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

DavidPackard wrote:
53 Cavalier

The spare tire is held by a threaded arm that pivots from the right side of the well. I’m not sure if the stud is intended to pass through one of the five lug holes or the central hole which would require a plate/large washer . . . my car has a plate much like the 22nd / 23rd series. A wing nut draws the spare essentially to the right side of the well. I know it’s the wrong model, but if you look at plate #152 in the parts book you will see a photo of the arm, group number 31.195. IIRC the threaded arm slips into a bracket welded to the truck floor pan, and a split pin keeps it in place. That design also ensures the thread arm will part company with the car at some point in time.

As Kev said the jack/lug wrench (perhaps including a wrench for the wheel shield/fender skirt and another for the spark plugs) was shipped with the car in a cardboard box. In the same era the GM products had a bracket that cradled the jack post, sans the base. The spare pinched the post from moving. Again in the GM world the jack base played the role of the plate/large washer.

I’m not sure why the wheel has a drain hole, but I envision if any water collected in the well and the temperature dropped below freezing the spare would be unavailable if needed. I don’t think dust ingress was considered as a key design consideration.

I carry the Packard bumper jack for display purposes only . . . at least that’s my fondest hope. In the event of the need to R&R a wheel/tire on the road I carry a bottle jack, actual two bottle jacks, including a few aluminum hockey pucks to help spread the point load on the car’s frame. Back to the bumper jack, I suspect there would be a situation where there will be insufficient clearance between the road and the frame to locate the bottle jack, so the bumper jack may be needed to provide said clearance, but under no circumstances would I lift the car with only the bumper jack. I also carry a wheel chock and a threaded stud to assist aligning the wheel to the brake drum.

dp

Fish'n Jim wrote:
Loo-king good!
Spares were from a different road and tire era and if you have a spare you need a jack. Only large vehicles, some SUVs, trucks etc come with full size now.
The '50s era jacks were a bit more substantial than the '60 on. They all have a tendency to not hold without a stop latch mechanism. Inspect anything that old for working order before use. Main thing is level firm ground to use, maybe a wide block of wood to steady the base and a chock. No e-brake on the front, if he rear is jacked.
FYI:Some of these era, the rears are difficult to remove and require special technique due to fender clearance with radials.
I'd only carry a 2nd jack if I was going on a trip or long drive so long as the tires are new. [May be needed for other failures too.] Maybe best to trailer, if available. Leave the spare in the trailer until you show/needed. I mortally injured my back lifting a spare out of a '60 vehicle that had it stuffed up under the package tray area as a teen. So be careful and use proper lift technique removing from a well.
Most of today's tires, if you pick up a nail or screw, will slow leak and not go flat right away. I've averaged 2 tire punctures a year for decades, and currently 4 so far this year and none resulted in not getting home or road side change and I'm towing, too.(8 tires rolling) Usually on the road, can get to a tire shop, if bad, and I carry a portable electric air pump and one of those cans of tire flat stuff. Just have to be careful where you go.
Spare wells are notorious for rot out if the holes get blocked and water lays. They should be fiberglass with no holes, in my opinion, but what do I know? They sell universal replacements.