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

It's been a while since I've last posted. I thought I would update you all on the little progress I have made. I'm currently working on rewiring the entire car. There are very few things left to be wired like, the fuel sending unit, back up lights, and steering column. Oh, and if anyone can fill me in on how to remove the horn button so I can pull the steering wheel that would be great. It's been really motivating to see things come to life after an assumed 40 years. One thing I've been dying to hear is the horn, but the only thing I can seem to get out of it is a "click" noise from the horn relay. And with that I assume the culprit is the relay. Anyways, I have some photos posted below of what's been done thus far.

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Sorry, here are the before photos. And the broken tail light lens above is a result from a friend's car. He was helping me move it so I could have a cement slab poured to be able to finish this project. If anyone has an extra i'm certainly in need of one.

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Great to hear from you. Did you get it running? Looks like you have had the head off.

Take the palm of your hand, press in on the horn button, and "unscrew" it less than a quarter turn. That releases it from the retaining lugs and you can pick it out of position.

Hey Ross,
No as of now I still have yet to start it or even get the starter to crank. I will need to pick up a new solenoid. The terminal that leads to the carb switch was completely glazed over and snapped right off with the slightest turn of a wrench. And yes, the head has been off. I media blasted it, cleaned out the water passages, and gave her a fresh coat of paint. So hopefully I can get her started up here soon.

Hi , quite a project! my 52 has a wire that seems like its comming from the steering gear into the harness in the engine compartment .I cant imagine what this could be for

Horn button. Pressing the horn button or ring grounds the wire which completes a circuit to the horn relay. When the relay closes the horn sounds.

On my 51 200, I couldn't push it down with my hand and turn it at the same time, so I got my plumbers friend out of the closet. Using it allowed me to get a good grip on the horn button - pushing in and turning it to the left and it popped right off. Good luck.

My horn went on by itself for a while today ,its LOUD .

I suspect the wire that runs down the steering tube is old and has shed its insulation and is grounding inside the tube from the steering wheel to the steering gear which actuates the steering gear , the condition of the wire exiting the steering gear is poor . I didnt realize this was the horn wire untill someone on the site was kind enough to tell me
I have a similar era desoto and the wire had done this necessitationg tearing down the horn button and running a new wire down the tube ,I did this when I had the steering gear out for a rebuild .It was a magor effort ! There isnt a good picture of this in the manual .Coincidentially theres not in the desoto manual either .Maby this was concidered obvious in 1950

What year Desoto do you have? Does it have the 291 hemi in it? If so I have a rebuilt water pump still in the re-builders box for sale that never made it to a 55 Desoto I had years ago.

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There is currently a tail light lens for sale on e-Bay under 51-54 Packard Parts. The last bid I saw was $19.