55PackardGuy

I'm not familiar with the qualities of MTBE, but I thought I read somewhere on the forum that it has been outlawed, at least in some areas. BTW, contrary to popular belief, it gets REAL hot in Minnesota in the summer, with high nineties common and over 100 occasionally. Isn't that amazing? A temperature range of over 130 degrees in a 12-month period is a possibility, and over 100 degrees "normal." This makes automobile ownership interesting, to say the least.

The crud must be flushed out of just about every fuel system by now in Minnesota! 10% ethanol has been used year around for several years (it used to be just in the winter). You can still get straight unleaded at special pumps, but they cleverly use the oversized nozzle that used to be on "leaded" pumps back when you could use either. It won't fit auto filler tubes newer than about 1975. I can attest to the mileage drop, and I think 10% is pretty close. Not a huge difference in 20 mpg or lower cars, but noticeable. I don't know why a turbo would either benefit or suffer from ethanol. If you live in a cold climate and are running blended gas, forget about adding any "Heet" or other ethanol gas line antifreeze. It's just Coals to Newcastle. In warm months, expect more fuel percolation and/or "vapor lock" due to the lower boiling point. Heat shields and insulation on lines might be required. Some carbs may benefit from a phenolic gasket or spacer. I think most fuel systems in good condition get along OK with ethanol. Remember this stuff has been around since the late '70s (they used to call it "gasahol"), and most cars of that vintage or newer should have fuel systems that will not suffer from it. Natural rubber parts don't seem to like it, so older carbs should probably be upgraded to synthetics wherever they have rubber that comes in contact with fuel. Best bet is to just put it in the tank, run it, and fix anything that comes up--which might very well be nothing. Carrying along an exra filter might not be a bad idea. And if you're really concerned about the amount of "crud" in the tank, plumb a good-sized in-line filter as close to the tank as you can and still be able to change it easily. Get a clear plastic one and you can check it visually.

My first magazine subsrcription when I was about 11 years old (circa 1968) was Popular Scinece, and the first thing I would read every issue was "Gus" and the Model Garage stories. They were fascinating then and still are. Thanks for bringing back the memories.

I suggesting it as a possible place for Packard8 to sell his if he wants to. They still appear to be actively seeking engines, but I didn't try the link. Too bad they didn't leave the pic of the Packard V8 on there--that would have been fun to get a look at, dual quads and all!

Hey Packard8, if you still have that Stockton Marine Packard V8 conversion... While doing some web searches on Packard marine engines, I looked for listings of Packard V8 marine engines, and there seemed to have been a few mainstream conversions done in the '50s. This Antique and Classic Boat Society inquiry mentions Stokes Packard Marine V8 engines used in Chris Craft utilities: http://acbs.org/discuss/viewtopic.php?p=16&sid=265ad51143f9bd75da7b686bfabd0a05 The following site mentions a Packard V8 with 2 four barrels and Stokes Marine exhaust. Unfortunately, although it has a clickable link for a photo, nothing shows up, at least for me. The host must not be available: http://www.classic-boats.net/engines/index.htm They say they're looking for marine engines for sale--might be a shot for you if you haven't found a suitable boat to wrap around 'er yet.

That is a pretty dash and interior, Baron. It looks like it has leather seats and even the dash pad is leather? The Imperial was a distinctive flagship car for many years. It was truly a special model and seems more exclusive than its GM/Cadillac and Ford/Lincoln luxury counterparts. It's a marque unto itself, and would make an excellent "revival" model for Chrysler today, I think. Unfortunately it seemed to get "watered down" in the '80s and I think it lost a lot of its cache. Was '93 the last year? Have you ever seen this site? http://www.imperialclub.com/Articles/ Imperials through the years, with articles and comparisons.

Another note on winter warm-ups, they may be good for the engine but they can be rough on the exhaust system. Make sure the engine AND exhaust system get plenty warm. If there's still a cloud of condensation coming out the exhaust pipe, there will be moister inside the pipes and muffler if you shut it off, leading to corrosion from the inside while it sits. Very good advice on disconnecting the battery. Not only does it avoid draining power, it can prevent a fire (current draw can be from a short--if it just drains the battery you're lucky!).

I think the diesel-electric locomotives are a bit of a different deal. As I understand it, the diesel engines generate the electricity, but the traction motors are electric. Not really a "hybrid" in the sense of using some power from the diesel engine and some from the electric motor(s) to drive the wheels. I've often kind of wondered about what kind of efficiency they get that way. One thing for sure, they get a ton of torque at low speeds using electric drive motors. The specs on the little Prius electric motor is 295 ft. lbs. from 0-1200 rpm. A perfectly flat torque "curve" from the moment power is applied. For now, the hybrid is all about economy and emissions, but I doubt it will be long before the horsepower wars start. Obviously, Toyota thought of that in their second generation Prius, which leaves Honda's hybrids in the dust. I think hybrids will become more common, and in a few years rather than arguing whether they have merit versus conventionally powered cars, we'll be arguing about how well GM's, Ford's, Chrysler's and "import" hybrids stack up against each other. The technology so far seems to be pretty solid. Looking in AutoTrader at some used Prius models, there were a number of 100K plus mile ones. Toyota also warantees all "hybrid-related" drivetrain components for 8 years/100,000 miles. If that's an honest warantee, it would cover motors, electronics, power-generating brakes, batteries etc. A Prius or other compact-car hybrid wouldn't meet my needs, but I would consider a larger hybrid vehicle. I'd love to have a 4wd pickup that got 30 mpg! The Ford Escape is getting close to what I'd like with the 2.3 liter hybrid model. Unfortunately it only has a towing capability of 1000 lbs. The thing with that vehicle is, you can't tell it's a hybrid unless you look for the badge. It looks like any other Escape. That might be the way that U.S. manufacturers will approach hybrids--as an option on a vehicle that's also availabe with conventional power. Hybrids might continue to serve a niche market, but with so many manufacturers planning to introduce them, I think they're likely to become mainstream.

All good points about what could cause a balky starter when warm. A couple of other things you might think about: Exactly what does it do when you hit the key? Does the starter struggle to turn the engine, or does the engine refuse to start even though the starter turns adequately? If the latter case, you could have a vapor lock situation and the engine is starved for fuel. If the starter just doesn't seem to have any "oomph" it could be one of the many problems suggested, or the engine could be that much harder to turn when warm, which could mean tight bearing tolerances. As oldefar pointed out, bearings expand when hot, and that includes engine bearings--recent rebuild by chance? Or, you could have a bit too much initial timing advance, causing it to "kick back" against the rotation. Sometimes this only becomes evident when it's warmed up. That's an easy thing to test with a little experimentation. One other thing is the solenoid--how far is it from a source of heat? A hot solenoid can draw enough extra current to drain power away from the starter. This is more often a problem with a starter-mounted solenoid. You asked about experience with 8 volts. The only time I saw it work was on an old Allis Chalmers tractor we used around the farm. It really kicked the starter over good! BUT, there were no accessories or lights running off of it. That's what would make me hesitate to try it on a car. I think with a little patience, you can make your 6v work just fine.

Buy what you like, like what you drive. If you buy new and it's a "terrible experience" the first year, the car will have considerable trade-in value, so just trade it in. Or get the bugs fixed (under warranty) and sell it. If you really like the styling and driving experience, you could even buy another one like it. Odds are you won't have the same problems. Every make and model has a few cruddy "built-on-a-Friday" specimens out there. If there is really a critical design or manufacturing flaw in the model, just get something else you like. I bought at least one new car that was probably an "avoid-at-all-costs-buy-at-your-peril" vehicle (I never checked the guides) and it was the best car I ever owned. I bought it because I really liked it. It was also WAY more fuel efficient than the sticker said it would be. Another new car I bought because I liked it needed a new transmission in 20K miles. Replaced under warranty. It was the ONLY major problem I had with the car. Getting the new trans put in took about as long in the shop as a tuneup. Was this so terrible? Buying used and out-of-warrantee takes a bit more care, but many service agreements cover major repairs and the price of the plan can often be negotiated when buying from a dealer. There's a LOT of emotion involved in poring over CU and other buying guides before you get a car. Many people seem to base their emotional well-being on looking smarter than the average buyer. Unfortunately, they may still make a less than satisfactory choice, but at least they're able to justify their decision by pointing at the statistics--and their friends who also put a lot of stock in buyers guides will presumably not laugh at them. "You bought a Toyhonssan, so at least you did the right thing according to the prevailing wisdom. Feel good, sleep well." But are you actually driving a car you like? Or just one that you SHOULD like?

Someone who likes horror movies might be on the lookout for a '55 Packard in the remake of "The Hills Have Eyes" coming out. I've seen T.V. ads that give a glimpse of what appears to be a '55 sitting next to a shed in the very beginning of the ad. It's too fast to verify for sure, but maybe someone will be able to confirm this. I don't plan to see the movie just to catch a Packard in Movies moment.

Good for you, Brian and Joe. Caring for aging parents is a noble vocation. The only regrets I have about spending that time is wishing I had spent more. The last year of my Dad's life was probably the best time I ever spent with him. He didn't want much in the way of "maintenance" but he really enjoyed being together, and I learned a lot. He'd be a great resource for much hands-on V8 and T-Ultra Packard information, but unfortunately he was gone before I discovered this forum. There are often questions raised here that he probably could have answered, but all that knowledge is out of reach now. Brian, It's good to hear you're enthusiastic about continuing with your Packard restorations. That hardtop Caribbean is an especially attractive piece of Packard history.

LOL, how did you know my Dodge was red, John? Thanks to both for "naming names" in the pickup category. Now that my personal problem is as good as solved, except for my reluctance to buy "foreign"--however that translates into who owns Chrysler Corp. and where the Japanese models, and the Colorado for that matter, are built... how about weighing in on the vehicle of your choice out of all the new models? Remember, the car is "paid for" but you have to maintain it, insure it, put gas in it, and pay for all repairs out of pocket--plus residual value is not a factor. And it would be your only vehicle for, say, five years.

It would be nice if Smokey was still around. He'd probably still be making news. Among many other racing innovations, he introduced the oversized fuel line to hold extra gas. Not technically "illegal" at the time, but as soon as he was caught, the gas line size became dictated in the rules. He was also a pioneer of aerodynamics in NASCAR, back when people would say "aero-what?" The story I find most intriguing was the 15/16ths scale "stock" car he built, (I believe it was one of his Chevelles) that is supposedly a bonafied true story.

Randy, I remember reading that Smokey Yunick story, I believe in Circle Track magazine. I think he was driving a Packard V8 in qualifying when he had the valve spring problem. I don't remember the "junk" comment, but it wouldn't surpise me. He's nothing if not opinionated! Very entertaining to read, though, and I learned a lot of technical aspects of engine performance from his columns. I believe he had a regular column in Popular Mechanics years back. It was called "Say, Smokey." In his later years he had nothing good to say about the "poppet valve 4-cycle Otto engine" and regularly predicted its demise, saying that all the attempted improvements to the basic design were like "putting makeup on an 80-year-old whore" or something close to that. Maybe that Packard experience was the turning-point for Smokey.

Thanks for the tip. I've heard Walmart is a pretty good camping spot, since they have security. Oh, but of course that means you have to keep quiet!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">how many more times can operations be "reinvented" and/or streamlined before there is nothing left to work with?</div></div> Good points there, NTX. After "reinventing" the corporate structure often enough, there comes a time when you're reinventing last week's invention until there is chaos. The original mission is lost. The "change is good" mania is driving a lot of conscientious employees out of many work settings, I think. Change is sometimes bad, but if an employee points that out, the knee-jerk reaction is that they're just "disgruntled" (hate that word--only employees ever get labeled with it, management is somehow immune) and simply "don't like change." <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's always easier to "cut" things than "build" them, yet "cuts" generally appear on the profit/loss statements before the investments that "build" can get fully operational (due to lead time issues).</div></div> The temporary fixes that show up in the quarterly statements often don't work in the long run--but they make the stockholders temporarily happy and keep top management in their jobs. Eventually the piper must be paid. Look at the current stock prices of the auto manufacturers. They're bordering on penny-stock values. Can you say "short-term fixes?" There was a great cartoon back in the early '90s when Al Checchi and Gary Wilson were gutting Northwest airlines and pocketing taxpayer's money to "save" the airline. Al was looking out over the tarmac and musing: "This would be a great business if it weren't for the employees... and the customers... and the airplanes." When you have management that never looks up from their spreadsheets, everything becomes a number and the end of the fiscal quarter becomes the only issue. BTW Al and Gary are doing very well, Northwest is bankrupt. They somehow managed to sell their stock in time.

There's a whole world of GM cars out there that I knew nothing about. This interesting article on the Wuling Sunshine started to open my eyes. If you're losing grip on #1 like GM, I guess you go where the action is. http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/003270.html Interesting commentary after the article as well.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Fine with me... no car payment allows more money for the Buick.</div></div> You said it all there, John. The best brand, year and model car is the 2006 Paidfor. Getting out from under a car payment makes any vehicle that runs, drives and is reasonably comfortable just about the nicest car you can own. Also, the huge premium paid for buying new has to be the biggest hurdle for car manufacturers to overcome. As soon as you drive it off the lot, there goes several thousand dollars you'll never get back--just for that new-car smell! So, here's a question. If you were offered the use of a new car for as long as you wanted it, and had to pay only for gas, maintenance (nothing under warantee), insurance and license, what car would you choose? No trade-in or re-sale at end of use. Oh, and say this would be your ONLY car (or truck/SUV/whatever). I think I would start shopping the mid-size 4wd (or awd) pickups. I need something that would tow a 1200 pound boat and trailer, carry four passengers, and have a 6' bed. It's hard to find something like that which also gets good gas mileage for the many short trips I make, so I would be looking for the best mileage possible. I think it would be hard to find something to replace my '96 Dakota, which does all of the above except the mileage. If I lived somewhere without so much snow and ice, I'd probably opt for 2wd with traction control (wet boat ramps!). I'd be interested to see what people think would be the best compromise to meet the needs of economy, reliability, utility, comfort, and that certain undefinable appeal that makes you happy driving a vehicle--call it "style." If my Dakota got 30 mpg I'd probably never sell it. But replacements are few and far between. Other than another Dakota, there's the Chevy Colorado or some form of Toyota or Nissan.

OK here's a car story. I will call it the "Tale of the Two Mariahs" As mentioned, my grandmother came over from Norway around the turn of the century, and moved from Duluth to the Minnesota northwoods to homestead her own 160 acres of said woods. Apparently, Charles Lindbergh, Sr. (the famous aviator's father) "stumped" around northern Minnesota when he was a U.S. Congressman between about 1910 and 1917. My father would have been at most just a toddler so he had no recollections of the visits, but had heard from his mother over the years that she had met Lindbergh Sr., and I believe Jr. as well when he was along. My father was a big reader, and in later years read many biographies and memoirs of the Lindberghs. In one of them, he found out that the car Lindbergh Sr. drove on his tours of his district was nicknamed "Mariah." I believe it was a Ford, but most important is that it was a balky, stubborn car. Well, my grandmother had a reputation for being, one might say, "strong-willed" to put it mildly. Her name was Mariah, and my father began to wonder if Lindbergh's car might have been named after her. He had a chance to possibly solve the mystery when he attended Lindbergh Jr.'s visit to his boyhood home in Little Falls in the '70s. My father did not take the opportunity to talk with Lindbergh. He said he thought the "old man" looked a bit too tired to greet more guests. So, we'll never know, but it's fun to speculate whether that stubborn car was named after a stubborn pioneer woman. By the way, Grandma Mariah's middle name was "Antoinette." I'm not kidding!

Adam, I'm ignorant of show rules, but it seems that if you wanted to have the best of both worlds, it might be a good idea to get an extra set of wheels with the "correct" tires mounted to use for shows. Just a thought.

oldefar, Thanks for the link, and for your kind invitation. I've never been to Norway. Knowing that there are some dedicated gearheads out that way is a good motorvator. Copying and pasting your link worked just fine. I have had trouble with the double-url thing, too. The easiest way to make a link here is to just type (or copy and paste) the address on a separate line in your post. As long as it's a recognizable web address (http:// etc.) this website will automatically make it a "clickable" link. When you "preview" your post, you'll see it in color if it's good to go. You could experiment by editing your last post. Hope this helps!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">an overexposed event</div></div> Seems to me what you're talking about here is a cleverly marketed and promoted series of events, also known as a "show." It's entertainment! The more over-the-top the "action" gets the better it can compete with the likes of "American Idol" and other idle media diversions. I can mention the B-J auctions to people with no interest in collecting or restoring cars, and they often have seen the "show" or heard of it. Is it frustrating for enthusiasts who have some knowledge of the real-world value of collectible cars, and an interest in preserving the viability of the hobby and originality of the cars? You bet! But things are probably going just the way B-J wants them to go. They have developed a very valuable franchise. Maybe the novelty will wear off and it'll burn itself out. We can only hope.

I couldn't find the link to click on for Profile, but I believe I found "your" car in one pic on the "Perpetual Desoto Show" I'll just post an attachment, so you don't have to look at it every time you come to this thread. Your grandparents might have come to Duluth about the same time my grandmother did. She eventually homesteaded by herself in northern Minnesota and married my grandfather, a logger and miner. Her maiden name was Grindereng, which was also the name of her family's farm in Norway. Not exactly a car story, but a story nonetheless. Actually, I can work in a car angle with grandma and Charles Lindbergh Sr.'s car at some point. A tale of the two Mariah's.

Hey oldefar, did that DeSoto look something like this? Now I know what you're excited about! For about a dozen more '57 DeSoto pics, go to: http://www.carnut.com/photo/list/flist.html