Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I have a new gasget. Wondering how to install in the cap.

I've never tried it but if you have the new style cap wonder if you could sort of make a gentle bend and twist in the gasket to elongate the hole to a more oval shape and starting on one side work it over the center piece and around. Doesn't look like the hole is very big and cork doesn't stretch but it must have been doable if a replacement gasket was available. If you have the old style cap with the dipstick then you would probably need to remove the dipstick. I couldn't tell if the center piece was pressed over the tab or spot welded in but maybe you could. If pressed and could be removed and reattached, maybe that is how it could be done.

If spot welded I doubt if the gasket was in position when the center piece was installed during mfg but guess it was possible. If making the hole more oval won't work and the gasket was installed later and is cemented in, I wonder if there was a slit in the old one and that is how it was done.

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I wonder if it could be applied "WET"? By wet I mean soaking the gasket to expand it, then putting it in place and lettng it dry out in situ. I did this for a sump gasket I replaced on my Packard, only gasket I could get at the time was old and had shrunk. A couple of soakings and I got it to return to its original length and useable again. Know this is a very different gasket but could be worth a try.

Wet and VERY careful working it around with screw driver worked!

Glad that technique worked for you.