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

I have frequently run into a problem that I am hoping someone knows the answer to: the 1929-1932 Standard Service Manual often refers to operations for which it gives no description. For example, operation M124 is for retiming valves and ignition when the timing chain has jumped without removing the front cover, but there is no description for the steps for doing this. I am quite sure that my manual is not missing pages, and I have checked the service manual for 1922-1928 to see if the same operation is described there (it’s not). What gives?

You are correct unfortunately, and not sure there is an answer to your question other than to find an even earlier manual if you can -- or hope someone on the forum has an answer. If you could find something on ebay or at a literature dealer such as an old volume of Dyke's Automobile and Gasoline Engine Manual, Motors Manual, or Chilton's of that era it might also have the info you need and maybe an alternate procedure since they were geared to the blacksmith shops, independent garages and gas stations of the day that were servicing automobiles in places far from dealerships. Wouldn't be surprised if they didn't cover it in more detail too.

To my mind it seems that Packard was noted for the lack of detail in what passed for prewar manuals and it carried thru in the early postwar years. If something was installed or used on a car for the first time then it usually had a halfway decent writeup in a manual or maybe in a service letter article for that model. If it was an old item or a procedure that had been around for awhile, I am thinking the factory assumption was a qualified Packard dealership mechanic had been working on the cars long enough to have already done it before -- maybe on a recent prior series or perhaps one from 5 or 10 years earlier -- and there was only a need to remind them of a procedure and no need to cover it again. Probably also thought if it was a new mechanic doing something there would be an experienced one around to ask.

The serviceman's training manuals given to new hires did cover things in quite a bit of detail. In comprehensive manuals, probably because of all the new people and dealerships after the war they finally had to start providing more complete info. The 7 book 46-50 offering was better than anything prewar but that one didn't mention anything about electric at all. The 51-4 regular service manual was the first to make some real effort. The 55-6 manual was even better but best efforts aside, those two skipped a lot of details when compared to any other mfgs offerings.

So I’m not crazy. Thanks, you’ve been most helpful.

The Glenn's Service Manuals also provide much better detail in some area's.

The Factory Service Manuals are pretty scant in detail. Almost like an overview rather anything procedural.

The Post War Serviceman's Training Books provide great detail and theory of operation and most of can be applied to earlier years. So general theory, operation and trouble shooting of Carbs, Fuel System, Distributor, etc is also applicable to the earlier years. Especially if this is someone's first non-modern vehicle.