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

Warren for including your '49 Eight Touring Sedan in the Registry. Looks like it's the car that was for sale in Merimbula. Good to hear you're in Canberra, not too far from me.

Hi Mal,

Yes it was the one from Merimbula. Purchased late December last year and brought up to Canberra in January.

Cheers,

Warren

Well its been a while and I have been having great fun trying to sort the overheating...

What I concluded was head gasket. The car would be fine at idle but under driving would heat up. It would then cool off again if I sat idling for a while.

I had already done water pump, new radiator, flushed all the system, checked timing (although its at 6deg BTDC - so maybe reduce?)

So I pulled the head and found leaking at the rear of number eight (rear centre stud was stripped so there was no tension), also leaking between 4,5,6 in the centre and around some of the water galleries.

Anyway its back together and I was wondering if there was a 'magic' procedure for bleeding all the air from the system?

Many thanks,

Warren

Packard water pumps, distribution tube and simple constuction do not require system bleeding. Good luck with your car and give me a bell if I may be of assistance. i have a 48 in going order. Peter Toet, 0408697105

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Thanks Peter,

I may give you a call tomorrow, I'm in Canberra too!


Cheers,

Warren

Good Morning...It seems that the 22nd and 23rd series have more heating issues than most other Packards...Some of us have changed to higher capacity fans and built radiator shrouds that fit into the slot under the U shaped radiator reinforcement brace. I also run a radiator coolest additive called '40 below' which was designed for race cars. It is like water wetter, only more effective. It is available from Speedway for $24.95. A really pretty girl in the front seat also seems to help! Ernie

I agree, Ernie. All cooling systems slowly loss efficiency over time and the evidence seems pretty overwhelming that the 22nd/23rd Series Eights and Super Eights had less buffer capacity than models before and after. The Custom 8 seems the exception, perhaps by virtue of a much larger radiator capacity they seem to be for the most part pretty much immune to the problem afflicting their stablemates.

Would suggest check the timing and also the waterpump if it's developed any sort of play . Needs to be serviced or replaced . What I also would suggest is to remove the thermostat completely which I have done here in India . Running across 38-45 degrees Celsius temperature in peak summer . Have Also for heavy traffic conditions installed an electric external fan.

All the best ! Quote:

In addition to checking the timing setting, check the vacuum advance chamber to see that it is not leaking. A leaking chamber will also contribute to over heating.

(o{}o)

Thank you all for your suggestions. I am intending on checking the timing again today, the distributor is fully rebuilt including the vacuum advance so it 'should' not be a problem.

In regard to radiator size I had been thinking for a while that it simply needed a bigger unit or maybe a 4 core unit. That has always been the fix on a myriad of other cars I have owned over the years.

I'll update further once I know some more!

Cheers,

Warren