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My 1948 Custom eight is getting a new wiring harness. When I got the the junction block for the headlights and such I realized that I was going to need to order and new one. That arrived in a couple of days. So I continued the install of the harness. Yesterday I started to take the block off the drivers side fender and one nut came off nicely and the other one is turning but It is the bolt that is rotating I tried to feel the back side to see where it goes and I haven't got a clue how I going to get this off and then to install another one. Any ideas guys?

You can use a nut splitter to break off the nut. Then with the block removed you can see what is going on.

Or grind or cut it off with a Dremel.

Is your problem because you cannot find the nut on the other side of the engine compartment from the junction block; or, you don't know how to grasp the nut so you can loosen the screw? The two previous posts address how to deal with the nut once you find it. These little but highly frustrating problems are what we deal with all the time on seemingly simple jobs. It just ain't fair.

(o{I}o)

The worst one I had was on the bolt that secures the fuel line back near the gas tank. This is were the fuel line is bolted to the bracket that also supports the brake line. I was using two gear wrenches (one of the nut and the other on the bolt head), and after about 30 seconds of turning I looked back under there and realized that the nut was simply spinning on the bolt shaft as the threads were rusted off. So I just ended up cutting off the bolt with a cut-off wheel mounted on a die-grinder. Life's to short to deal with rusted fasteners.

Thanks guys. Before I got back to this I just cut the bolt off and kept the project moving forward. Though my friends think of me as ok with old cars. I still have things I just don't like to do... SO I ask questions before I really get myself into trouble. IE I was going to take the fender. YIKES what was I thinking. Anyway thanks for all your help in advice you have given my over the years.

Memory says you can remove the headlight bucket and reach it from that access.

Packard generally used very high quality hardware and I'm loath to throw it away unless it is junk. Also, the finish on most modern hardware just isn't as good as original Packard.

When I'm dealing with a rusty relic for the first time I spray every thing with penetrating oil and let it sit for a week before starting in.

Packard cars usually come apart much easier than other brands because of the good quality fasteners.

I've noticed that as well. I've been amazed at the quality of fasteners on my 48 8. I've played with cars built in the 90's and had less luck reusing fasteners. When working on a packard you can feel the quality even after 6o years of rust.

You might wish to try a RotoZip - it's like a Dremel on steroids... I wouldn't want to be without mine...