joe kastellic

You say that blocking all the vaccum ports made a big diffrence in the idle it went way up can you block one at a time and try to see which one affects the change in your idle speed, this might be one way to go. IF you put a rag over the carb does the car still run or does it die? what color are your spark plugs? are they all the same or are some diffrent colors? DO you have access to a vaccum gauge? what type of reading do you get at idle? is it steady or is erratic? how many inches of vaccum? Joe

Where did you see them on ebay? do you have the seller id. information? thanks Joe

Rick, do you know if anyone has has one of those gas guards for sale? I wonder if you can use one from the 51-54 cars? BTW, have you decided what type of ignition you are going to use?

Craig, what type of ignition are you going to use on ths Panther? thanks Joe

Jim. great website thanks Joe

Brain, I do remember when GM did come out with HEI, late 74 on sume cars and standard on the 1975 cars, and we did have PROBLEMS with the system the first few years, but also I did have module failures with the ford and some mopars (bad grounds) BTW, still a problem with curent mopar grounds. The only problems I have seen lately with ALL HEI igntions in general is CHEAP aftermarket parts, you get what you pay for!!! If you open up an aftermarket module you will see the elimanation of some miro-circuits which can efect timing, and start up in some situations, afected by tempature, when I work on late model cars I ALAWYS replace the electronic parts factory oringals, then you have less of a chance of a comback, also I have seen where some aftermarket tachs. won't work with aftermarket modules (GM) but that is rare. I have had the same problems with the computer(early 1981) controlled systems , but as time goes on the bugs wre worked out. take care Joe

Rick, you have an idea that already has been done, there is a guy in the Stude club that takes pictures of members cars and has made a calander he has been successful for quite a few years, I would be willing to take on the venture, if I think, there would be a market for such a calander. BTW, he only charges 9.00 for 12 months!!! Joe

What Packard calenders are availabe? and what years do they feature? are some pre-war and are there some post-war? need some feedback, or what type of auto calander do you hang up next to your "pride and joy" Joe

Rick, you can convert your autolite dist. by using a prettonix igntion, the 56 stude golden hawks use this dist. log on to: studefarm@yahoo.com they have a converison it cost 160.00 you can contact John at cell # 254-485-2890 he is the one that has the kit. I also prefer to go with the HEI, you get more bang for the buck, I am running the MSD 5 with points right now it works just fine, but as soon as some one comes up with the HEI , for the packard V8 thats the way I am going, I hope ASAP! BTW, the MSD works gtreat!! it uses 3 sparks per cylinder!! you can see this when you have access to a ignition scope. take care Joe

How do I add pictures to a post?? I just got a digtial camera this weekend and Ihad the time to take some pictures of the former Packad dealership on prospect ave. in cleveland ohio BTW, THANKS AGAIN for all your great input!!! Joe

Rick, let us know how you like the setup when you install it, and if there are any other changes you might make and would please make another schematic, with these changes in it, thanka again Joe.

Do you have the names of the 5 dealershps that were in the cleveland area at that time? There is the one that is still standing at 9306 carneige ave. and it is in GREAT shape. It belongs to the CLEVELAND CLINIC you can still perfectly see PACKARD across the front of the building its eched in the stone for all to see. the other Packard dealership is located at 5150 prospect ave and on both sides of the building the worn faded Packard logo is still plainly visible from the street. I had been in the one at prospect ave many years ago, because a freind of mine was using shorw room floor area as a photo studio. The inside of building was still very beautiful in its "Art Deco" style I would have to say that it probaly was built in the 20's . It still had the marble floor with the Packard crest of arms in the center of the floor!! this would be a great place to store your car!!! I will try to take some pictures of the outside and post them for all to enjoy!! Joe

I made a post on this forum about using a lead additive and from my personal experince, and a lot of others which I respect their opinions, you don't need to use it and no harm will result. GOOD LUCK with your "new car"

Where can I obtain a 55-56 roster? how ofen are they updated? thanks Joe

Rick, I emailed a freind, about adding an extra two coils for the delco stater, it is suposed to have only 2 coils, and he has 56 clipper that had the autolite starter, but he upgraded to the delco stater that is used in the SR.cars and does not have the slower cranking speed he experinced with the the autolite unit, this does make sense,because in the shop manual the delco unit does put out more torque, he has a 56 clipper super 352 240 hp, so Iam thinking of going this route, as I said I did have the upgrade done on the Stude starter which had only two coils to begin with, and then was replaced with four smaller coils to fit the starter, BTW Ihad this done by a freind who has a starter /alt/gen. repair bus. I did not know that the autolite unit had 4 coils to begin with, I have not had my stater off my car, but I want to upgrade my stater this winter because I don't know what shape my stater is in,and don't want any down time in the summer months. I only have had my car since june 2004, I always replace certain parts on all my old cars because then I know where I am when it comes increaseing my reliability factor,case in point I would like to change to disc. brakes because Iknow the car will stop better and I FEEL safer. take care Joe

John, I agree, 100% with your comments about todays cars you can't beat the REALIABILITY that we take for granted, and the amount of m.p.g per gallon, and the SAFETY !!, my late model truck does not LEAK oil but I willing to admit that my Stude drips oil because of the gasket technology of the time(64), how many of us are willing to admit the amount of maintence that we have to perform to have a "reliable " old car. BTW, I thought that my 56 Clipper does have a lot of Ford-LM styling trends,funny but when my mother saw the clipper she thought I bought a lincon!! and she knows nothing about cars, but my dad who is now 90, remembers about TL, my dad made the comment "if you have a fat woman in the backseat doesn't the car stay level?" he still has a great memory! take care Joe

I was a buyer for auto salvage,for some years, and many yards would love to crush an old car from the 40's to the 60's because of the value that can be attained from the "amount of iron" that= CASH, this is a sad state of affairs, but we do live in a "throw away world",I hope that MAYBE there will be enough people to presevre are past in all forms instead of destroying it, they will refurish and rebuild, and appreciate the accomplihments of the past.

Rick, I am thinking of going with the 56 Delco starter, instead of the autolite because it has more torque, and I just want the starter to spin the engine faster,also I hope that I would be able to add a extra feild coil which should accomplish this, as,I write this I am not sure if this is posible with ethier starter, but I have done this on my Stude starter and Iam very happy with the results, as far as the bendix gear drive you can check NAPA they have a catalog for vintage ignition parts and there is some starter parts, if they come up with the same part number as a cross reference and some times you will get a lower price, case in point years ago I replaced an idler arm on a 78 caddy sevile it was the the SAME one as used on the chevy nova, of course I got the part 50% cheaper!!! you could also try Hollander of that era(56) there might be and interchange , let us know how you make out. take care Joe

Randy they also have GREAT concerts all year long, I went to a Xamas concert that was really a cut above, a few years ago. take care Joe

Welcome to the forum, how about a picture of your car, not one of your packard-hewit, "Ask a man who owns one" welcome again, Joe

who made packard ? we have ignition wires I think made by Packard, did GM make Packard? The parts store of today.

I was just thinking, is there someway to "weather proof" the TL motor? could you replace the solinoids with ones that are used for "severe usage" most of our cars sit idle in the winter months and that doesn't help the "natural corrison" that takes place because most of us do not have the option of having a garage that is "moisture free" or live in a desert climate where humidty is not a factor. "a chain is only as good as its strongest link" I know that the cost factor is an issue to deal with , but I would rather have more "driveing time" than having to deal with "down time" take care Joe

since I will having my car idle during the winter months is there any good preventative maintence to do for the TL ?

Thanks Brain, for your reaearch on my production order, as I write this, I think they changed the ratio on the gear box for less turns lock to lock on the 56 cars with the manual box, would the parts book show a change , or a superceeded number? BTW, could you go into detail on how the parts book is "broken down" and the correct "path-way" to the parts "groups" to get the correct part number. I have to agree and feel bad that the 55 and back production orders were lost, but is it possible that "copys" of the production orders that maybe some dealer might have tucked away, have you seen any production orders for sale? there is a guy that also has a 56 clipper super 2dr. hardtop thats in the stude club and his cousin was a Packard dealer from 53 until 8/1/56 . maybe he can shed some light on this subject. thanks again Joe

1955 PACKARD CLIPPER 2DR. HARDTOP REGULAR SUSPENTION NO TL 320 V8 AUTO RUNS GOOD FOR PARTS ,MANY GOOD MECH. PARTS SOME BODY AND TRIM PARTS ARE IN GOOD TO FAIR COND. LOCATED IN OHIO 330-626-5748 330-687-8032 CELL EMAIL josephkast25@aol.com 950.00