Really is this necessary? To set up a forum for flaming one another seems unnecessary. We are after all are mostly mature adults here with a mutual interest in a hobby about Packard automobiles. Can't we discuss and exchange information about Packards without fighting?

I can recommend Rhode Island Wiring Service. Look at www.riwire.com. I ordered new headlight bucket wires for my convertible '51 and it looks and fits like the old ones.

Tom Wolt
The Netherlands

My very low mileage 56 Exec engine had alot of original green paint on it. The block still does. However i painted heads/manifold and water pump with an INcorrect green.

OLd paint codes and numbers are nearly useless among just about any application wheather Packard or otherwise. If a 'correct' color is demanded then the only solution is to take a sample to an EXPERIENCED AND WILLING paint store and have it MIXED.

Hi temp paint is not needed on WATER cooled engines unless thay are running under EXTREME temperature conditions such as racing. Just use a good regular auto body acrylic enamel. NO primer. DD customer service can be called or emailed to confirm this.

We must remember when comparing gas mileage data from yesteryear with that we obtain today that ethanol containing gasoline will give about 10% lesser mileage than the good old stuff. I'm fairly light-footed on the accelerator; my 56 Caribbean with dual 4 bbls gets about 14.5 to 15 in highway driving at about 55-65 mph (3.54 rear axle). My 1934 Eight (4.69 rear axle) gets about 10 mpg, pretty much regardless of whether it's local or highway driving.

If you have an original paint code number any good auto paint manufacturer should be able to furnish a modern equivalent formula.

I believe they can match paint by formula code back to the 20s. I have bought Sikkens paint for a 1951 Chrysler using the paint code off the body plate, and Sikkens wasn't even in business in 1951.

With this formula your local paint dealer can mix up all the paint you want, in many cases they have the equipment to put it up in spray cans too.

I have some old RM books that have things like wheel colors as well as body colors so I suppose it should be possible to find engine colors.

Well, my father's recollection of the Exec, which he purchased new, was as much as 20MPG on an interstate trip, but he once lent the car to my late uncle for same, who claimed 21MPG.

I'd never execpt to get that on a stock Packard now, due to wear and tear - unless you can come up with an NOS carb and distributor on a properly rebuilt engine.

I installed the new sender this monring. My pro mechanic friend, Randy, told me that the white sealing tape IS a good idea, but that I should leave the first couple of threads of the sender that go into the car clear of the tape. He said this would keep the tape from getting into the bore of the oil passage, and would enable a satisfactory ground.

I tightened the sender only modestly (Randy warned me not to overtorque it and destroy the threads).

I installed a ring terminal on the wire from the chassis, and screwed it onto the sender terminal.

I turned on the ignition key, and the "low oil pressure" light did come ON! I started the engine, and the light did go out. Five minutes of idle, at first fast idle and then off the choke slow idle, brought no leaks from the sender (checked all around it with a dry paper towel), and absolutely NO oil pressure light flickering on even at slow idle. Looks like the sender now works properly AND my oil pressure is good even at idle.

Jim G

Quote:
You should hire Turbopackman to supervise that particular operation and make sure you're getting what you paid for - LOL!

Hmm, should we limit this function to just one thread, or should we set up a "Flamin' Forum", yet visible only to those who sign-in, so each flame war can have it's own thread?

Well, given the change in paint systems in recent years, I guess we shouldn't be surprised that an older product is NLA, and the old formulas may be useless.

Still, any paint supplier worth their salt will have saved the old books/charts for situations like this. I'm glad to hear that the paint number provided lead to a chip that they could match closely.

I look forward to seeing a pic of your newly-painted engine. This thread could be an important reference for other owners with a '56 Clipper or Executive.