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Bought a 1950 Packard barn find, just got it running and the blue smoke is pretty bad when shifting. Rings? Also when shifting it grinds into gear. Clutch? Any help is greatly appreciated. 288 straight 8 with 3 on the tree with od.

G'day streetrodder49,
to PackardInfo and for including your '50 Deluxe Eight Club Sedan in the Packard Owner's Registry. And what's that in the shed, a Caddy?

Will leave it to the more mechanically knowledgeable to comment on your questions.

Hey, Street (cool nickname for Streetrodder49),

As a barn find, did you do all the precautionary and preparatory things before driving?

Here's an article on the causes of blue and other smoke. Excess oil is one cause. What's your level.

cjponyparts.com/resources/exhaust-smoke-color

QUESTION Is the tranny and overdrive full? Low gear oil causes grinding.
Also not following the H when shifting, like cutting across diagonally from 1st to 2nd, can lock up the linkage.

With OD sitting a long time, you can get grinding at startup. Pull out the overdrive knob, be sure you can shift into Reverse before you start it, then put it in neutral and start it.

Someone here may have better ideas and ask better questions like "Shifting grinds between which gears?" But you're off.

51 Caddy

Welcome to Packard Info Streetrodder49... pretty nice 'barn find'!!! Chris

Quote:

At high miles engines of that era will smoke like a loaded freight train. High meaning anything over 80K depending on how it was used and cared for. A set of rings will do wonders and can be done on that engine in long afternoon. Run it a while and see if it doesn't get a bit better as things limber up. Could also try blocking the pipe from the vacuum section of the fuel pump to manifold. A breached diaphragm will let a lot of oil into the intake.

If it grinds going into gear at a stop it is the clutch. If it grinds while shifting it is the synchronizers in the trans. Change the trans oil and be sure to use a GL-1 rated 90 weight oil. GL-4 oils that are right for the rear axle have too many friction modifiers and the synchros can't grab properly.

Thanks for the info, will give it a try.

What's involved to replace rings on my 288?

Good afternoon...Since the car has been sleeping in the barn for a while, start with a compression check to see what is happening with the rings and valves. 7 years ago, we purchased a 1949 Deluxe 'Miss Prudence'. Before we did any driving, we dropped the oil pan and cleaned it out. We cleaned out the oil pump which was full of sludge and finally set the valve lash to factory specs. We purchased several oil filter cartridges and changed the oil at 100 miles three times...then the old girl began to run pretty well. We also drained the transmission and filled it with 140 weight oil as it was getting caught between first and second gear and locking in second gear. Only God knows what was in that transmission...many people run 15/40 oil in the crank case of these old girls...check, clean and set your points properly and clean all of the electrical connections and make sure they are nice and snug. Flush the engine and radiator and then start to use the old girl around town at 40 miles an hour or so and also give the old girl a good lube job while changing the oil for the first time...they tend to wake up slowly...so follow the above and let her limber up. One more thing for safety..have the shop that changes the oil and lubes her, check the wheel bearings check the brake system to make sure it functions and does not pull hard to one side...just treat her like along lost girl friend and she will make you smile. Ernie in Arizona