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Hello. I just purchased a 1951 packard 200, when I picked it up it started fine. I drove it home, parked for the night, now it wont start. At first it would fire then quit now it wont even fire. At first I thought I flooded the engine so I let it set overnight. I tried today and it won't ever fire. I took the air cover off and checked the carb, there was the smell of gas but not a lot. The car was also running a little hot (not boiling over) when I brought it home. The guy I bought it from is away on a business trip for a week so I can't ask him. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

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to the site Brian, plenty of experienced and knowledgeable Packard people here who are willing to help. Unfortunately my mechanical expertise is very limited so I can't offer a suggestion to help but I'm sure there are others who will. Could you please add your '51 to the Owner Registry, including a pic, and known history, if you haven't already done so?

Especially if the has not seen regular use recently, the first two things I'd do is check fuel filter for sediment, and then remove the fuel line at the carb and crank the engine to see if you have gas supply. If that's OK, clean up any gas which might have spilled and pull the coil wire at the cap, hold 1/4 inch from ground and again crank the engine and check for spark. Its almost certain to be one or the other. Let us know your findings.

Had a similar problem with my 1951 300. When I got it finally started, it would not shut off.( found out it had been hotwired) I found that Doc runs better after the sun hits the block and warms it up a bit.The debris is the fuel line can be especially a big problem if it has been sitting for a while.The 6V battery really needs a full charge too. If you have been cranking for a while, may be the problem.I assure you, the car is worth it! Keep on doin' and keep in touch with all of us!

Hi. Checked the filter (the wire mesh on top of the carb ?) looked okay. Disconnected fuel line and all I got was a little squirt then nothing. The car has been sitting for a long time.

There is a mesh filter screen inside the fuel pump, ifthere is any debris inside the tank, that may have gotten sucked up by the pickup, and now is clogging that mesh filter in the pump. Only way to clean it is to take that bottom part of the pump apart and clean out the screen.

The drive home may have stirred up any debris sitting in the bottom of the tank, and now that is in the lines/mesh filter.

You may want to drain the fuel tank with via the drain plug on the bottom of the tank to try to flush out any debris in the tank. Also I have always thought a inline fuel filter near the tank would help to prevent any crap from clogging that fuel pump mesh filer. It's easier to change/clean out a filter near the tank, then it is to have to keep taking the fuel pump apart.

Also check the cermaic filter (inside the glass bowl) right before the carburetor. (There should be a filter there).

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Hi. There is no filter between pump and carb just the fuel line, I took off the cap on the bottom of the fuel pump and there was some grit and rust in it. I didn't notice a screen on the pump, could you explain exactly where it is. Thanks

Should be under that cover you removed mounted to the pump body. Check out Kevs article on rebuilding pump in tech tips for more detail but here's snap showing the screen.

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You really need to have a filter somewhere in the fuel system, to prevent any crap from getting in to the carb. It is far easier to clean/replace a filter then to have to rebuild the entire carb to get out a piece of debris that may be clogging something.

Also if the find that everything is cleaned out and you still not getting good fuel flow, then the fuel pump may need to be rebuilt as the old diaphrams in the pump can break or leak. A new rebuild kit will have new diagrams and rubber parts that are compatiable with todays fuels.