Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1953 Packard, jack chandler, volt battery

Question
I have a 1953 Packard that has been in a barn for 35+ years. This weekend we washed it and blew up the tires, which actually held air! We put a 6 volt battery in it but we could not get the accelerator / starter switch to work. Not sure where it is. We tried jumping the solenoid and the starter would spin but not engage.

Also, we could not get the transmission out of park.

Any thoughts suggestions or references as to where we should go?!

Jack Chandler
ChandlerJ3@aol.com


Answer
The bendix is froze in place on your starter. You probably can loosen it up by removing the starter and generously oiling it up and working the spring mechanism in and out.

Trans: disconnect the shifter linkage at the column and see if it will move. If so, it is froze at the shifter bar at the entrance to the transmission. Sometimes LIGHT tapping with a hammer directly on the end of the shaft while trying to move it will free it up.

Do not know what you mean by accelerator/starter switch.