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

Oh, sorry, you did not buy it yet... Yes, unfortunately, a repaint
Still looks good, though.

I agree, I actually like the repaint because it makes the Mayfair even more unique. I am going down next weekend, check the car out, test drive and then have it trucked back because the OD is inoperable. I'm getting the car!

Well, you've already registered and added a photo to your profile, so no going back
But seriously, do not commit to anything, make sure to inspect it thoroughly. And I like you line of thinking... When I see a repaint, but otherwise original (like my own car), that makes me sad because it could've been even better

Seriously, as rare as Packards are, they are also pretty much falling from the trees these days as the older folks are dumping their unfinished projects from being out of time/energy/money, driver or show cars from being too old to drive, or heirs liquidating the cars buried under some hoard in the garage or parked out in the field.

Don't be afraid to walk away if it's not the right price or condition as there are always plenty more that will come up, if you have just a couple months of patience and can drive 100 miles.

Just general info

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Thanks RKS!!

Update - the OD is functioning, I think because the engagement is so subtle the previous owner didn't realize the drop in rpms.....I'm still going to have it looked at to ensure it is in good shape. I followed the owner's manual instructions and even to my deafness (too many F-16's in my life!!) I can hear the rpm drop. Oh, before I forget, I had a small fire in the interior, something to do with the added gauges and the AC, I was driving to work Monday morning, suddenly there was a couple of sparks by the added gauges, stopped, then suddenly a flame burst and I pulled over, the interior was immediately filled with black smoke, jumped out and reached back in and shut the AC power off and it immediately extinguished. I admit to foolishly enjoying the car and not putting safety first. There is now an extinguisher with me in the front seat. I will also be installing an tach.

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That's good news about your overdrive! Not good news about wiring starting on fire! Better go through the gauges and accessories that were added and do a little upgrading!

Are you speaking AC as in air conditioning or AC as in a power converter unit to provide a 110AC voltage source?

In either, make sure the unit is not pulling all it's power directly thru the ignition switch or from a convenient powered terminal on something else fed by the switch. Most of the ign switches and the wire sizes connected to the switches cannot handle the sustained heavy current needed when an AC blower is running at higher speeds or the fairly heavy amperage a power converter needs on the DC input side.

While Packard may have supplied ignition switched voltage to a high power required unit to ensure it could only be active when the key was on, that voltage was only used by an on/off switch to turn on a low current draw power relay. On items without a separate on/off switch the relay was turned on by the ignition switch. When the relay was turned on it supplied the unit with any needed high current power thru an inline fuse fed directly from a battery tie point -- usually the BAT terminal on the starter solenoid. That direct feed was the actual power supply to the working part of the units.

It was an aftermarket add-on. I haven't even assessed how they did the wiring. It was installed by the owner before the one I got the car from. I'm going to use the opportunity to replace it with a tach.