Hey guys
Hope someone can help me. While driving my '56 Clipper a couple of weeks ago I had to slam on the brakes (anyone that has ever driven in Dearborn, Mi will understand). The next time I drove the car the brake pedal went almost to the floor. Now the pedal is all the way to the floor and there seems to be no pressure in the system at all. The car has Power brakes. I checked under the car and didn't see any signs of fluid leakage around the master cylinder or at any of the wheel cylinders. Also the brake lights stopped working at the same time. Any idea of what my be wrong? BTW, the brake lights quit working at the same time.

For any of you that are considering a trip to Hershey next year (10/8-12/2008), several hotels are already sold out. Most of the hotels in the area offer reservation request forms during Hershey for the next year, and fill up very quickly.

I stayed at the Hampton Inn-Harrisburg West in Mechanicsburg, PA. I waited until the last almost the last minute and didn't book until about 10 days before arrival. I had a jr. suite that included a hot breakfast every morning, for $149.00 per night. The hotel was about 20 minutes from the Giant Center. The hotel is going to undergo renovations next year and will be completely non-smoking.

This was my first year going to Hershey. The only word that comes to mind is overwhelming. Did find a couple of parts that I was looking for, but man there is just so much ground to cover. After trudging around all day Friday and a couple of hours Saturday, I still didn't see it all.
I was watching the local news late news on Friday and they had a story about the Hershey show. It seems that the show is in some danger. Land prices in the Harrisburg/Hershey area have skyrocketed over the past coupe of years and there is pressure to sell the parking area. The city would like to keep the show, it generates a staggering amount of revenue in just a few days.

What should the vacuum pressure be on the oil pump? The shop manual says 10 in. But when I test the vacuum, the pressure fluctuates wildly between 0 and 13 in. Is this normal, or am I looking at replacing the oil pump?

Hey guys:

Thanks for all the suggestions. After checking out the shop manual online, I've noticed that I'm missing a few (a few, yeah right) pages out of my original. Guess I'll have to break down and buy a reprint. That'll be easier than trying to stick my laptop under the hood! I did get a new vacuum tester today and checked the vacuum levels on both lines. On the intake manifold, I get a steady 18 in at idle and on the oil pump vacuum it swings back and forth between 0 an 13. So I guess after the Woodward Dream Cruise this Saturday I'm pulling the motor and sending it in to Fickens. BTW, Fickens has a link to Trico's Washer troubleshooting guide. Gonna run through that checklist tomorrow. Might have to have the rebuild the pump as it hadn't had any liquid in it for several years and things probably dried out.

I recently purchased a '56 Clipper Super, that had the vacuum lines for the wipers and washers disconnected. My shop manual has the schematic for the vacuum motor, but does not show the washer (which is the electric model). Now the problem, after installing new vacuum lines and connecting everything according to the schematic, I have wipers that go up. Just up. They don't even go down when turned off. By the way the washers don't work either. Also, the the vacuum motor has one nipple that isn't shown in the manual.

Anyone have a suggestions on repairs and where I might find a schematic for the washers?

Not wanting to take this even further off course, but does anyone if the carpet in the '56 Clippers was the same as the senior series? My Super has a JC Whitney special currently, but I did find two small scraps of a green basketweave-type patterned carpet under the front seat.