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Re: 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe - No Start. Need guidance/assistance.
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Forum Ambassador
 
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One thing I would suggest before you install the tank is make a contingency provision for adding a ground wire. If there is a flange around the middle of the tank where the two halves are joined a hole could be drilled in the excess metal at a corner where there is no danger of drilling thru anything that could leak. If no flange maybe a wire soldered or fastened in some way to part of the fuel sender mounting metal. You could choose to hook up the ground wire now or just coil it up so it is available if needed in the future.
The reason for the suggestion is that the usual way the tank gets ground is just by touching parts of the body or support strap metal. For some reason very often after installing new tanks people have run into issues with that grounding method becoming intermittent and ground to the tank becomes kind of iffy with resulting fuel gauge issues.
Posted on: Today 10:11
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Howard
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Re: 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe - No Start. Need guidance/assistance.
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Home away from home
 
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I will add to this suggestion, that you may also want to consider cutting a hole in the trunk floor for easy access to the sending unit. That way you never have to drop the tank again. I didn't cut a hole when I installed a new tank on my '54 and it was a mistake. I had problems with my brand new sender, and had to drop the tank several more times. Eventually I cut the hole and now life is good. Hole cutting at 11:27
Posted on: Today 10:50
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Kevin
1954 Clipper Super Panama "Van Halen" | Registry | Project Blog 1938 Super 8 1605 | Registry | Project Blog 1953 Clipper Deluxe Club Sedan "Rusty McRustface" | Registry | Project Blog 1956 Packard The Four Hundred "Tanner" | Registry | Project Blog |
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Re: 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe - No Start. Need guidance/assistance.
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Home away from home
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Maybe it's just me, but the idea of cutting a hole in my trunk to access the sending unit doesn't sit well with me. Now this could be because I have been working to repair holes in my car the past few months!
My car has it's original sending unit which I took apart and cleaned up when I cleaned my tank. I also replaced the float because it had a split in it, and I added a ground wire as Howard suggested. Over 2 years now and haven't had issues with my fuel gauge.   
Posted on: Today 11:19
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Re: 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe - No Start. Need guidance/assistance.
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Home away from home
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When I rebuilt the pump last year on my 1951, I discovered that the one diaphragm end was not what it was supposed to be based on the number so clearly someone had pieced the pump together from several. Fortunately I have both kit types and lots of spare pump cores from which to choose so easily sorted out. The point is, you won’t know for sure which kit you need until you get it apart.
Posted on: Today 11:43
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Re: 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe - No Start. Need guidance/assistance.
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Home away from home
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I felt the same way until I dropped the tank for the 3rd time. Then I decided I'd had enough and cut the hole. No regrets on my end. It's hidden under the carpet and if I ever wanted to close the hole (I don't) I could easily weld the piece back in. But I totally get where you are coming from. I thought I wouldn't have to worry about it with a new sender, and I even tested it before I put it in. But a full tank was only reading 1/2 on the gauge and that wasn't going to fly.
Posted on: Today 11:44
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Kevin
1954 Clipper Super Panama "Van Halen" | Registry | Project Blog 1938 Super 8 1605 | Registry | Project Blog 1953 Clipper Deluxe Club Sedan "Rusty McRustface" | Registry | Project Blog 1956 Packard The Four Hundred "Tanner" | Registry | Project Blog |
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Re: 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe - No Start. Need guidance/assistance.
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Home away from home
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Maybe it's just me, but the idea of cutting a hole in my trunk to access the sending unit doesn't sit well with me. Now this could be because I have been working to repair holes in my car the past few months! I agree and would not even consider such a butcher. The tank is very easy to remove and done right, needs to be done only once so no need for cutting up the car like that.
Posted on: Today 11:46
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Re: 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe - No Start. Need guidance/assistance.
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Home away from home
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If the new sender is made to the same dims and range of travel as the old, and electrically checked before install, it really should be fine. Dropping the tank is only really annoying the first time from the seized T-bolts. Otherwise, just the vent hose is the main annoyance.
Posted on: Today 11:57
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1955 400 | Registry | Project Blog
1955 Clipper Deluxe | Registry | Project Blog 1955 Clipper Super Panama | Registry Email (Parts/service inquiries only, please. Post all questions on the forum.) service@ultramatic.info |
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Re: 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe - No Start. Need guidance/assistance.
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Forum Ambassador
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I also would rather have a bit of convenience and not worry so much about authenticity particularly if there is a chance I have to drain and drop the tank more than once. Tank draining is dangerous in its own right but at least it can be done on a Packard -- providing the drain plug is not rusted solid. The bulky part is another matter as was learned the hard way a few years ago at one of the local Ford dealerships. Their service building and 16 customer cars went up in flames. It was later learned the fire was because a fuel tank that was being removed slipped and dropped on the floor and some spilled fuel was set ablaze by a trouble light. Just as soon that not happen in my garage and if an extra hole would help prevent it then so much the better.
Here is the hole I did in the 47, covered and flocked with finish to match the floor so as to be relatively unobtrusive. Add to that, there is usually a mat or carpet on top of it too so chances are only you would know it is there. If you follow the procedure Ross posted and fix it so you can use the cut out piece which will perfectly match the floor contours as the cover it will be even more hidden. 
Posted on: Today 12:12
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Howard
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Re: 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe - No Start. Need guidance/assistance.
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Home away from home
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Did you do your own flocking?
Posted on: Today 12:51
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