Thanks for sharing your "archive" of cars and its rip van winkle type of awakening. I hope you will continue this thread as things unfold.

BTW your Packard/Imperial link is most interesting! These marques seem to share a natural connection in their pursuit of excellence in design, engineering and manufacture.

Here is an article reproduced on another Imperial site that your site reminded me of. After some digging on the hard drive, I found the link:

http://www.imperialclub.com/Articles/55Luxocar/index.htm

It's a fascinating read, I think.

Quote:

Oops, looking back here I noticed that my last post was #55!

Uh-oh, this one makes 56.

No, not uncertain, just posting what I found in the trunk!

Bill,

I like your detailed reply. These are clear instructions giving steps the mechanics might miss. There is a good chance that, when I got the shoes and linings replaced, the shop set them up "like they were before" in the minor adjustments. They probably have correct major adjustments, and correct "self-energizing" primary and secondary setup. BUT, if O D and Craig have much better braking using the Parking/Emergency brake at speed, then something is definitely wrong with my adjustment.

These are great learning experiences.

It 's especially good to share these hints during what is the "off-season" for us northerners.


I stand by my terminology, though. It is still best to consider the Parking Brake a Parking Brake, that you hope to never have to rely on in an emergency.

I'm glad this subject came up, so none of us single MC users ever gets too comfortable, especially with the Bendix power system: the "Treadle-Vac" or as Packard named it "Ease-a-Matic."

To all: Live and Be Well. Or, if you prefer: Live Long & Prosper.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The tire question is unresolved, but still on the table. I'm going to keep doing research over winter, while the car is in storage.

Here's what's come to light going through my notes on the subject of size:

I checked my spare, and it is a real oldie. Bald snow tire, basically. Don't remember the brand, here is the SIZE:

7.60 x 15

What matches that, I wonder. I don't think it is "oversized" like the L 78 15 and P 235 75R sizes I was looking at. Maybe it's the true Clipper (junior) sized tire!?

Brakes OK. Just can't rely on a Parking Brake in an EMERGENCY!

That's why I'm running without overdrive in any situation where a panic stop may be required around town, up to 40 MPH or so. Then, if I have the presence of mind (and practice this) when or if the brakes fail, I slam it into 2nd (if it isn't already there) Pop the Clutch and Pull the Parking Brake at the same time. After that, it's in the Almighty's hands.

Hm, hit the hood on a '48. Isn't that hood taller than the hood on the post-'50 cars?

The NAPA element I mentioned is 1.9" high according to their specs, and the original "Brillo" filter element is 1.25" so a difference of 3/4".

Before trying the extension technique, a trial fit of the paper element will tell the tale. It'll be easy without using the wingnut.

Guess it would be best to put a dab of grease or something on the top of the air cleaner, then gently lower the hood and check for a grease spot on the underside of the hood. Come to think of it, putting a pretty thick blob of grease on it would show if there's at least 1/2" or so of clearance, in case the hood flexes a bit when closed too hard.

Also, I have to make sure that the extended threads don't penetrate past the "wings" of the nut when it's tightened. I could easily see myself miscalculating on that.

BTW, cleaning and oiling the original filter element regularly per the manual instructions makes sure it's working as good as it can. When I last did this, I used some leftover lube spray from a K&N filter. I think it works well and is much less messy than oil. The K&N stuff is not just a lube, it's a bit stickier than oil, which I think is good.

(K&N DOES NOT have a filter element close to the right size. I had them in an on-line chat for about 20 minutes while they checked their database for every possible size they carried. Nothing came close to meeting all the dimensions.)

Thanks HH!

Now at least I know what it's called: a Standoff!

These air cleaners have pretty small wingnut shafts. I believe 3/16" is correct for mine, this diameter is also known as a "10" for some reason. The threads are fine, too, and I think 32 is correct.

I'm going to look for a Standoff! It'll probably be a standoff between me and the parts guy, though:

You need a whut? Kinda' car ya got? Who made Packards?

I have the non-oil-bath AC air cleaner, with the "resonance chamber" and metal filter element.

The original element measures thus:

1D 7"
OD 8 1/4"
Height 1 1/4"
Cross section thickness 3/4"

The closest I could com was a NAPA Gold PN 2186. It's a bit too tall to get the wingnut on, and a tight squeeze on the ID:

The NAPA filter measures:

ID 6.25
OD 8.25 (Perfect!)
Height: 1.9"
(Should clear the hood easily, but the cover is too high to use the original wingnut setup.)

The original filter element is very short by modern standards, and I doubt we'll be able to find a paper element that is this short

As Tom in KCMO suggested, you need to engineer a coupling for the threaded center shaft, . A coupler should do it, but I want one that will fit UNDER the cover, otherwise I'd have to enlarge the hole on the cover. Call me picky, but enlarging the hole is not an option for me.

I've been "studying" on it for a while. I'll probably have to cut down one of the long coupler nuts that are made to join two pieces of threaded stock.

Over course, all this must be done with utmost care, so there is no possibility of the coupler ever loosening and falling into the intake.

If someone knows another way to extend that shaft through the original cover hole, let us know. I believe the shaft is 3/16 with 32 thread size (unless it's an SAE size, in which case, good luck finding a coupler).

bkazmer,

Thanks for the tips.

The Shop Manual recommends 85-95 ft. lbs. torque for the wheel bolts.

I think I'll ask that they be manually torqued to 85 ft. lbs.