Dr Morbius

Just saw an interesting movie called "The Penalty" with Lon Chaney, produced in 1920. This is the one that made him a star - he played a [ even compared to today a very evil ] gangster that had his legs amputated as a child 25 years earlier so for his scenes he strapped his feet behind his legs. Must have been very painful. Anyway the Doctor in the movie drove a 1918 or '19 Twin-six limo in alot of scenes [ beautiful body ...... the car! The Car !!!! ] <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> and even Lon drove it around!! ..................Steve

I unfortunately can't use resistor plugs because I have a resistor built into my rotor. So with a resistor plug on top of that it would probably decrease the power of my spark at the electrode of the plug. Oh well, it was a nice try. ................Steve

A Beaut - that's for sure!!!!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> What is that color combo ??? ..............Steve

At first I though, that's pretty rich - a stained glass window for an interior door panel, then I saw you haven't hung it yet!!!!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ...............Steve

Like I said , does anybody know what the correct Packard oil pressure at hot idle is ? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I'm using 15w-50 synthetic. ................... Steve

Get a shotgun ...... you don't even need a good aim <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ..................... Steve <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Frank , I drove a '41 President and I must say it's a real drivers car. I mean it's powerful, handles great [ it had wide whitewall radial tires ] Not great but very good brakes for today's driving conditions and that great Raymond Loewy streamlined look. All in all , a super car. Just hope it has overdrive! ...................Steve

Hey Carfreak, you said your Fleetwood 75 Limo is 252" long on a 151" wheelbase. And it's still too small for 2 kids. All I can say is - you need to buy a house or rent an apartment. It's not good having your family live in a car!!!!! LOL !!!!!!! ...........Steve

I have a rebuilt 359 straight 8 but this goes for V-8's too. On my origonal rebuild I used egge pistons and they almost ruined my block. I had to go another .010" to a total of .040" The machine shop charged $1800 in overruns because of what they said were crap pistons. I got a new set from Arias - I believe it was $800-$900 but that was 5 years ago. I can tell you with all honesty you will never hear a sweeter sounding straight 8 than mine. ..................Steve

Tinindian, I just wondered what ac 44 and ac 45 would change up to in NGK. Do you have the spec's? Thanks! ................Steve

Absolutely beautiful workmanship, guys!!! ...............Steve

Just an update, a question, and a thank you. The thank you is to Randy for suggesting washers instead of stretching the spring. I should have thought of it, but I didn't and that's what makes this forum great! Adding springs is simple and elegant. The update is I put first 3, then 2 more small washers for a total of 5 and my pressure went from 20 lbs cold to 38 lbs cold which is good and after 25 miles of driving {hot oil} at idle went from 7-8 lbs to 11-12 lbs. Not as big a bump as I would have liked at idle but still better as it has increased. Now my question and this includes V-8 owners too! What is the correct pressure at hot idle for Packard cars? The good book says 40 lbs for driving conditions but that's pretty vague to me. How 'bout it guys? .................Steve

I have 2 1954 senior Packards, one of which has a rebuilt engine. I recently added 2 oil pressure gauges on each and found on my rebuilt Packard an oil pressure of 32-34 lbs. cold and 23lbs warmed up. On the other non-rebuilt engine I get 19-20 lbs. cold and 8 to 9 lbs. warmed up. I noticed there's a spring attached to the top of the oil pump and wondered if , for now I can stretch the spring out a bit and would increase the pump's pressure. Would that work? .....Steve <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I've found that British authors writing an English book on American cars almost always get their facts horrendously wrong and I'm not sure why, unless they are incredibly lazy. Any Brit authors want to chime in on this? ....................Steve

I just saw a movie called "The Death Kiss" from 1932 with Bela Lugosi and in it is a 1930 standard sedan and a 1929 or '30 Custom roadster which happens to figure prominently in the movie. In fact { and I won't give it away if anyone wants to see it } a part of the Custom Roadster is used as a murder weapon and I'm sure no other movie ever used this part as a murder weapon !!!! ...........................Steve

I forgot to add good luck with your Stude. My Dad's very first car was a '37 Stude Dictator and he said it was the best car he ever owned. The only thing wrong was the gas gauge didn't work but he knew how far to go before filling it. So one morning on the way to Atlas welding and repair in the Bronx, with my grandfather who also worked at Atlas , the car ran out of gas. Well, my grandfather gave him such hell for it that he never forgot it - turned out someone siphoned the gas , wasn't even his fault. I still feel bad for him cause I knew my grandfather - a real scary guy. Is it possible to post a few pictures [if possible] of your '37 that I could show him ? I'd be in your debt. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> ...............Steve

You should try Electronic Ignition - never wear out and no need to change every year. I got both my 6 volt Packards using them and they never ran sweeter. As a bonus I got more miles per gallon too ! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> .....................Steve

Just saw "They Got Me Covered" from 1943 with Bob Hope. A WW2 era movie with Nazi spies in Washington DC. Bob drives a Dodge and the Nazi's drive a black [ of course ] 1937 or 38 Super 8 sedan. Makes you wonder how they lost the war while using Packards ! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ........................Steve

Another thing - when did you last adjust the float on your carb ? I have 2 Packards, both 54's and when set up right they are bulletproof. The genesis of your engine goes way back to 1923 and was probably the best motor made in America for many years, except possibly Duesenberg and Marmon and maybe Pierce- Arrow. And don't forget Peerless too, although many people have. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ....................Steve

Hey , great pictures John [love those Darrins] but I was wondering if what I was told was true that the '53 & '54 Caribbeans were the last American cars to be considered custom cars - in other words the "Main" auto factory sending out standard bodies to be modified by another company. I know the '55 & '56 Caribbeans were in house only so are not considered true customs. But has any other company { Cadillac for example } since 1954 has done what Packard did in '54 ??? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> ............................................Steve

Naw , he's friends with Ray Harryhausen! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ................Steve

LOL - <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> A tough crusty old broad .....and I believe Kim Jong Il still has the hots for her ! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> ...........................Steve

Great article, I agree - but don't forget Liberals won world war 2 and if you put them in charge they will win this war on terror also, with no diversions to other countries! ............................Steve

Hah, I thought that only happened in Abbot & Costello movies - except for the Delahaye part of course!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ............................Steve

Don't argue with him, just push him in the nearest porta-potty and have a coupla guys knock it over. Serves 'em right! And as for it happening to you twice, well in the words of our illustrious leader " Fool me once , shame on me, fool me again and I'll fool me ...........er .....somehow? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ...........Steve