Packard Forum Index » General

I have a '56 Clipper with a dead battery. It seems to have reverse polarity on the battery. How can I jump start it using my Dodge Dakota pickup?

Not sure what you mean by "reverse polarity on the battery". 56 would normally have a negative ground, 55s had positive. Even if reversed so the 56 has positive ground, no big deal on a stock car. Jumping would be like all. Make sure cars are not touching and then connect jumper cables so positive on one battery goes to positive on the other and negative to negative.

If you mean something else by the statement, please elaborate.

My '56 Clipper has positive ground.

Attach file:

---

  (142.68 KB)

Quote:

Apparently someone didn't get the memo. Understandable. Up thru 1955 Packard had used positive ground. In 56 went with the flow in the rest of the industry and changed to negative. An easy mistake to make if someone was used to old ways or looked at a manual that didn't mention the switch. Funny thing though, it's usually the earlier cars that accidentally get converted to negative ground instead of the other way around.

Again, it's no big deal unless there have been modern solid state replacement items such as a radio vibrator or torsion level switch bought or installed for the way it is presently connected. If car is still stock, you can leave it as is or switch. Check the coil terminals. If the switch was accidental it will probably still be connected per factory. Negative terminal would go to distributor and positive to ballast resistor. Typically for best efficiency the coil terminals should match the car's wiring with the proper terminal connecting to ground via the distributor. Even that is not a given though. Not a big deal if reversed unless the engine is really in bad shape and you need every bit of spark possible.

Switching back might involve having to repolarize the generator but instructions are in the service manual electrical under "installation of regulator". Basically just a matter of momentarily shorting the Bat and Gen (or Arm) terminals on the regulator together before starting the car.

G'day jroy03053,
to PackardInfo.

And I invite you to include your '56 Clipper in the Packard Owner's Registry here on PackardInfo!