Packard Forum Index » General

I have been on before about this car, I still cannot get it started. Does anyone out there have a picture of distributor cap, I need to see the firing order.
on the cap. It is a 8 cyl, L-Head. I am having trouble timing this car.
Thanks Roger

I don't think we have any AEA tune-up charts for that year here (yet), but have you looked at the 1951-54 Packard Service Manaual?

It's been scanned as a set of PDF files - free for you to download:

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/article/view.article.php?4

Yet, you may not need to download the whole thing at once. The info you need may be in the Electrical, Engine, and Specifications sections.

Firing order is 1-6-2-5-8-3-7-4, same as almost all Packard and other maker's straight eights except the 1st and 2nd series Packards. The AEA tuneup chart is on PAC's website if you don't locate it elsewhere. Distributor caps are readily available new from almost any decent auto parts store, though you may have to wait for the next delivery. You'll need to tell them whether it's Delco or Autolite.

Catalog information does not give a picture of the distributor cap showing the numbers. Is there any other place I could look for a picture?
Thanks again,
Roger

Looked through what I have and just no decent pictures of cap. This is best I can do.

Attach file:

---

  (44.63 KB)


  (34.09 KB)

Wire placement on the cap was also illustrated in tune-up charts used in the aftermarket (gas stations, independent shops, etc.). We started a collection for AEA tune-up charts with a 1950 chart, and I donated same for 1955-56 Clipper and Packard models, but there hasn't been much help in filling in the missing years since. A friend across town is checking to see if he has any additional charts for Packards, but makes no guarantees.

Similar service info can be found in the collection of National Automotive Service Data files here:

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/article/view.article.php?59

Have you verified that the distributor is properly timed to the engine? If so, bring #1 cylinder up to TDC, and then look where the rotor points to. That'll tell you were to start with the firing order on the cap.

Current cap numbers: Echlin AL66 for Autolite, RR-100 for Delco. From Standard Ignition, AL97 for Autolite, and DR 196 for Delco.

Thank you for the pictures and information.
I hope it will work, I will keep you posted.
Thanks again for taking the time to send me this information.
Roger