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

Bob - couple of suggestions.
1. Remove the fuel line to the carb and check the brass screen in the carb. I have seen cars that have sat for a long time develop crud in the tank, and upon heavy acceleration, suck the rust particles up to the screen and clog it. Mild acceleration wouldn't cause that, but full throttle will.
2. Check the fuel filter and/or replace it.
3. Drain some of the gas out into a glass dish - your wife's best Pyrex pan will work well. Let it set a few minutes and see if you get water or rust chunks in the pan. If so, drain out about a gallon or so. Filter that and run it in the lawnmower. If you continue to get rust, you may want to consider removing the tank and taking it to a radiator shop to have it boiled out and coated. I did this on my 39 and it cured the crud problem.
4. If you haven't already done so, swap the coil for the one in the trunk. I did this just recently on the 51, as it was missing during high speed runs and it cured it.

Good luck - hope you had the car inside during the last hail storms in Colorado!

Bob - it came to me while painting the fence! Check the timing on the engine. I bet it is retarded as least 5 degrees. Reset the timing, then clean the plugs. Those little plugs will foul if you look at them crooked and running the engine retarded will oil them up quickly. You might also check the vacuum line to be sure there isn't a leak somewhere. Bet you $5 this solves your problem. Also, I think the overdrive switch is fine.

Quote:

Dave,
I did drain some out of the tank and got just a little crud out (not very much at all). I continued and drained the rest of the tank, it was all perfectly clean..I think that the tank is in good shape. The fuel filter was older and had a lot of crud in it, so I put a new in line filter on.

I'm with you about the OD switch. When it did stall, I was pressing the pedal all the way to the floor and was holding it there. I think that I caused the engine stalls. Deb drove the car today on a run through Garden of the Gods and had no problems at all. I think Ms. Hattie just needs a womans touch (no lead footer like me).

Best of wishes to all there in Billings.

good to hear Bob. I would still check the timing if the car is still pinging though. Maybe a good tank of gas will cure that. Here in MT Exxon premium doesn't have ethanol in it. My 51 doesn't vapor lock on it like on the less expensive brands. Have fun with Ms. Hattie!