The paint on insulation sounds like just the ticket until I can replace the harness. Thanks.

Thanks one and all for the info!👍

The original valve in my 50 Packard Deluxe was bypassed years ago because it was leaking. I found one in a junk yard that looked to be in decent shape, so I took the gamble and installed it in my car. As soon as I started the car it started leaking as well. If anyone knows if these valves can be refurbished or of a place that sells replacements, please give me a shout.

I always wanted an authentic radio for my 50 Packard Deluxe. I finally found one in a junk yard and was installing it in my car when a pinging like sound every few seconds started back behind the dash somewhere. (Every time it pinged while the headlights were on, the lights flickered). I was as careful as I could be, but know I bumped a few things behind the dash during the install. I also saw numerous places where bare wire was showing through cracks in the insulation. Clearly, a new wiring harness is needed, but in the meantime, what does that pinging sound mean? For now, I've disconnected the battery until I can fix the problem.

Bummer. It looked like a good find. But thanks for the heads up.

BDC, by chance are you referring to Kris Arneson and the Running Board Rubber Company in BC? If so, what horror stories have you heard?

I am ready to replace the worn out floor mats and cracked/weathered sill plates in my 1950 Deluxe. I've stumbled across a company called Running Board Rubber Company (www.runningboardrubber.com) that is making new ones for both. They look pretty nice in the photos on the website. Has anyone heard of this company or done business with them?

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I had an Interstate 3EH-VHD battery in my 50 Deluxe 8 for about 5 years. I don't know if the battery retainer in the car was original equipment, but it was wide enough for the 4.25" wide battery. When enough of the retainer had rusted away, I bought a replacement from Max Merritt, only to find it was too narrow for the Interstate battery. I returned it and bought one from Kanter, only to find it, too, was too narrow. When my battery finally died, I was determined to find one that would fit in the replacement retainer. Both the Interstate 3EH-VHD and the O'Reilly SSB 3EH batteries were 4.25" wide and would not fit in the replacement retainer (as were several other way more expensive batteries). The NAPA 7205 was the only battery I found that would fit in the replacement retainer.

If anyone knows of a source for retainers wide enough to fit over a 4.25" battery, please reply to this post. I would like to have the option of switching back to one of the wider batteries if this NAPA battery has a short life.

Thanks for the response. It certainly can't hurt to check the u-joint. In my situation, however, the shuddering disappears once the clutch is fully engaged and the car is rolling. If I carefully feather the clutch when letting it out, I can reduce the severity of the shuddering, but not eliminate it entirely.

Thanks for the response. The shuddering problem started at least 10-15 years ago, probably longer, but well before the clutch and differential were overhauled in the last two years.

The car has been in the family since it was new. I started driving it regularly in 1969, but little after 1973 and not at all for long periods of time (years) until the latest resuscitation effort began in 2010.

I should probably mention the car was rear ended in 1969. I have no recollection of the car having the shuddering problem after I got it back from the repair shop, but it's easy to believe the combination of residual damage from the accident and deterioration over time to the soft support points (as mentioned previously by others) could account, at least in part, for the shuddering problem today, 45 years later.