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

Great automobile, good luck with it do you have pictures? Is it an original vehicle. I have one also and am looking for some pictures of original details. Will talk later. Welcome to the site
Fred D

You've indicated that cylinder #2 has "low" compression at 88 psi compared to 92 and 93 for other cylinders. I don't consider that difference statistically significant much less low enough to cause immediate concern, especially for a car that's been in hibernation. Sure, adjust the valves and a valve grind may be in your future at some point. I don't have the spec. handy but it was probably about 115-120 psi at sea level for a fresh engine. Drive it a bit and retest again after a few hundred miles.

OK. I will drive it. Seems strange that only number two is carboning. Must be borderline valve seal. I'll give an update later this spring. Thank you for your help. Any comment on oil filter cicuit?

If you use the search function you should find MANY threads on the various oil filter routings for the in-line engines. IMO no reason to change it from the stock configuration, but change the filter cartridge with regularity.

I'd have to look at the article again but wasn't the flow conversion and drilling a hole primarily for the Super 8 or 356 engine with hydraulic lifters? Those lifters not getting enough oil to stay pumped up were where the problems were.

The solid lifter engines need less oil flow -- enough for the bores to stay lubricated. Packard was still utilizing the inline filter plumbing postwar on several of those engines. If your engine has solid lifters, I wouldn't think you would experience any problems that required the conversion.

Thank you Howard.

The solid lifter engines need less oil flow

In fact the "120" style engines only got pressure feed to the lifters for 1938; 1935 thru 1937 they were quite satisfactorily just mist and splash lubricated.

Compressions not to bad on #2 maybe the plug is not firing. Greg

I have spark at idle and swapped wires and plugs to see if I have interment issue at higher speed. No change. Verify distributor next. Must be valve or oil ring issue.