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Hey Guys!

On Sunday my brother and I went out to take some photos with the car to give to my grandmother for her birthday. I let my brother drive to the back of the neighborhood and the car seemed to do just fine. But, when we were done taking photos and it was my turn to drive back, the car wouldn't move forward or backwards. I had a hunch that my brother maybe pulled back too hard on the parking brake and got it stuck. So, took the scout car home to pick up some tools and returned to back off the drums, wa la, car moves. Drove back with no problems whatsoever. We had stopped and started several times when taking those pictures, using the parking brake every time we parked. What could be the cause of this? Does my brother just need to be more gentle on my old car?

-Garrett

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If you feel it is parking brake related, one place to look is the short distance between wheel and frame attachment on each side where the emerg brake cable travels in the steel flex housings.

Many reports of corrosion, dirt, lack of lube, frayed wires etc causing the cables to stick in the housings. Since the release of the shoes depends on spring action and lots of free cable movement any sticking could be an issue.

There is also a spring or two on the equalizer bar at center of frame that needs to be there. It helps slacken the cables to wheels when brake is released and also keeps vibration noise down.

Hello Howard!

I lubed everything pertaining to the parking brake with the exception of the metal flex housings. I'll have to do that pretty soon when I change/add gear oil to the diff and trans. Hope those cables aren't frayed.

Thank you,

-Garrett

GearRat, we used to oil the outside of the flex housings when doing chassis lubrication. The idea was the oil would help prevent rust, soak into the housings, and provide some lubrication the cables. I don't know how effective this was, but didn't hurt.

(o{}o)

Hello Packardinfo!

Went to the salvage yard yesterday for my birthday to pick up a few things for the Packard. I was able to get an antenna from a '55, vent window handle, and a few other goodies. I have been hard at work getting "Lucille" ready for her trip on April 5th. I have painted the ceiling gloss white to brighten up the interior, made a burlap panel for the back window which is the material I will be using for my envisioned upholstery. Probably will be a little itchy, but I think it is going to look awesome. Here are some photos of my progress...


-Garrett

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I have the same '55 antenna on my '54. I always wondered why they never went fully down.

Kevin, I wouldn't assume you have the wrong antenna on your 54. On my 54 Patrician when the factory antenna was fully retracted it still stood perhaps 5 or 6 inches above the fender.

Dave, yes. My car had a broken off manual antenna when I got the car. I replaced it with a 12v one from a '55 Clipper. I just needed to take it apart and repair/regrease the innards to bring it back to life. (all covered in my Blog). It also sticks up about 5" or 6" just like in the picture above. Just was curious why Packard didn't have them go all the way down.

There are different length tubes and I guess the little decorative taper at the end of each was a design statement. When retracted, they are all flush at the bottom end but having the different lengths to show off the tapering, stick up. The factory rear antennas are even worse and stick up almost a foot -- albeit at a stylistically rakish angle. Sticking up was not a big deal in the days before automatic car washes.

Modern antennas are just essentially the same length tubes with the ends rolled over so they will nest flush to avoid getting hit -- or provide a tempting target for vandals.

Are the straight 8 antennas harder to find, and that is why your using a v8 one?

What about the 6v vs 12v?

My 55 400 is broken at the chrome nut, but a 4 inch wire sticking up works for pulling in a signal on the radio.