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

Thanks for the hood ornament info, that kind of funny. Dont know about the brass tube. I did not personally rebuild it.

Have the laser thermometer. It's measuring 200-210 across the various areas of the engine.

Yes, converted to 12v.

If you have nominal 6 volt electric gauges running on 12 volts, they are probably not indicating correctly. Have you measured the actual temperature of the engine with an accurate gauge?

200 F is not excessively hot with a pressurized system. It should not boil over. The temperature is not equal all over the engine when it is running. The exhaust manifolds will run very hot, and the heads will be hotter than the block, and the intake area near the carburetor may be hotter than the heads. The temperature at the water outlet where the thermostat is located is a good place to measure temperature when the engine is running and fully warmed up, which it will be after driving the car several miles. I have found that the laser temp probes can give erratic readings depending on the type of surface being scanned. The engine is happiest running at 180 to 200 F. It should not boil.

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And the radiator?

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I can confirm that internal specifications for engine oil pressure tests specified oil to be at 180 to 200 F.

If it truly is running hot based on external measurements using a calibrated thermometer and presuming there is no obstruction in the radiator, then there is really not much left other than the timing being way off or a missing or plugged water distribution tube. On the later, if a rebuilder doesn’t know it’s there and puts the engine block into an acid bath, then it gets destroyed immediately.

Good afternoon…If the water distribution tube was left out at reassembly, it should be put back in. If a new one is needed, check with Max Merritt . Best to call them. One of the distributors that Packard used has the vacuum advance move the entire distributor, the other has the advance move all internally. that is the one you want. Stiff plug wires can inhibit the rotation and result in the timing being incorrect. Ernie in Arizona.

Do you have the correct thermostat in the engine? The standard thermostat was 145=150 degrees if you have a 180 degree it will read in the hot zone of the dash gauge.
John