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Just posting this in case it may help anyone else. Prior to removing the front clip and really cleaning out the cooling system everything electrical was working great. Right after I got everything back together, I started experiencing cases of my brake lights mysteriously coming on….after the car was parked and off for a while. I could tap the brake pedal and they would turn off. Then, it would happen again. I know…battery disconnect…but, that is currently (pun) a pain with my disconnect switch at the battery, under the seat. And, it only happened once in a while and the lights were only on very faintly (LED bulbs). Over the next couple of weeks, it started happening more often and tapping the brake pedal didn’t always help. So, disconnect switch opened!

Four days ago now, I had a thought and decided to try it. I sprayed the brake switch contacts with contact cleaner. It seems to have fixed the problem. My conclusion is that with all the flushing of the coolant etc…I must have splashed some water/coolant/who knows what else on to the contacts and when it dried, it left a very slightly conductive film.

Anyway, If anyone else experiences this, something simple to try before tearing into things is just spraying the contacts with cleaner.

A disconnect at the battery is pretty easy to come by; I will be putting one each on my 115c and the 110.

I picked up a few of these at our swap meet last weekend:
ebay

Pulling the clip off, you might also have some minor damage to the wiring at the break light switch. I destroyed the insulation on mine on the '40 by looking at it wrong.

The whole car will be rewired with a modern kit, but that was only one of several nearly invisible wiring breaks in the ancient insulation. Coil lead to the ignition was the most problematic.

I have a disconnect at the battery. It’s just a pain to get to…lift the seat etc… Eventually, I’ll install a different switch that can be easily accessed.

It’s been about a month and half since the new fenders started the journey from Baltimore to the Kansas City area. Today, they made the last leg of the journey. The journey….Baltimore - Washington D.C. - Milwaukee - Sheboygan - KC.

It’s been a while since I’ve had the car out. We were out of town a bit in July and it was just really hot outside. I opted not to tempt fait with 95 to 100 degree weather.

The weather this week in KC is beautiful with highs in the low 80s. So, today I got the car out for about a 50 mile drive. Much of which was at highway speed (55mph). It did great! Had to stop at my favorite bike shop along the way.

I may see if I can get Dad out for a bit tomorrow.

The Packards sure are fun to have out and about, yours looks fantastic!
Glad the weather is better for you there, we had a break from the humid heat here today too. Got out with our car club for a great tour that included ice cream, now that is a good day!
Bob J.

Beautiful weather in KC today. Got Dad out for a drive and lunch at Sonic. It was a different Sonic than last time and I found a spot where the car fit!

Finally, at twelve weeks to the day of a four to eight week lead time. Not sure just yet when I’ll get them installed, but I know the car is going to drive much nicer. I’m also going to be replacing the center crank arm bearing and the lower support bushings while I”m at it. I’ll be getting the car to my brother-in-law (really good mechanic) to help with all that.

Maybe they said four PLUS eight 😉

Quote:

That would have been easier. Communication was terrible…First when I called after nearly eight-and-half weeks, they argued with me that it hadn’t been eight weeks. Their logic was “you placed the order on May 22nd and it isn’t July 22nd yet”. Hmmm….Apparently they aren’t aware that there are more than four weeks in most months.

Then, for the last four weeks, it was “they will ship on Friday”….four weeks in a row.

Anyway, I have them now and I’m really looking forward to getting them installed. My existing springs are in really bad shape.