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

Glad to hear you were successful. Where did you get the crappy head gasket?

Before condeming the head gasket let me ask, did you retorque the head within perhaps the first half-hour of running, and again after 100 miles or so? That is pretty much standard practice with flathead engines and essential to get a long-lived gasket seal.

Got the head gasket from Max Merrit. It is a substantial looking piece being metal clad with copper fire rings. Now having said that it must be said that this engine had less than two hours running time on it and had not been retorqued. But on pulling the head the gasket was physically broken. This often happens when removing a head but the gasket was not stuck at all to either the block or the head. In other words who knows. But I have run the car a few hours and retorqued with the new gasket. It needed the retorque and all is good.

Glad to hear all is well thus far. Don't forget to check the torque one more time after perhaps 200 miles or so.

Regarding the original query in this thread about intake valves sticking, note that Packard recommended a slight counterbore at the top of the guide for such problems, this is covered in one of the shop manuals, perhaps 1938 IIRC.

I don't recall where the first head gasket came from, it was part of an engine overhaul gasket set. But there are several different types available it would seem. I know on other vehicles and engine types there may be several different styles available. My experience tells me to use the best as penny pinching on gaskets is usually going to come back and bite you.