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

If you are getting any stations, means the antenna is OK. On the coil issue, means the points were closed and you probably had the ign switch to the right. The coil has it's own separate terminal (COIL) on ign switch if using the standard Packard switch. I believe if turned to left or acc position that coil terminal is not connected and only GA is active. If you have a different switch, on a three terminal switch usually there is one terminal on in both directions and one that is only active in the run position. A 4 terminal switch has the same and the 4th active only in the start position.

I have a three termina switch just replaced it ,I should have turned it to accy for the music THANKS!!

SUPRESSION!
now that the radio is back in I was looking into making it work better ,
the accesory section says that there should be a supressor in the coil cable from the center of the coil , on each of the plugs ,as well as something (a condencer )I have to attach from the ignition switch to the inside of the dash ,
it also says the hood has to be grounded ,
and there is an adjustment on the side of the radio to "tune " the antenna

What kind of improvements or making it work better are you looking for. The condensers and most of the remedies listed are for radios where there is lots of whine from the generator or you hear a lot of ticking and static noise from plugs and contacts arcing. Those can be identified by a change or speeding up of noise with engine speed. Packard items may not be readily found but modern items are available from most audio places.

Poor reception might be improved by the antenna trim adjustment but if you just have poor reception in general due to location, then nothing much will help. The instructions and trimmer location are in accessories section of service manual.

Having just put a rebuilt 51 radio in my formerly non-radio car, I didn't have any static from the spark plug wires like I remember when I had a similar car back in high school. Course I have modern resistor type wires on the car, so that is probably what's eliminating the static. the shop manual tells you to cut the coil wire and install a resistor in it - I've done that in the past (way in the past) but didn't find it necessary this time.

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David, I clicked on the link you provided and got a "Does Not Exist" notice. I'm interested in the link as the radio in my '55 doesn't work.

Jim, If David doesn't have a better link, PI NW regionpackardsintnw.com/page4/page4.html will convert yours or the ready made version can also be found at Radiodazeradiodaze.com/category/19.aspx and a couple of other places.

Thank you Howard, I've now got them bookmarked.

tThe radiosforoldcars website works, but only if you copy it on to the web search engine. Don't know why. Anyway, the second website Jim mentioned is a better one, in that they sell directly to the public, whereas radiosforoldcars only sells to dealers.

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Just an FYI

The posted link has a period after com leave the period off and it works