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

Good afternoon all...Our 1949 288 Deluxe had a Delco 111-08-11 distributor unit on it presently. It has been rebuilt and seems to work pretty well. However, it seems to me that I read someplace that there was an improved distributor from Delco that came along a few years later and was an improvement for the 288 engine. God knows if what I remember is correct, many times it is not. However if such a beast does exist can someone give me the part number for it and let me know where I might find one. Thanks, Ernie

There is a different number used on the 288 in 51 and 52 and a different one again for 53 which has the same initial specs but has different advance curves. I don't find any documentation saying there was to be a factory change on the 49s -- just an article saying mechanics had been asking for the breaker plate only to be able to be serviced so parts was making a separate breaker plate assy available.

No advance specs are given for the 49s but if you can find the specs on the 1110811 you might compare them to the 51-2 1110825 or 53s 1110836. The later ones should bolt in.

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Good Evening HH-56. Thank you very much for the information. I think that I have the information for the 111-08-11. I'll do a spread sheet all three tomorrow, and send it along to everyone, just for the hell of it. I can see that the engine would behave just a bit differently. The one thought that strikes me is that the engines changed from 10mm to 14mm plugs at some point (I think) during this time. I wonder if this change would have made some of the change in the distributor? Ernie

Good Evening HH-56. Thank you very much for the information. I think that I have the information for the 111-08-11. I'll do a spread sheet all three tomorrow, and send it along to everyone, just for the hell of it. I can see that the engine would behave just a bit differently. The one thought that strikes me is that the engines changed from 10mm to 14mm plugs at some point (I think) during this time. I wonder if this change would have made some of the change in the distributor? Ernie

Good Evening HH-56. Thank you very much for the information. I think that I have the information for the 111-08-11. I'll do a spread sheet all three tomorrow, and send it along to everyone, just for the hell of it. I can see that the engine would behave just a bit differently. The one thought that strikes me is that the engines changed from 10mm to 14mm plugs at some point (I think) during this time. I wonder if this change would have made some of the change in the distributor? Ernie

According to Robert Neal and a few others, the switch away from the 10mm plugs happened in February 1950, five months before the 23rd Series stopped. No other concurrent changes were mentioned other than the size difference. I don't see how this might affect the fitting of either the Delco or the Autolite distributor. I'd be interested if Howard or others could tell me if the two brands are interchangeable. I just had a devil of a time finding an Autolite generator for my pre-February 1950 Eight, where the more common Delco parts might have shared applications with their GM cousins, making the hunt not as difficult.

Any curve/advance changes in an "improved" distributor in a 65 year old car would be difficult or impossible to notice anyway. Just drive and enjoy your fine automobile. Changing from bias to radials would most likely affect performance/mileage more significantly.

The Delco and Autolite Packard distributors will interchange. A Delco distributor from another make will not fit without modifying it. I have mixed parts from a Delco Packard and Delco Oldsmobile distributor in my 37 Six.

(o[]o)

I've got a couple of Autolites if you want to try one of them....
DAF

Good Morning all...Thank you all for your help. 'Miss Prudence' is running well, so I'm just going to drive her and enjoy her and trust the folks who designed and built her. Ernie