I dropped the fuel tank to investigate a fuel leak that fixed itself as the tank got low. When I got under there it was obvious that the tank wasn't the original. No Rust. Well, I got it out and discovered the fuel leak was a bad gasket around the fuel sender/pickup.

But I also took a look at the sticker on it. It's a GM tank. Part Number GM28B. Fit's a 55-56 Chevrolet. From what I can tell, it fits perfectly with the stock straps and the filler is in the right position.

Did you guys know this would bolt right up? I was surprised.

The previous owner didn't hook up the sending unit. Am I going to have a problem hooking this up to the stock gauge?

For flushing the block I like to use Borden's #7 flush--I don't know if they make it any more. It was a two-part podwer that you added to a dry system, top off with water and run the engine till it's good and hot, then drain, add the neutralizer, fill back up (wait a while so you don't crack anything) then run that through and dump it.
For old cars I still like a 50/50 mix of good quality green antifreeze and water. That is proven to give the best transfer heat to the radiator. The orange stuff is Dex cool and it is for engines where iron and aluminum are mated together. I wouldn't want any antifreeze in an old car for more than 5 years, a new car can get 100,000 miles in 4-5 years (and still be pretty tight!), a Packard might take two generations to rack up those kind of miles.
Too bad you didn't flush the engine while you had the dirty old radiator--if you do it after you put the cleaned up core back in you might risk mucking it up.
There are methods where you just feed a garden hose and let it dump out.

I'm sure that was a stumper! And also why I am filing it away. I prefer going to school on someone elses experience rather than spin my own wheels. Thank you very much for posting that tidbit. I'm sure Mr. PB has stashed that one away in his cortex also. This site has produced a lot of interesting and useful Packard lore. AND like the bunny it keeps going and going and...
By the way! I got my Packardinfo Tshirt today which I will have at Warren.

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I'm embarrassed to say how long and how much I had disassembled before figuring it out.

I just dropped off the Radiator at the shop for boiling and a little repair. In the meantime I want to address a couple of things.

First: What's the best way to flush the block?

Second: The Temp gauge isn't working. Is there a way to test wether it's the sending unit or the gauge itself? If it needs replacing, anybody have a part number?

Third: When refilling the coolant, is the old 50/50 mix still the best? Any preference on brands? What about that orange stuff that's supposed to last 100,000 miles?

Experience is always the best teacher, eh Howard?
I'll have to file that one in my Packard synapse.

One other possibility based on your symptom. I had the exact thing happen a few months ago where I couldn't select anything. It turned out to be the auto park relay had failed keeping the park finger active. As soon as you pushed a button for anything else, it tried to move to go to another gear, but with the park active, both directions on shift relay tried to energize at same time so it would grunt, nothing moved and then you could hear the circuit breaker click. A real quick way to rule that out would be disconnect the tan wire off the top relay. If it still won't work, then that's not the problem.

oh, never mind this is a 14 i think, maybe thinner

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John,

Thanks for the pic. Looking forward to the history lesson later.

It's a big, fat 12 gauge wire!