Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Again, some random replies/thoughts:

Fascinated by all the slightly different posts. Seems like everyone has a little bit different focus on this.

Yes the radiator cap (newish, came with the car four years ago...) is for 3 pounds. Didn't give it much thought since it seemed to work, however a close local friend with a 56 made the change and that solved his heating issue. For ten bucks, it's worth a try.

Duane has been delayed, but will retime today or tomorrow. Might help a bit.

As to the guage being garbage I'm not expecting lab calibration. It seems to be consistent and useably accurate, which is pretty much all it was supposed to do.....

I got a new windshield last year which is tinted. After that experience, I'm not touching the glass. The comment was intended as an observation, not to be seen as an issue here. Just a difference between then and now.

I'll check back when the noted changes have been done to report; meantime, thank you all for the serious attention you have given this problem.

No puking with the three pound cap is pretty good indicqation of no over heating problems . In fact it indicates the engine is running rather cool.

The ping, at this point, mite very well be personal pet peeve on your part. However, maybe try ONE heat range COLDER ON THE SPARKING PLugs after the timing has been played with. It IS possible that colder plug will cause rough running and stalling in very cold weather. But maybe not either.

Your radiator is probably not the same as the one that was installed with the AC cars. The condensor, much like the radiator is a heat exchanger, so when the AC is running the condensor is exchanging heat into the air which then gets directed into radiator. So basically the air being directed over the radiator is warmer.

Add the extra load on the motor from the AC compressor, and you can see why the temp is going to creep up. I guess if you go buy one of the those cheapy IR thermometers from HF, you can check the temp at the water outlet with the motor running at normal temp, and with the motor running at the elevated temp when the AC is running. You may find that even though the gauge is on the dash is moving a lot, the actual temp difference may only be 10-15f and still in the normal operation range.

As others have said the pinging may be due to the timing needing to be adjusted a bit.

Duane is still tied up with "real" work, so nothing there. Replaced the radiator cap with a 12 pounder.

Radiator is three rows, not four as was suggested.

Today was absolutely lovely, so took a pair of young magpies out to lunch, where we dined in splendor at Superdawg in Wheeling. Would you pay $25 for three deluxe hot dogs and two drinks? That's why we don't go that often.

Car ran beautifully with no issues, but only had the air on a little bit later in the day.

The magpies should both be asleep, looking innocent, which is probably misleading.

Two seven year old cousins who sat in the back seat and giggled for four hours! If you can't enjoy that kind of music, you really are a curmudgeon.

All in all, sounds like a very satisfying day Pat.

Hi from central TX: when I finish my Hydro-E window project (blog in post war) I will be tackling the a/c system in my 54/300. Would you mind sending me a photo of that Sundren compressor--seeing ahead that I'm probably "not" going to get my big fat Tecumseh compressor up and going. The a/c system is add-on with evaporator in the truck. Thanks

Here are a couple of shots. You do recall that my car is a V-8?

Brackets were far and away the biggest problem for both compressor and alternator (which I added, anticipating the electric fan and night driving....)

The sanden is more than adequate to the task.....

P.S.

The engine compartment has since been gussied up and is now respectable....

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would having two condenser's in series help?,

would having two condenser's in series help?,

Without a radiator that can dissipate more heat or at least do it faster, it's going to run at a higher temp with any size or number of condensers in front of it.

One option might be smaller condenser in front and a secondary remote condenser with it's own fan mounted somewhere away from the radiator. Problem is those require mounting in an area with adequate air flow -- which leaves most good spaces out. Maybe under the car or in the space between the fender and cowl if some air flow could be captured from the engine bay but, IMO neither would be great choices.

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