I've been away for awhile and just got back to the site. I may have missed it but as you tap the block, one way to keep some of the metal shards from getting into the block is to coat the flutes of the tap with grease. The metal particles then stick to the crease. I remove the tap frequently to clean them of.
Hope this helps.

I have two 49 super 8 convertibles, both came with the Pelican ornament. The original sale bill includes them with a price for the option. There is no change in the mounting, so it is an easy option to install.

Thanks. That is exactly what I needed to see. It is the same as those in my 48-50 cars. I had forgotten and remembered the 1947 unit.

OK. Here's my, Lengthy, Packard story. Back in 1978 I purchased a 1948 Packard sedan. It ran but I didn't try driving it home. I needed a few parts. So, I drove to a collectors/restorers shop to get them. When I arrived I found the parts were in a storage building a few blocks from his shop. He Let's just take this car and go get them. The car was a 1949 Super Eight Convertible. I almost forgot what I was there to pick up. I loved the car.

Now, Fast forward to July 4, 1980. I attended, as a spectator, a fourth of July parade in a small town some 60 miles from where I lived. Guess what that 1949 convertible was in the parade. I followed the car to where the owner was putting the car back into storage. We talked cars for awhile as I looked the car over. The owner said it was a good car the only thing wrong with it was that every time he went to drive it he had to put in a new battery. I told him I knew how he could fix that. He said "how". I told him he could sell the car to me and then it would be my problem.

After some negotiating we agreed on a price. I drove the car to my wife's cousin's house about 10 miles away. He and I checked the car over again and found nothing of any real concern. So, the next morning I drove the car home, about another 50 miles. No problems. I continued to drive the car as I purchased it for some 8,000 miles before it needed a valve job. I still own the car.

Would you have pictures of yours for the 49? Mine all seem to be the resistance type.

I've done it twice. My first adventure was with a 1934 Plymouth, PE Business Coupe way back in 1964. Every collector in town had tried to buy the car with no success. I decided one day to try my luck. I stopped and knocked on the owner's door and was greeted by a man, not the lady who owned the car. I asked it it was for sale and he said yes. It seems he was the owners son and she had passed away. I asked him how much he needed for it and he said just look it over and make an offer. I did and told him the car was probably worth between $90.00 and $100.00. He said that's what he thought. So we agreed on $95.00. I intended to come back on the weekend and haul it home. The gentleman called a couple of days later and said that his mother's attorney had sold the car for $2,500.00. But I could still have it if I would match the price. I said no. A week later, He called again and wanted to know if I wanted the car. I said yes at my price not his. He said OK.
I immediately called a buddy of mine and we loaded up his car with tow chains, oil, etc to make sure we could pull it to my house. When we got there we looked the car over carefully and got the chain out and were about to pull the car backwards out of the garage when the owner's son asked "Why don't you just drive it". Sure enough it started right up and I drove it home. Just a mile or so. I don't know if anyone even took notice of our drive home. I probably couldn't see them past my big grin.

My car isn't driven daily and it isn't particularly racy. But, I do drive to shows. I drove to a small one in Illinois a couple of years ago. When the trophies were being given out. At the announcement of my class, a gentleman I had never met, who's car was next to mine, said you've been robed. Then the three top awards were being announced and My car was awarded "Ladies Choice". I don't know, maybe it's just a topless thing.
This is my car.

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It depends on how many times the head has been shaved. But you can expect around 7.5 to 1.

Here are a few more.

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Just a few more pics.

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