Yes, you do have to unbolt the trans cooler from the block to install the hose to the water pump. It's been several years since I changed these on my cars, but I think I removed the P/S pump belt and loosened and moved the pump for better access. It also helps to use a little bit of water-based lube on the outside of the water pump manifold inlet to help persuade the hose on - as that hose has to stretch open a little to fit oer the inlet. Do NOT use petroleum-based lube as it will cause the hose to fail prematurely!

However, IIRC, I installed that piece of hose prior to installing the one that connects the cooler to the radiator. That last hose was still a devil to get on, but the plain rubber hose was pliable enough that I could fold/tuck it into place.

If you can wait until tomorrow AM, I will check my notes and post the correct dimensions of those two straight pieces of hose.

Well my package arrived from Max Merritt. They got the top hose right. They also encluded two shorter hoses of the sam length. I may have stated before that I am not a mechanic! Well I got out the shop manual and found that there is a "Transmission Cooler"! However there is no picture of it or any description on how to take it off or loosen it, nothing!
After six hours of grunting, groaning, and trips to NAPA I had the upper and lower hoses on. The lower hose needed to be about 2 inches longer than the two that been sent. The assistant manager at NAPA said that they had Gas tank hoses that large. I ask if that would work, would it stand the pressure. He told me: "Hey, it's not MY car."
Then last night a friend came over and we attacked the middle hose, finally taking to bolts off the cooler at the engine. then we fought the hose until after 10 O'Clock last night when I finally said stop and gave up for the night.
Any sugestions?

Is there anyone with an empty trailer from Chicago area heading east to pick up their next project that can deliver the lower half of my engine to a shop in Cecil Ohio if not I will have to ship it?

Thanks

Has anyone found a good source or replacmement (EVEN if PAPER type is ok) for the Packard V8 fuel filter ELEMENT???

Keith -

I can't tell you how much I added to make the Twelve, as I merely cropped a rectangle out of the pic, with the trailing edge between the wheel and door opening, and pasted it repeatedly until it looked right. A friend who saw it once joked that the fender script would probably read as "The-The-The Patrician". Then, I used a combination of cut-n-paste and clone-brush to clean up the foreground and background.

Now, I just tried what you asked for with a stock factory illustration of an Exec hardtop, which is a side-3/4 view (showing front end). While I see what you're getting at, a real problem arose in dealing with headlights, grille, and tailights. A restyle of the front bumper bar and rear bumper ends would be needed, which is a bit beyond my digital talents.

Yet, send me a pic of your Exec in pure profile and I can knock something nice out, rather quickly, to illustrate your point.

Prior to the advent of resistor type spark plugs and wires, there was a carbon rod built into the rotor - at least in the V8s - for radio noise suppression.

I always felt that resistor plugs with an OE type rotor, and especially with modern resistor type plug wires, might add up to too much resistance.

However, there are rotors out there for an 8-cylinder Declo distributor that do NOT have that carbon rod. Though I do not have any part numbers, I suspect those are from an earlier application as there were significant changes in the design of the Delco distributor for 1957. It would be interesting to see what effect such a rotor might have with your resistor type plugs.

Brian, i really like the Patrician12.jpg. LOOKS GREAT!! How much did u ad to the front fenders to create that effect???? I'd lioke to do a real one that way.

Try this, using an Executive pic, lower the entire car by eleminating the area between the two side trim strips. Don't modify roof line.

Last summer i started to use the Freeze-12 in my 56 Executive, 88 Ranger and 73 Impala. These are old R12 systems. Prior to the Freeze-12 i was using R134A. The 134A was much superior in cooling effect than the Freeze-12 which is contrary to what the local "experts" were telling me.
Anyone else have any similar experience???

I am leaning away from the resistor plugs. I've noticed that my Executive wit hthe AL 66 plugs always had a VERY slight rough idle despite many exhaustive attempts to diagnose it. Running timing at 10 degrees BTDC seemed to help both idle and at high speed. Otherwise the car always started and ran fine in all conditions from -10 degrees F to 103 degrees F.
I'm guessing that the resistor plugs causes the rough idle and occasional low speed slight roughness. SMOOTH as silk at 2500-4200 rpm. Advancing the timing probably compensated for the resistence in the plugs ???????????.

According to my 1976 FACTORY AC Delco book, the 55-56 Packard V8 uses 43LS (7/16" reach). R45XLS or 45XLS 3/4" reach. Note that the "R" indicates resistor plug.

It's AC which means This Is Biblical.