Bummer! Ernie

Good Morning John...As I look at the sump (oil pan) on your Packard, I think that I would try a big piece of timber held directly against the side by a helper and then wack the timber really hard with the rubber hammer. I have done this on a few old machines and had it work. One time all that happened was that I cracked the timber, but did not do any damage to the sump. In that case, I came out the next morning and the damn thing had fallen off by itself! Go figure and good luck. Ernie

Good Evening all...One more thing to try while shifting is to double clutch...if the problem is worn Cynchronizers, this should make your shifting easier. Ernie

Sometimes some gentle tapping around the bottom edge of the oil pan with a rubber hammer will make the pan come loose...Ernie

Good Morning all...Some of us go to the hardware store and get as big a magnet as will fit in the fuel bowl and use it instead of ceremic filter. With the magnet, you can see what is being attracted and you can see when to remove the bowl and clean it and the magnet. Enjoy your Packard...The change in transmission oil will help as well. Ernie

Good Afternoon...When we went through all of the issues regarding overheating, with our 1949 Deluxe, 'Miss Prudence',we also found that the distributor condition, bearings, advance springs and vacuum advance play a big part in a happy Packard engine. Due to wear, and modern fuel, your timing might well need to be advanced a bit from stock. If you search, you can find much discussion of this subject. Easy does it. Ernie

Good afternoon...Pulling the wheel is not too hard. First, turn the plastic Packard piece in the middle of the wheel 1/4 turn to the left and it will come off.

Then you can carefully remove the parts, carefully noting how things were assembled. Then you can remove the horn ring by removing a few screws.

Remove the wheel with a wheel puller. Ours came off really easily. Mark the location of the wheel carefully so that you can put it back on the shaft in the same location. Then take the stalk out of the switch and finally unscrew the four screws that hold the switch into the wheel base.

You may or may not have much slack in the horn button that comes up through the 'Jusus Nut' that holds the wheel on the shaft at the top of the steering column. I cut the wire and spliced it back when I re-assembled.

Look carefully at the switch. Ours was broken due to a failure of the plastic/particle board that the contacts are soddered/mounted to.

Study the switch. If you see that the switch has failed, you need to unplug it at the bottom of the steering column and pull the wire up the steering wheel. I had to disconnect the wiper switch in order to get the plug to clear and come all the way out/up.

You can drill out the little revets that hold the switch together and possibly repair the board with several layers of JB Weld. Put the switch back together with tiny nuts and bolts from ACE Hardware or an Eye Glass kit.

Ours was pretty rough and Max Merritt did come up with a nice clean replacement switch. I'm sure Kanter, Packard Seattle, and others will be able to find you one, if needed.

Also, check the wires to the back of the car carefully. We had one wire that was just severed! Also check the condition of the bulb receptacles as they can fall apart as well.

I would start by checking the switch, because if it is bad it can make all of the rest of the indications really confusing.

At the beginning of the project, bless everything with a light sprinkling of cold beer!

Ernie

Good Afternoon all...many times I will pay a bit more to purchase from Max or Kantor as I know they must make a profit in order to be in business when I/we need them for an important problem that can't be solved by NAPA or another independent supplier. If we skip them too often, they may not be around when the chips are down. Only my most humble opinion! Thanks, Ernie

Good Evening Tim...The Packard Radiator Neck is longer than normal. That is most likely why it is dribbling/leaking. You can obtain the correct one from Max or Kantor or perhaps someone will give you the number for the cap at NAPA. I used to have the number, but can't find it tonight. Ernie

Note about Owen...He is like a machine! The amount of information he shares with the rest of us is just simply Mind Boggling! I don't remember the last time he was really stumped! Ernie