Hi Folks:

Even with the Ultramatic the trans should be able to stay in the car.

I always use guide pins to prevent damaging flex plates on Automatics and the clutch Marcel on manuals.

If you make up pins from long bolts then you can slide the whole unit back far enough to lower the crankshaft. Of course on the manual the mounts and OD solenoid need to be removed.

This job is such a problem, and given the Packard crankshaft has a slinger I'm still inclined to use dowels to re-seat the existing upper seal and add more material.

Also, if the upper portion is leaking due to main bearing wear, then some careful application of shim stock may correct the situation.

Given a motor with this condition is already worn I don't see the benefit in risking crankshaft damage for the sake of overkill. One thing about Packard Eights, cars I have driven that have never had the crankshaft tampered with always seem to run smoother than the best rebuilts. That long crankshaft is very delicate.

The sets I got from Merritt looked exactly the same as the picture. For pre-1951 cars the distributor boots are available from Steele.

Hi Folks:

The Packard manual says the job can be accomplished without removing the transmission.

What they neglect to mention is that the car needs to be on a lift and the transmission unbolted and supported by a trans jack, while the motor is held in place by either an overhead gantry or a special motor support that uses the frame to hold the engine block.

Now when you loosen the main bearing caps with the rear of the crankshaft supported by the trans jack and the front supported by the timing chain, the geometry should allow just enough pivot to drop the rear of the crankshaft enough to install a new seal.

Now given this rather hairy proceedure, my inclination is to first make up a special dowel block to further compress the existing seal and then cram a bunch of new material along with GM Timing Cover Seal Maker into the void.

I hate all of these systems that rely on dyanmic seals under pressure. Modern cars have the same darn problems and the cost of fixing them astronomical even after the dealer gets done chiseling the mechanic out of his pay.

Hope this helps.

Years ago I drove to Detroit to pick up a V-12 Cadillac motor for Charlie Clancy. It was a scam ad. The address was an abandoned building. Charlie could afford it.

I hope this vintage place with their "4 million parts" is not the same kind of deal. However, maybe Don Skotty can also inquire via the local Sheriff and what not whether the business has been seized.

It's better to know right away if you have been scammed then to be in the dark hoping for a good result.

For the record, emission controls actually lead to longer motor life which benefits the consumer, and thus, is why emission mandates have not been ruled unconstitutional by virtue of illegal use of eminent domain and seizure of assets.

However, there are already lots of zero emission vehicles on the market that actually clean the air they are ingesting.

This electric vehicle non-sense just demonstrates how only irresponsible individuals and the insane are taken seriosuly in today's society. In reality these electric cars are a waste of very valuable resources which will fortuitously become so scarce in the near future that this kind of crackpot non-sense will never be enforcible.

When I was overseas they had all these little 1500cc fours that ran great and forever on a gallon of gas. You can't buy a 1500cc four door sedan in the USA. Never mind a practical hatchback.

And besides, California is nuts anyway. If you go to East Los Angeles there are all sorts of immigrants driving around in old beat up old Chevies, belching smoke, and running fake license plates.

This kind of baloney only affects the gullible.

Also for the record: Air is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% all else.

Dear Rich:

How many stories would you like to hear? I must have known a dozen people who tried this. However, it seems the end result was badly rundown vehicles because maintenance was always being deferred. Secondly, the whole thing is incredibly boring. You might try teaming up with a photographer if you really want to pursue it. Also, I think what people want today are exaggerated long wheelbase limos. Finally, the vehicles that do the best have been street rodded so that they can stay up with traffic. For example, a Packard 160 with small block Chevy motor, automatic transmission, and air-conditioning.

There are some very experienced people floating around this forum. It's too bad we can't get together and come up with the next virtual reality based corporation that is sold for thirty eight billion dollars a'lahttp://www.babble.com.

The really frightening thing is that the companies that hire me cannot find anybody 30 years younger who can do what I do. There are grocery stores that cannot find people who can make simple change. Yet despite this, skilled people have never been treated more poorly.

Being of out work and intelligent isn't easy, but take stock. The biggest problem right now is that everybody is getting poorer.

I would recommend against the weld repair idea except if the existing ball was welded onto and turned down in a lathe.

I knew somebody who had that two piece setup and the ball broke off.

I assume he was driving along telling his passengers what a great car he had when the steering stopped responding. He ended up in somebody's front yard.

I thought it was funny because he was always rude to me.

If you can't find any then have the whole unit turned out by a machinist, then case hardened, although tool steel will probably last the life of the car.

Yup, it's a bolt on.

The four barrel gives leaner cruise and better open throttle performance. Especially with Ultramatic.

Dear Pat:

I never saw a plating shop that didn't claim they were the best. And I have dealt with shops that are considered the best and been disappointed as well. I could run a list right here, but this is a public forum that would be really bad.

Thus, you could always call one of your local places and get a reference. If you can find some level of cooperative spirit then your needs may be met.

Dear 55 Clipper:

Actually the production time for your unit is less than half an hour at a mass rebuilder. They have presses set up for runs of specific pumps.

I used to do those things, but found that buying the completed unit from a vendor was more cost effective.

The pulley hub will come off given the unit is placed in an arbor press with a bearing splitter and a cardboard box to catch the falling pump.

When disassembling high dollar (Packard) pumps the careful application of a torch will prevent casting damage and free stubborn parts like that pulley hub.

Hope this helps