Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Hi Guys,

I have a 54 Pacific, as of late Ive had the engine out refreshed it and put it back in. As the Car went back together I had the carb rebuilt. Once it was running we noticed the brakes were soft and the master brake cylinder wasnt doing it's job. Upon replacing it I can't put the car into gear with the engine idling without it stalling.

Also the generator light has been on, (this has been ongoing and did not begin with the new master cylinder) The generator is charging the battery some but Im not convinced it's getting the job done 100%. I have not yet had the generator tested.

Any thoughts on what changed? Im a novice Packard mechanic.

Thanks
Andy

Automatic or Standard transmission?

Automatic transmission

Unusual problem, there is no direct link between engaging the transmission and either the fuel delivery or ignition system. Perhaps too low an idle speed or a large vacuum leak? You didn't say but I'm assuming the car has power brakes - check the vacuum lines to the brake booster and vacuum reserve tank for good leak-free connections. There are other possible sources for a vacuum leak and they should be sought out and checked but I doubt any of them have the potential to stall the car when the transmission is engaged.

There are several ways to analyze your charging system. A relatively easy one only requires a voltmeter attached to the battery. Read the voltage at rest (engine off), should be about 6.4 volts. Start the car, leave it idle and put on the headlights, read the voltage; then increase the engine speed and the voltage should increase to perhaps 7.3 - 7.4 volts. If it does not increase then the charging system is not functioning. Now just briefly connect a wire from the field terminal (F) on the generator or regulator to ground and repeat the test - if the voltage now does increase the generator is functioning and the problem is with the generator regulator (replacements readily available). If the voltage does not increase, the problem is with the generator itself. Do NOT leave the jumper wire between F and ground connected for any longer than needed to conduct the test!

The fact that the stalling problem started after he replaced or fixed the master cylinder is telling.

Being a Pacific, which was a senior model, it would have Power Brakes standard. So perhaps a vacuum line didn't get hooked back up correctly or one of the lines now has a leak.

Actually Kev, though you would think they we would be on a high-end car, power brakes were not standard on the Pacific (according to the Salesman's Data Book), though probably 99% of them had them.

Dave, good to know. I've never seen a '54 Senior car without them. So just figured they were standard!

Ultramatic was standard, however. The Easamatic probably cost Packard about $20, seems a bit frugal of them not to be included.

Or maybe a stuck Ultramatic governor?

(o{}o)

I'm keying in on the discussion points of;
? Carburetor rebuilt
? Generator light ON
? Stalls when put in gear
If the generator light goes out at a high idle (head lights off), I would suspect a low idle speed and begin with the throttle stop and idle mixture adjustments, and for completeness the ignition timing. May we assume a Carter WCFB, and Delco electrical equipment?