Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

First off sorry to start another thread about this. I'm posting from my phone and I can't find the previous one.

It took me a few months to get the darn thing almost done, and now I can't find the little latch that holds the control cable to the core. And I was wondering if anybody knew where to get one. I know I had it but I've been looking for two weeks straight now, and winter is coming, so I really need to get some coolant back in it. I'm pretty sure I've had the system open to air for far too long.

Also if I wanted to flush the core could I do it with metal ready? Asuming I rinse it well.

Also off topic I spotted a white 55 (I think based on the headlights) patrician in a lot by the Ross island bridge in Portland. It was behind a fence so I couldn't get a real good look at it, but it didn't look in to bad of shape.

But atleast we know there's another v8 out there that's not destroyed completly.

Brandon, always a good idea when starting out fresh to remind us what year and model car your asking about. I'm guessing it's a 55/56 model. You asked about:

the little latch that holds the control cable to the core

I'm not aware of any cable attached to the core, just hot water hoses. Are you perhaps speaking of the Ranco heater control valve just adjacent to the heater box with the hot water inlet and outlet hoses, and the Bowden cable from the dashboard heat control?

I can think of there cables connected to the heater box area. One to the Ranco heater valve as Dave already identified. One connected to the fresh-air flapper duct, and finally the last one connected to the heater diverter for the defroster plenium.

Are you missing a lever, or just the little tab that holds down the outer cable sheathing in place?

Sorry i was at work yesterday when i posted, I have a 56 Patrician and it is indeed the tab that holds down the bowden cable for the flapper.

I didnt remove the control valve when i started the project because it was functional so i wasnt aware that it had a control cable as well.

The heater core box itself was just full of road junk, and had some knarly looking rust.

Brandon, I don't know about you but to me it's rewarding to sometimes actually make a small part. Not that you couldn't find the part you're looking for, but if you have some skills, you might take one of the Bowden cable retaining clips from elsewhere (the air flapper or defroster diverter) and see if you could make one yourself.

Otherwise, I'd call Mike Dulinski who has a yard and a half full of 55 and 56 Packards and get one from him. You can reach him at <Mnpacsler@aol.com>.

Thanks for the info, I figured if I asked someone if they knew where to get one I'd eventually find mine. It's amazing how it's always in the last place you'd look. For about two months it sat with my heater core. Then it was gone. And somehow it made it's way into my other car, which is odd because I don't mix my chevy and package parts.

So it turns out that my heater core radiator is leaking from somewhere. My question is are they generally worth trying to have re soldered? Or should I plan on purchasing a new unit.

If I leave the heat off then the coolant shouldn't flow through the core, and should no longer leak until I turn it on right?

More positive than just turning off the heater valve (which can also leak) is to remove the two hoses and just connect them to each other with a short piece of tubing and hose clamps.

Most radiator shops don't like repairing old cores as they could spring another leak elsewhere and be in a warranty dispute. A good radiator shop can install a new core for about $110, more or less. I'd take it out and locate the leak first, if it's in a tank or neck it's pretty easy to repair yourself, if it's actually within the core I'd go for a new one.

Thanks I hadn't thought about that. So I take it I don't necessrrily have to purchase a packard unit? Exept for originality of course.

Packard didn't make their own cores any more than they made their own radiators, they were bought from companies like McCord or Modine. No need to be concerned about originality with a new core, in the first place it will be pretty much identical to the original, and in the second place, who would know but you and of course it's concealed. And this is a purist about authenticity giving this advice.