Alternator

[Bill Kennedy]

When fitting an alternator to a 1955 Packard 400, can you use the same voltage regulator fitted to the car for a generator?

[WCraigH]

Have you changed to NEG ground? I believe all modern alternators are NEG ground.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Important point, Craig, I know of Positive Ground '6.volt' alternators being made, but Not '12.volt'.

URL:

http://www.alternatorparts.com/6_volt_alternators_&_kits.htm

[Bill Kennedy]

Yes, I have changed to negative ground. That was very easy and had no effect on the radio which I worried about. I wanted to go to negative ground so that I could at some point hide some modern electronics in the car--most specifically an XM radio receiver (which will require more than the normal installation as I cannot send the signal from the XM receiver through the Wonderbar Radio as there is no FM tuner in it).

I also have been working on installing A/C. There is a fellow down in Texas who is working on putting AC in a 1956 Power Hawk and he is having compressor mounting brackets designed. He has been at this for a while and is making the bracket so it fits the Senior Packards as well. He has made plywood mockups and is about 2 weeks away from having a production unit (which he will offer for sale). He is located only a block away from Vintage Air and I believe they have helped him on this. The arrangement he has designed has the compressor where the current generator goes and an alternator over the compressor. I believe this eliminates the need for an idler pulley.

He also has designed a cast aluminum crank pulley which I bought--it was beautiful. In my work I deal with aluminum sand castings and this was done very professionally.

If anyone is interested in talking to him, here is his contact information:

Jack Nordstrom, 4975 IH-35 South, New Braunfels TX 78132, phone 800-775-7077.

He is planning to make 10 of the brackets--but I assume if there is enough interest he will make more.

While I would have preferred to keep the original generator in the car that desire is outweighed by the desire for air conditioning! More specifically, it has been made very clear to me that the car has to have air conditioning as a condition of staying married to my wife of 37 years!!!! I am trying to keep the car as original as possible but am interested in improving the safety, reliability and comfort of the vehicle. I am much more interested in using the car than showing it to win awards--although I do plan to extensively detailing it (including the undercarriage). I also plan to give it a new (almost) show quality paint job--but not until I've put about 10,000 miles on it. The current paint is good, but tired (old, probably semi-professional, restoration).

I've restored other cars (British sports cars) and find the 1955 Packard 400 to be very fascinating. As an engineer I find Packard's engineering impressive, especially for 1955.

[WCraigH]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes, I have changed to negative ground. That was very easy and had no effect on the radio which I worried about. I wanted to go to negative ground so that I could at some point hide some modern electronics in the car (snip)</div></div>

I did about the same thing on my 55 Pat and plan on same for 56 Panther. Pat has a AM/FM/CD in the glove box, speakers in the front kick panels (custom), 6x9s in the package tray, subwoofer in a box behind the rear seat and 400W amp in the trunk.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I also have been working on installing A/C. There is a fellow down in Texas who is working on putting AC in a 1956 Power Hawk and he is having compressor mounting brackets designed. He has been at this for a while and is making the bracket so it fits the Senior Packards as well. He has made plywood mockups and is about 2 weeks away from having a production unit (which he will offer for sale). He is located only a block away from Vintage Air and I believe they have helped him on this. The arrangement he has designed has the compressor where the current generator goes and an alternator over the compressor. I believe this eliminates the need for an idler pulley.

He also has designed a cast aluminum crank pulley which I bought--it was beautiful. In my work I deal with aluminum sand castings and this was done very professionally. </div></div>

[color:"blue"] VERY INTERESTING! I am going to do the same thing on the Panther, i.e., replace the generator with A/C compressor and mount alternator above compressor. In my friend Paul's case, he mounted them reversed from that. See:

Paul's Engine

For the interior, I was planning on using Vintage Air's 61000 series Heat & Cool unit mounted under the P-side dash. There's plenty of room with the tube radio removed. For the other components: using dash side ashtray holes for round vents and rectangular hole (wonderbar radio) in the top center for rectangular vent. A/C controls installed in radio tune and volume control holes on either side of radio hole.

Keep us posted on your progress. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Bill Kennedy]

I'm really torn about what to do in the interior. Since I want to keep the dash as original as possible and I think the Wonderbar Radio is neat (useless, but neat) I am thinking about putting a floor mounted unit in. I had thought about using the ashtray cutouts--they are in a PERFECT location, but I could not figure out what to do about the center vents. The glove compartment is a real problem--the way the door of the glove compartment opens it prevents hanging a unit under the dash. Of course I could ignore that and not use the glove compartment but I like having it.

[Bill Kennedy]

Continuing my saga of what to do about AC, my current thinking is to install a unit from Air-tique. See attached photo of an installation in a 1953 Olds that also has the glove comparment problem.

[WCraigH]

Hanging a unit under the dash is certainly the easiest solution. Personally, I do not like the looks of it.

My friend Paul has a trunk-mounted condensor and rear package tray outlets, so that's what he's going to do. However, we've had a conversation about the pros and cons of that arrangement. Obviously, it has the advantage of not altering the beautiful dash. But on the other hand, the rear outlets tend to freeze any rear passengers necks. Also the rear outlets alone may not be adequate for the front passengers in southern Nevada's 115F summertime temps.

The factory solution of outlets in the top of the dash is not practical unless the dash is completely removed.

My Panther solution would not be hard to reverse back to stock, except for the ashtray holes, which have to be opened up slightly. I do not expect to alter the radio knob holes or Wonderbar rectangle.

It's a conundrum. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[Guest bkazmer]

tell me some more about the trunk mount and package shelf set up - I'm interested in using a modern unit with the original Packard configuration(first generation AC) which is trunk mount and rear package shelf.

[Twitch]

Switching to negative ground is easy too:

1.Disconnect the battery (VERY important first step)

2.Reverse the wires on the coil

3.Reverse the wires on the ammeter

4.Reverse battery cables with good ground

Now go have a beer cause you're done!

[heidigirl]

i know nothing about the instrumentation on the packard marque, so please forgive my innocence here. is there an ammeter or voltmeter? if so, how do you wire a one wire alternator that will allow the gauge to work?

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Most years had an Ampmeter, none had voltmeter option that I know of. Some later models only had an indicator light, that lite when there was no output of generator. If the car that you are installing the alternator in has an ampmeter, moving the wire that connected to 'Bat' or 'B' terminal of old regulator to the terminal on back of alternator will retain the connection through the ampmeter and it will operate normally, since it connects to battery through the ampmeter.

If the car has an Indicator Lamp, then you can connect the Lamp to the 'field' terminal in side of Alternator (one of two terminals, be sure you get the correct one). The wire from the lamp is the wire that went to the 'Arm' or 'A' (armature) terminal of old regulator and to 'A' terminal of generator.

[WCraigH]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Switching to negative ground is easy too:

1.Disconnect the battery (VERY important first step)

2.Reverse the wires on the coil

3.Reverse the wires on the ammeter

4.Reverse battery cables with good ground

Now go have a beer cause you're done! </div></div>

Not quite. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> 1) You have to reverse the polarity of the generator. See service manual for procedure. 2) In some cases (like my 55Pat), I had a POS ground volt regulator, which had to be replaced with an either way volt reg (see XRef on my website for P/N).

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Craig, I think Twitch was talking about after removing Generator and regulator to install Alternator.

[WCraigH]

Ah, if that was the case, then my apologies Twitch, you got it covered. Have a beer on me! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Too many threads going in too many different directions. Yikes, this is confusin'. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

[Twitch]

Yes guys, ZZZZZT! That's ZZZZZZT! after you mount the ZZZZZZT! alternator! Forgot to disconnect that ZZZZZT! battery again! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I'll have that beer now.

Heidigirl- where you at in So. Cal.? I'm in South Gate. Do you have a Packard to take to cruise events? There's 2 afternoon events in Long Beach May 7th. I'll give you more info if desired.

[heidigirl]

hey twitch, thanks for the invitation. could you provide further info on the location please?

i don't own a packard, but my brother and i grew up in the back seat of one. parents had a 1951 200 sedan. my current toy is a 56 olds holiday. it sleeps in chino, so i'm pretty close.

[Twitch]

A 56 Olds would fit right in! Both are non-Packard, general car shows. I've been to this one. In February well over 100 cars of all types and eras showed up:

Fuddruckers

5229 N. Clark St.

Lakewood, CA 1PM- 5PM that's at Lakewood mall $1 entry

They have a show the 1st Saturday of every month.

The other which I may go to is benefit for Long Beach K-9 Officers. It's on the grass at a park very near the 605 and Carson. It's $25 in advance 4/26 deadline- call Vince -days (562) 432- 0901 for a flyer/more info. Limited to 300 cars.