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

I actually have not seen the other mounts except the ones hidden at the very back of the transmission - are there only two mounts?

While they are not really mounts, those with 356 engines should also have a two piece stabilizer on each side of engine near front that bolts to front crossmember -- a bracket to engine and plate with vulcanized rubber to crossmember. If you raise the engine don't try raising too far without separating those pieces or you will tear the rubber.

??????
The only mount on the front of a 356, at least for the prewar cars, is the cradle. The cradle is one piece, unless you're also referring to the rubber that fits at the top. There IS NO RUBBER between the cradle and chassis cross member.
As mentioned, though, you cannot lift up too much without unbolting the two bolts at the base of the cradle.

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On Clipper style Custom bodies and I believe it carried thru on the 22-23rd series the 356 engine has the stabilizers.

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Thanks, Howard. I did not know that.

@Wes - thanks for the video. Again, quite helpful. Would love to see the whole thing - any public link?

@West - That's an amazingly huge honkin' compressor on the top of that 356. Wow. I observe no clutch on the front of that pulley - I assume it was just always on unless you disconnected the fan belt? I'm very surprised the top of it cleared the hood. Wonder if anyone persuaded their local Packard dealership to custom-install AC on their 22nd series...that would be an interesting setup, however it could be accomplished.

@Howard - Thanks! You know, I should have seen those stabilizer mounts but I completely missed them. The passenger's side is crusted in grease, and the drivers side is under the generator where I couldn't see it. Before I jack the front of the engine up to replace the mount, I'll loosen the bolts of those stabilizers so I won't tear anything. So far, I've been surprised: most of the fasteners on my beast here have come loose very easily, without any stripped threads or undue tapping.

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Yup. Only way to turn it off is to remove the belt. Cadillac used the same system, but since their hoods were so much lower, and since they utilized a flathead V-8, the compressor was mounted way down alongside the engine on the driver's side. I don't know where Chrysler mounted theirs, as I've never seen a prewar Chrysler with the factory offered air. I suspect it would have been on top like Packard.

That's an amazingly huge honkin' compressor on the top of that 356. Wow. I observe no clutch on the front of that pulley - I assume it was just always on unless you disconnected the fan belt?

And Packard carried on with the always on (different but still huge) compressors thru 54. When AC was reintroduced in postwar cars, Packard and Cadillac both used the identical Frigidaire AC system (cosmetic differences only) in 53-54. While Cadillac went to a clutch to disconnect the rotary compressor when system was off, Packard kept the constant on. AC unit changed in 55 and not sure if Packard or someone else actually built the 55-6 Packard units but they finally added a clutch.

I believe Cadillac was an early adapter of 12-volt electrical systems (c. 1953?). This may have been the reason they fit a clutch on their air conditioning compressors starting then. Just a guess.

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I'm pretty sure Cadillac's early postwar a/c systems were 6-volt. I saw one this summer, and it was 6-volt.

Yes, but from 1953 on Cadillac had 12-volt systems while Packard continued with their 6-volt system. Don't know about Cadillac AC systems before 1953.

(o{}o)