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

It was rebuilt this year. I sent it back. The rebuilder is going to look at it again. I am going to crank the engine to check cam stroke.

Confirm that the pump was installed with the correct spacer block/insulator between the pump flange and the crankcase casting? This is obviously critical to the stroke of the diaphragms. I believe I have a spare I could measure for you if need be. Same insulator/spacer used on all 1933-1936 8-cylinder motors.

The block looks original, but you never know what has happened in the last 90 years. I could use the measurement. It would be one more potential problem I could eliminate. Thanks

Dean

About 0.400".

I get 3/8 inch. I left it in place. With the gaskets is slightly more than .4 inch. Thanks for checking.

It has been suggested to me that your problem may be the result of rust particles in the fuel supply. When the engine is started they begin to collect at and choke off the pump's inlet filter screen, gradually accumulating and reducing the fuel flow until the engine stalls from lack of fuel. Then, as the pump suction ceases with the engine not running, the rust particles gradually drop from the screen, allowing the cycle to repeat. Courtesy of Fred Kanter who says he has experienced exactly this scenario.

Something similar happened on my 1939 when I bought it in the mid-‘60s and tried to drive it home from Port Hadlock to Bellevue, Washington and it kept dying. It turned out to be the carburetor’s inlet screen was plugged.

Thanks for the ideas, I checked my fuel pump fuel pump bowel and screen which look clean as new ones. On the needle and seat, I see no dirt in the carb, and when I first start it, you can watch the pressure change cold from about 4.5 psi to about 4 and back to 4.6 again as the needle opens and closes. It then slowly goes to 0 as it warms up.