Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Subject, early cars discussed here being converted to a pressurized system. This may be being done to give the car a higher boiling point to overcome boiling over. It seems like an awful lot of work vs. just fixing the overheating problem.
The radiator core, being perhaps 80 years old will not think kindly about being pressurized, especially since it wasn;'t designed to be.

The bushing type pumps on 35-37 also will not be happy, the packing may weep or give way under pressure, again not designed for it.

Possible Causes:

Too much paint on radiator
Junk in rad
Excessive WP clearance
Bad T-stat
Junk in block

Pressurizing the system will not fix any of these things

system was pressurized because AC was added in the mid nineties, then taken off by the next owner, but everything else was left from the conversion. another reason why it was converted to 12v.

radiator was re-cored in 1996 and needs it again, it wasn't that great a job to be honest. the filler neck on the radiator has some half baked job done to it so it can convert to a modern pressure cap from the factory cap and so it can have an overflow tank. which is an empty paint can size bottle wire tied to the car......

it's what I have to work with though and I'm doing the best I can.

39 pump....doesn't look like mine.ebay.com/itm/1939-39-PACKARD-WATER-PUMP- ... fda65d3b:g:ZVQAAOSw-7RVEhMj&vxp=mtr

My kind of Packarding! I want mine all original too, but Rome wasn't built in a day, so I enjoy it even when things aren't quite perfect!

When I was in New York, I had good luck getting a radiator re-cored locally with the correct tube style. May be something for the future.

Hello Henry,
The number cast into my pump is 335257, there is a new after market pump on e bay today.I agree with Fred Kanter that the radiator core needs to be clean, however ever little helps when you use your car in 40 degree celcius( 100 F) days of summer. It is also important to make sure the water distribution tube is clean and in good condition.
Regards Pepe

going to move back over to my 37 limo blog.

one final entry in this thread....I have no numbers on my pump....only the letters LM or LH maybe.

335257 is a 38-40 six and "120" pump