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I have a 1936 Packard Model 1402 Standard 8 Limo. The Packard Owners Information Manual says " It will be noted that the clutch petal is held 1" away from the toe board by a very slight spring pressure, and that it is necessary to depress the petal at least 1 1/2" before the actual pressure of the clutch springs is encountered."

Does this mean that the clutch petal is not suppose to be at about the same height as the brake petal when it is not depressed? Instead only 1" away from the toe board (floor board) when not depressed?

The shank of the pedal is held 1" shy of the toeboard to keep it from thumping when you take your foot off of the clutch. Later cars had a rubber bumper under the floor to that end.

The end result it that the clutch and brake pedals are at nearly the same height.

A common culprit is the booster piston that can be lubricated with petroleum oil. A second culprit are the brake linkages and can be adjusted/lubricated to prevent binding. If the chassis lubricator isn't working, they may be sticking, but do not put grease on any Oilite bushings.

The clutch petal inside of my vehicle is not at the same height as the brake petal. It is only a couple inches off the floor board. I am thinking that the clutch return spring underneath the car has gotten weak. I have not been able to locate a new clutch return spring. When you press the brake petal it has no problem returning to the correct height.

If it is the return spring group 3.115 in the parts diagram Kanter lists it as available. If you need a different spring such as the large assist spring 3.101, no idea the difference between a Clipper spring and conventional body spring -- length or ends maybe -- but they may have it for conventional bodies too and worth an inquiry which means a phone call.

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My gut reaction is, unless I had a parts car to pillage for said replacement springs, I think that I'd find my way to a box store, spend one Hell of a lot less money, and have it today.


Do car show judges look to see if the clutch springs are part number XYZ??? I sincerely doubt it.


Just sayin' . . . .

With the pedal only a couple of inches off the floor, I doubt the problem with the clutch is limited to just the return spring.

That clarifies the issue. If you took the return spring off the pedal should be somewhat lower than the brake pedal. That is the pedal free play.

If you are lucky the clutch rod is wrong or needs to be adjusted. If that is the case clutch action should be partial and shortening the rod will bring the pedal height up. If you are missing the big round ball adjusting nut you may have the same symptom and will need to improvise a test mock up for clutch action.

If the car was previously completely disassembled there are spacers of different widths that will affect things if not in correct order. However, a quick check for internal issues is to disconnect the clutch rod and pull the lever against the fingers. It should approximately be perpendicular to the clutch housing. If it pulls way back before hitting the clutch fingers you have an internal problem.

Here is a picture of a 32 where you can make out the position of the clutch lever in the resting position. I don't have a picture of a 35-37, but the principle is the same.

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Tim,

Know it's In your photo, what is the round "thing" hanging off the rear of the transmission? Overdrive?

For comparison, I've attached a photo of a '34 Chassis which doesn't have a "thing". Note, all the "extra" cross shafts and linkages are because it is a LHD car converted to RHD!

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Tim.

Relax, no need to reply. Another Forum Member supplied the answer by PM, being: "No factory overdrive in 1932. What you see at the end of the trans is the speedo drive gear enclosure, same as in your photo but painted differently, followed by the older style universal joint. Other than the joint type, they are the same." Learned something.