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Posted: 12/15/2017 1:59:07 PM EDT
...and its currently not running.
I lived on my grandparents farm in Oregon as a kid. One of the barns had an old '54 Packard Clipper Deluxe in it. I remember my grandpa getting it fired up and driving us around in it every now and then. I recently inherited that car. It has been run in probably 15 years. My grandpa and I tried to get it running abut 7 or 8 years ago. We couldn't get it to crank, so we did what we could to preserve it and pushed it back into its spot. Ever since I've dreamed about flying out there, getting it running, and driving it back. This week, myself and a buddy are going to try to make that happen. I'm at the United Lounge in San Fran drinking waiting for our flight to Portland. We will be trying to get the old bird running and drive it across the US to my mom's place in Texas before Christmas. I've been shipping parts the last few weeks: inline 6v fuel pump, carb rebuild kit, starter solenoid, starter rebuild kit, brake rebuild kits, headlights, water pump, etc. We're flying out with 6 bags between the two of us full of tools (and a couple guns). My friend is a mechanic by background, and I've got a good assortment of tools as well. The plan is to get the car running over the next couple days, make sure it is roadworthy, then plot a route south and then east. We don't want mountains or snow for this trip. Our load out consists of a suit case of clothes each, 3 bags and boxes of tools, and a Plano case with 14.5" AR pinned to 16" with TA31RCO and RMR06 piggy backed, and a SA MC Operator with SACS threaded barrel and Osprey 45. We'll get to the car in Oregon this afternoon and assess the condition of the vehicle. If we can get it running in the next few days, we will start the drive. I'll keep this thread updated as best I can. Attached File Attached File UPDATE 1 We made it here and picked up our stuff. No ugly surprises on the car, except that we found out it has power brakes which was unexpected. They seem to be pumped up and we can’t get them to release so we can push it into the shop. UPDATE 2 It was the back brakes that were stuck I think. We drug it out of the barn with a Mule and got it rolling. Managed to push it into the shop. We cleaned up the engine bay, pulled the spark plugs, and dumped a couple squirts of oil in the cylinders. Also put some extra oil in it, overfull trying to get oil in as much stuff as possible. The plan for tomorrow is to drain the oil, drop the pan, and start trouble shooting the starting system. Attached File UPDATE 3 We put the new starter solenoid in and got the starter to spin, but it wasn’t engaging the flywheel. We pulled the starter apart and greased the Bendix. We put it back together and got it to work. This is the first time the car has been turned over in years! Carb is removed. Next we replaced the coil and condenser. An arfcommer helped with some troubleshooting on that. Points will be tonight after an early dinner. If that goes well, we can shoot some starting fluid down the manifold and see if we can get it to cough to life. The starter was a huge concern and what I thought was possibly going to keep us from rolling. Glad to have that squared away. Attached File UPDATE 4 We got it to spark to life! Got the ignition system figured out, new points installed and gapped, and condenser installed. The carb is off, so we shot some starting fluid down the manifold. It coughed and sputtered and ran as well as it could on sprays of starting fluid. Then it caught on fire at the manifold and we had a few seconds of excitement as we smothered out the flames with a Carhart and some blue Powerade. I think we got some Powerade down the manifold so we might need to pull the plugs before we crank it any more tomorrow. We tried taking the carb apart and we're kinda stuck on that. We are having trouble with the metering rods and linkage T shaped piece. If anybody in the Molalla/Portland area knows how to rebuild a WGD 2brl carb, I have burgers and beer if you want to come show us how to do it. Tomorrow we plan to tackle the fuel system end-to-end. Clean out the gas tank, run new gas lines, wire up the 6v pump and maybe a regulator, and fix the carb one way or another. Our goal is to have the engine purring by this time tomorrow night. Attached File Updates now in the thread. |
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One of the best cars made in the USA was the Packard. Parts are not impossible to find but you will have to search them out. I have a BIL who restores Packards.
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Totally clean the coolant system and take the radiator to a shop.
Have it tested and cleaned. Oregon-Northern Cali-Nevada-Arizona- New Mex - to the motherland/Texas!!! Good luck |
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Cool. Good luck and just enjoy whatever the adventure turns out to be.
Thought this might be of assistance, if you don't already have it bookmarked... Packard Parts Cross Reference Database |
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Sounds like a fun trip!!
Subscribed for updates. If you are around the KC area and have any issues hit me up by PM. |
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I would imagine you'll get hassled somewhere along the way for registration/inspection/insurance.
Sounds like an awesome trip though. |
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Good luck. Being broken down in an old car with hard to conceal guns seems like a bad plan.
Either way, it's an adventure. Watch your corn hole, bud. |
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Quoted:
I would imagine you'll get hassled somewhere along the way for registration/inspection/insurance. Sounds like an awesome trip though. View Quote The title will be signed over to me, and I think I have a few days to get it registered in my home state when I take possession of it. |
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Awesome. I hope you get it going and fixed up. Looks like a beauty! Be careful out there.
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I think you are nuts. Also I don't think there is a route that avoids high country altogether. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.
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Careful on old tires.
How you gonna get tags? ETA: You're gonna wanna buy a couple bottles of tetra-ethyl lead or other valve lubrication substitute to add to your unleaded pump gas along the way. Odds of finding actual leaded are close to zero on the road. |
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Tag...Probably going to have to drop and clean the fuel tank as well
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First stop is to get some new tires and brake shoes/ drums. Rather see you not get it going if you can't stop. In the winter no less.
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You got me beat, I did a complete cross country from coast to coast in a '79 Bronco last April. It was fun, though!
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Quoted:
Careful on old tires. How you gonna get tags? ETA: You're gonna wanna buy a couple bottles of tetra-ethyl lead or other valve lubrication substitute to add to your unleaded pump gas along the way. Odds of finding actual leaded are close to zero on the road. View Quote |
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+1 on the idea that taking long guns, and the suppressor on this trip may not be a good move.
If you break down and get the 3rd degree from Barney Fife, or you have to spend a night in a motel along the way... I think you'd do better with a just a simple pair of handguns, but to each their own... |
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That sounds like a great time best of luck with the car and your trip.
Look forward to updates and pics. |
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Packards are the kind. I lived in one in Southern Oregon in the early 70s.1950 split window convertible. That thing was a big old boat and very comfortable.
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View Quote Not at the moment, but PM me your phone number if you don't mind in case we get stuck and need a quick reference. We've got a lot of good tech info from the Packard forums. I've got a thread running on packardinfo.com under the same username. |
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What part of OR? We have a place near Portland, may be able to help you with a warm shop and tools if needed.
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I've done that a drive a few times. There are lots of desolate areas were you can go hours between towns.
Are you wanting to do the quickest possible route or are you will to go out of the way for a better view? |
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Quoted:
I've done that a drive a few times. There are lots of desolate areas were you can go hours between towns. Are you wanting to do the quickest possible route or are you will to go out of the way for a better view? View Quote I bought the 100 mile tow package for AAA, so we have some QRF if it goes tits up on the drive. |
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