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Check spark plug wires. Easy to do, just move a timing light from wire to wire. You should get a bright light at each one. If not you may have found your culprit.

Are you using this method to check for misfiring cylinders?

The timing light was really struggling when I was trying to set timing. Only flashed occasionally. I'm assuming it's because I was running it off the 6 volt battery.

How do I test the coil? It's the old one that came with the car. I wouldn't mind replacing it if it would help.

Kevin, what I described is a quick and easy way to check for spark to the plugs. If your timing light is a 12V you could connect it to a spare 12V battery. The battery does not have to be in the car nor connected to the car.

Thank JWL. I knew about a separate 12V battery, but I don't have a spare handy. I'll figure something out for next time I need it.


Been busy tonight getting things done. Cut out insert panels for the doors, and marked locations for pleats. I'll be using 1/4" scrim foam for the backing, and from what I've read it sounds like the panels won't shrink much from the pleats. 1/2" foam is about 1/8" shrinkage for each pleat sewn. These panels will get dropped off at the upholsterer, and should hopefully have them back in a couple weeks.

My shipment came in from Rubber the Right Way for the window channels, and I'm happy to say that they work great. For the front, I used 10-154X which fits perfectly into the front frame. It has no stainless bead so looks close to original. 1/4" opening for glass.

For the rear I ended up using 10-389X. It's actually a flexible channel made for a completely different application, but the dimensions are right so I tried it out. It pushes right in to the frame and holds tight without glue. 1/8" opening for the stainless frame to slide in.
I added the part numbers to the parts cross reference. These parts should work for all 51-54' hardtops and convertibles. Maybe even for 55-56.

I installed the new window and the adjusted it. It now slides up and down beautifully, no rattling at all when opening and closing. It's now the best looking window on the car. Very happy with how it turned out.

Lastly, I replaced the cap and rotor with new ones from NAPA. The old cap and rotor were what came with the car...no idea how old they are but they weren't in great shape. Couldn't test out the new stuff because I ran out of time and it's snowing hard outside.

Next up is to replace the runs on the passenger side.

-Kevin

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Looking good!

Looking great, Kevin. You're going to need another Packard pretty soon, if you can get clearance from the tower.

Got the passenger window runs done, and aligned the door to close better. No more rattles.

Weather was decent today (almost 50) so I took the car out for a drive. My wife and I got lunch, ran an errand, then I dropped off the vinyl panels to the upholsterer to sew the pleats. The car ran great, I can tell the new cap and rotor made a difference.

I need to do the yearly oil change soon

-Kevin

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Yearly oil change today. Old oil wasn't terrible, but was definitely dark. New filter, new Rotella 15W-40 oil. I had to toss the old copper crush washer, NAPA had no replacements. So I had to get a fiber washer that was close, then modify it to work. No leaks so far.

Also checked the vacuum pressure on the engine to check my idle mixture. I replaced the old vacuum hoses with new ones, as the old were all cracked and hard. I didn't have an adapter to fit on the carb, so I connected to the hose going to the vacuum tank. Is this giving me a false reading?

At idle it was showing 18-19 steady.

-Kevin

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If your checking the vacuum after it comes off the vacuum pump on the fuel pump, then your not getting a true engine vacuum reading.

You probably want to checking it where off the port that feeds over to inlet vacuum pump

BigKev - That's what I was thinking. I used the port that should be going to the vacuum pump, and not after it, but I think it may be giving me a false reading. I'll check it at the line going to the vacuum advance instead.


We had a beautiful day today, so the Panama got its first wash in 5 months and several trips through town. I took my sister's kids out to get milkshakes, my own kids for a leisurely drive, and my wife and I went on date night in it. It's running great currently. A little vibration here and there but not bad.

Just need to get going on the interior.

-Kevin

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