Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

On vacay in stone harbor NJ. Drove 4 hours last night. I need to replace generator and voltage regulator to get home. Help
If gene tarnashawnty , Steve babinsky , Dave czir, or Ralph Marano see this (please forgive spellings) pleasePM me. I will try to find phone numbers, but wanted to post this asap. KanterandMerritt do not have generator. I’m desperate.

If you charge your battery fully, you should be able to get home if you don't use your lights.

Also, you could stop in a battery store and pick up an extra battery just in case.

In 1996, my brother drove 1942 Packard 180 all the way from Minneapolis to Warren, Ohio, doing just that. He was traveling with another brother driving a 1941 Packard 180. They swapped batteries at every gas stop, 3-4 hours between stops.

It would be best to keep from using the starter at a minimum.

When you get home, get your generator rebuilt. Napa should have a regulator.

Thanks, West. The battery is brand new Napa7204 Group 2 6v. I thought it was normal for it to charge a bit when I started, but it charged for 2 hours and then went to complete discharge for the last 2 hours. The last hours I was driving in the dark, using my lights the way Ben Franklin advised to use venery, sparingly. I got behind someone with bright lights on the NJ Turnpike and used my parking lights so I had taillights, much of the way. I will leave early with a charged battery on Friday, if no one has a generator. Kanter has a VR so I’ll order that now to get it in time.
Advice much appreciated. I’m in Stone Harbor NJ. There are few places better than NJ to need car parts.

My Sis is overnighting a VR to me. Would still feel better swapping out the generator.

I don't think it makes any sense to put the VR on until you get the generator rebuilt.

@Joe Santana I just sent you a pm

We got a 7204 battery at NAPA Iin Villas NJ.
The ammeter is stuck at discharge. The plugs got wet in the down pour so dried those with paper towel. 2 gal wasn’t enough to feed the lines, we think, so got 2 more gallons. Car starts and runs as long as gas poured in carb first.

Hoping that your fuel pump hasn't had a diaphragm failure. You don't want your oil to be diluted with gas.

Got the car running. I had just drained the tank so low, it needed 4 gal to pump up to the carb.

Now charging the back-up battery.