appreciate your car? I've been married for 6 years now and my wife has yet to come around to be what I would call a Packard wife. I'd had a '37 115C for 9-years when we were married and she never rode in it because it didn't have A/C. I sold that car to build my barn to house all the other "toys" a bachelor is required by law to own. My parents went all over in their Packard together, my mom had '40's hats and embroidered towels mad up. I got my dad's '46 this summer and have put a lot of time into it getting it back into running shape. My wife complains that every time you turn around, there's something going wrong with "those old cars". Hard to argue with that, there's always something that needs attention and every time I turn around I learn something new that I should have been doing. So can the appreciation for old cars be developed over time or is she missing some 'old car gene' and the most I'll ever get out of her is a grudging tolerance?

Changed the coil & condenser Saturday. There was was a lot of soot in the coil wire socket. The old condenser was made in Mexico, the new in the US. Took her out Sunday morning and ran at 55-60 for about 20-minutes. No problems at all. Ran her hard that afternoon also. The engine is still not real smooth, I'm pretty sure I have a compression problem in one cylinder. That plug is always sooty.

The other thing I did was take the ceramic filter out of the sediment bulb like someone had suggested. I soaked it in brake cleaner and then blew it out with 150 psi air. The sediment bulb is now nice and full right to the top. Excellent suggestion guys!!

Great Info! Bought the correct coil off ebay $131 includes shipping, and a 6 v elec fuel pump ran about $60 with the shipping. I'll find the condenser Monday then start to dig in. thanks again gentlemen!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks guys, it was worse before the "tune up". In the dark there was light dancing all over the wires and cap. The coil is probably 10-yrs old, condenser as well. I looked at some coils on line and most appear rebuilt. Are there any new coils being made by anybody? Also what is the armored cable coming out the back of the coil?

I'll get the condenser and try that first. Is there a compatible condenser that AutoZone/Advanced/NAPA would have in stock?

I never gave the sed bulb much thought till I went to an antique tractor show and every engine had a nice full bulb.

Thought I'd try you guys on this. The engine starts and idles well. I get her on the road and will cruise around for 15-20 minutes and it drives like a dream, then if I run her up to 55, the power will just die off and 35 is all I can do in 3rd gear without backfiring repeatedly. The engine runs a little rough at idle then, but pull the throttle and BANG!. If I shift to 2nd and just release the clutch it will backfire like a banshee. I limp back home with a bunch of pissed off people behind me then the next morning I can do the whole process of good-bad-worse again. What I've done is:

New plugs .025 gap
New Packard 440 wires
New Distributor cap
Took wires out of the metal guide

Another question I have is shouldn't the sed bulb be full? Mine is never full and usually has only a dribble of fuel in it. Seems that for a sed buld to collect sed & water it should always be full.

Thanks

Does anyone have any ideas for cleaning a '46 clipper deluxe headliner? The headliner looks and feels like wool but is darkened and looks like it has had some tiny mold spots. Can I steam clean this? Has anyone had any luck with rental upholstery kit for a carpet cleaner? The material is in good shape, just ugly.

thanks