Got the valve covers powder coated back in February and a co-worker painted the lettering for me.

Finishing up the brake and fuel lines that I started some time ago and just now getting back to.

That last image is of a shop towel that I shoved down into to distributor port. A mouse has been eating on it.

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Still not posting much because I am still crawling around under the body. Replacing metal and cleaning to be undercoated this summer. I got the 2 rear body mounts rebuilt and welded back into place. My welds may not look pretty but its in the there better then it was originally. I am trying to concentrate all my time under the car just to get it done.

Its that time of the year again where when our Lavender farm starts to control my life. As evident in the bottom two images. One is a DIY lavender stripper that I build sitting right along side my 400 chassis and sitting right next the body is an antique seed cleaner that I got running this week to clean the lavender stripped from the first device. These will eventually be moved to another building and out of my way. It was just easier to work in here with all my tools.

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I spoke to my local powder coating shop recently when I had a couple items done. I didn't ask him specifically about the gold but I did ask about the durability of this chrome powder coating.

He said he has coated the chrome onto motorcycles parts and they have held up better then even he thought they would.
He did say that the item has to be in very good shape as he will not coat any older items that has pitting. He does not fix pitting. The gold dashboard facings do not have pitting, they just fade. Mine is the same way. I may ask him about it next time I am in his area.

Now, if you look this up online you will find tons of info about it, most of it negative but make sure you read something recent. The technology that goes into the powder coating is always making improvements.
I'm not sure I would have my bumper powder coated but I would do lesser items in a heat beat if I can.

Its about half way been Chattanooga and Atlanta. I've been by it but never stopped. That was years ago. Photographers love the place.

I got a question.

There is a local guy selling a non-running 55 Clipper. I have talked to him but have not seen the car.

How much of a Clipper would be interchangeable with my 400? I don't know what size engine it has right now. The seller admits he is not very knowledgeable about Packard. I know there are differences that's obvious.

Are the fenders the same?
If the chrome is in good shape would the bumpers fit?
What about the windshield?

Those are the type of things I am interested it. As mine need to be replaced and or re-chromed. Those parts alone would save me money by buying this car. I am not really eager for a parts car at this point but am toying with it the idea if it can save me money in the long run.

Hell, I don't know why its not running so it may even be a driver if I can get it started.
Thanks

I recently had the Starter and the Generator rebuilt by a shop in central Illinois. They did a good job but went a little over board with the black paint. They sold me the 12 volt regulator in the image for warranty purposes. I guess they wanted to make sure I got one made in the USA. It was only $65 so I am not complaining. I added a pic of the box top and part number if anyone is interested. I have seen other post on here where people are talking about these becoming hard to find.

All these parts on the on the shelf for now as I am still working on the underside of the body. Little holes keep turning up to be patched. I think I have mentioned before that I had to remove both of the rear most body mounts from under the trunk. The rust was just to bad on them that I had no choice. I spent part of the winter rebuilding and reinforcing them. Well I got one of them back in place tonight. It feels good but I am sure tired of crawling underneath this thing.

If I had to do it all over again I would buy a rotisserie. The $1500 for one seemed like a lot of money back when I started but now its seems like a drop in the bucket.

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Working under the body this long 4 day weekend. Trying to finish cleaning it up in order to undercoat the whole thing soon.
Most of the rust holes are cut out and patched. Sure am getting tired of being under that thing.

I did pick up pair of NOS brake switches off Ebay recently. Got the pair for $25.

Also found a pair of spark plug wire guides from a 56. I saw them on KevinAZ's 400 last month and liked the way they looked. Mike Borth in Wisconsin just happened to have one pair left on his site. They arrived today.

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I ordered some exhaust clamps to start getting everything connected. I didn't want the usual u-bolt type because, knowing me, I would have to have to pull everything back apart because I forgot something and then the u-bolts would have mangled everything beyond repair. So ,I ordered the strap type clamps seen below.

While I was under the chassis putting on the first clamp I noticed a loose bolt for the transmission conversion plate. Looked some more and all the bolts are loose. Now I get to pull the trans back off to fix all those bolts. Guess I use some locktite this time. I've never seen bolts work their way out due the temperature change before. That's all it could have been as the engine has not been started yet.

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Its not craigslist but if you can locate it, you can probably have it for free.

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-flood-of-blacksmith-fork-and-logan.html

Found these two in the Cincinnati Craigslist but I believe they are actually located north of Allentown, Pennsylvania


1955 Packard Caribbean convertible - $48000
http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/5965785038.html

1954 Packard Convertible - $28500
http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/5965783783.html