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

re: 53 conv. has 327 eng. with a 4 barrel carter, no starter switch on the carburator,doesn't have a starter button on the dash panel either, but the wire that connect to the starter selenoid comes from the main harsess through the firewall. There was never a starter switch on the carb. the wires from the main harness go to the starter and its selenoid. the ignition is original, no starting switch was added anywhere on the dash or below it. To start the engine I jump the current directly to the starter selenoid. There has to be something on the dash panel, that send the current to the starter selenoid's

Are the 2 wires for the starter switch at the carb? Maybe switch is just missing.

In that time it was somewhat common in some areas to find a pushbutton added & hidden under the dash edge. That was usually in parallel with the carb switch so either could be used. If no wires at carb, are they taped together somewhere in the harness near heater motor. If so, would look for a switch under the dash edge or----

If still nothing found, has the ign switch been changed to a 54 style or universal type with the starter switch included. That type would most likely have 4 wire posts on the switch instead of the 3 on the switch Packard would have used.

Are you saying you cannot start the car? If you can start it, how do you do it?

check the original message, answer are there, sorry

No need to apologize. I'm just trying to understand the problem. Can you trace the wire inside the car? As HH says, maybe the switch has been changed to allow it to start the car.

Carb could have been switched at some point and the carb switch lost.

But easy enough to wire a momentary pushbutton between the ON terminal on the ignition switch and the trigger terminal on the solenoid. This will work until the correct carb switch and be located and installed.

I don't think there is a carb switch with the four-barrel. Aren't 54 Packards key start??
When I put a four-bsrrel on my Mayfair, I connected up the carb switch wires to the back-up light switch. I had converted to std tranny and removed the back-up lights.

Yes '54 was the first year for "Key Start".