Riddle: what goes tick tick tick behind a 32 Packard's dash

[tbirdman]

...an arcing coil wire. Drove the car last week and heard this ticking sound. I knew I hadn't wound the dash clock. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Looked underneath the dash and saw the coil wire with no connector on it. New connector, no more arcing. The car actually ran fine with the arcing.

Question is why did Packard put the coil under the dash integrated with the ignition switch? Is that how they did all of the 20 and 30s era cars?

[West Peterson]

I suppose you're lucky that it didn't start a fire, eh?

I've never heard why it's under the dash. I always thought it was to reduce the chance of getting wet or too humid.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

I think it was because, back in the '20s someone desided to design the coil and ignition-switch as a single unit which mounted behind dash. So that is what was available to use at the time and it progressed from there. It does make a clean looking engine compartment with the coil and it's wires hidden under dash. The coil bracket mounted under headbolt nuts, like in late '30s, seems even more strange (when torqueing the headnuts).

[tbirdman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I suppose you're lucky that it didn't start a fire, eh?

I've never heard why it's under the dash. I always thought it was to reduce the chance of getting wet or too humid. </div></div>

Yeah, I did smell a little burning insulation. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Good news I was only driving it around the neighborhood.

[Tom M]

I am jealous. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I least you can driver yours. The stage my car is in I can play Fred Flintstones and Friends <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[tbirdman]

Packin31,

At least you have the skills to rip apart a car and get it back together again. I don't think I have the patience.

[Tom M]

tbirdman,

Skills who said I had skills <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Thanks for the support <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

When I pulled the motor apart I figured since she will be down I might as well start a small restoration (well as you can see by my posts she has turned into a large one instead). I must say I did take a good hard look at her and thought wow there is a lot parts to be pulled for painting, repairing etc. Since now that I have started to take her apart it not so bad. Need to take it one step at a time. The time consuming and toughest part is cleaning all the grease and grime off. I would push it on drive to power wash it but our newer garage drive way is pretty step. Be tuff to push it back in. A what fun it is. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[mrpushbutton]

Aaaahhh..........Packard put the coil under the dash to eliminate the possibility of theft due to hot-wiring the coil. Other brands of cars had armored cables that were cast into the ignition cylinder and coil base--no "openings" to enable a thief. There was a huge car theft problem in the mid-20's, as cars became more available to the masses. Thieves could steal a car, file off and re-stamp the serial number, drive it to the next major city and sell it. The large stamped numerials on the firewall of a Packard are a direct result of this. It wasn't about appearance, Col. Vincent didn't want the banker to go out for lunch and find his car gone!

[tbirdman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">tbirdman,

Skills who said I had skills <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Thanks for the support <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

When I pulled the motor apart I figured since she will be down I might as well start a small restoration (well as you can see by my posts she has turned into a large one instead). </div></div>

It's the old paint one room in the house syndrome. That happened to me on my T-Bird last winter. I was going to replace the rear rust leaft springs. Ended up doing the who rear end including new gears, rebuilt drive shaft, gas tank, stailess exhaust and brakes plus I detailed the bottom of the chassis. Blew my winter budget to hell. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

The 32 Packard is in the shape that all I'm doing is detailing work which is fine by me.

[Tom M]

It sure looks nice from the pictures you have posted. Thanks

[Guest BigKev]

With no working brakes in my clipper, and swiss cheese front floor boards, Fred Fintstone came to mind a few times for me. I guess I had better get shoes with a very thick soles. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />