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

Hello everybody,

I have a sixth series senior car (Seven Passenger Sedan, 145 inch wheelbase). I am trying to do an authentic restoration. Fortunately I have a very complete car to start with. Unfortunately, my grandfather who bought the car in 1930 was a blacksmith by training, so he didn't hesitate to "make" parts that he thought were better suited to the job than those designed by the Packard brothers.

Well, at some point Grandpa turned his attention to the muffler brackets (both front and rear) that attach to the frame cross members. My rear bracket is long gone, and the front mount was clearly manufactured by Grandpa. I suspect this because the three factory cut holes in the front cross member that were used for the bracket are empty, and grandpa cut a hole about two inches above the three aforementioned holes where he installed his "new and improved" version of the bracket.

Would anyone who has what appears to be original muffler hardware be willing to post photos of the front and rear muffler brackets? I have no idea what they look like and the parts manual does not have pictures of them. Much thanks in advance.

John Wogec

John,
I have attached some photos of the front and back muffler supports on a 1930 740 which I would expect would be the same or similar to your 645.

The muffler has studs welded to each end, the front 2 studs bolt directly into the cross member, the rear 2 studs bolt to a simple angle bracket that bolts to the cross member.

I also have a 633 which has a very similar muffler supports.

David

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Hi David,

Thanks very much for replying. Your photos, along with a review of page 80 of the parts list show the same configuration as your photos reflect, part #163235 - muffler with two studs exiting in the front, and part #163226 - rear muffler bracket. Perhaps grandpa replaced the muffler at some point with an aftermarket part that didn't have the studs, so he added the bracket. He did all sorts of things like that on this car. One question: what goes in that third hole on my frame...any ideas?

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John,

Just had a look under both the 740 and 633 and neither have anything in that third hole. I would also be interested to know if something should be there.

David

Hi David,

I am actually more comfortable knowing that your cars have all three holes. As for that third spot, my experience is that every hole in that frame has a reason for being there...seeing as I have stripped my car down to the bare frame, so I know what goes in each of those holes...except that one. I assumed the now non-existing "bracket" had three holes. Maybe some other 1929 era Packard expert can enlighten us both. Thanks for all your help. You have peeled back one more layer of the onion for me!

John Wogec