Novi was aftermarket. The original factory unit in 53-4 was also in the trunk but was Frigidaire with the controls (3 knobs) in a pod like enclosure at the space between base of the steering column and dash below speedometer. There were also two air vent feeds coming through the upper fender at either side of rear window.

If you have the opportunity to post some pictures, I and others am sure would be very interested to see what the system looked like and how they mounted and drove the compressor. Does the compressor have a clutch or is it the continuous always on drive like Packard used?

I don't know any platers on the East coast but hopefully someone will give you a lead. Bumpers shouldn't be horrible but if the grill price is like out here, be sitting down when you get a price. Even though it comes apart, that surround is one large hard to handle fragile pot metal piece.

From the pict out of service manual, it appears they both go to same place.

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Yes-and some other things. Do the rest of the shift patterns more or less follow these bulletinshttps://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/STB/55T-6.pdf andhttps://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/STB/55T-7.pdf If they do, then check out service counselor 29-5https://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/SC/SC-VOL29NO5.pdf and the article on page 30 re the direct drive engagement.

Believe the mooing is fairly common. Most avoid it by just letting up on the gas at the shift point. Packard issued a few bulletins regarding the various engagement issues and sometimes noises DD clutch made over the years. Fixes tried range from cutting slots on the lining face to having a slightly different contour of clutch, change of dampening springs to mentioning hard glazed lining as a possibility.

The governor is supposed to drop the direct drive out around 10-15 mph. Perhaps it isn't or is too slow in releasing. Not sure why the extra gas would help unless the idle is awfully low in conjunction with a delayed release. Rebuilt recently, it should be free but possible governor or even DD clutch is sticking. To diagnose, would probably require a pressure test as there are two valves plus the clutch itself involved.

If you put the car up on a lift, can you get an indication of where oil is coming from? Anything from converter should be coming out the weep hole and spread all across the trans bottom. Anything from shaft seals should be mostly located in the area of leak. One other possibility is the oil pan itself. If the bolts were torqued down excessively in past and pan flange was not straightened when rebuilt, it is possible the bolts deformed the area around them. The bolt and hole area will then make contact and be tight before the straight areas between bolts have a chance to compress the gasket. If that is happening, you should see some evidence all along the edge of pan.

If you are getting a spark at all, then the wiring should be OK unless there is some kind of intermittent ground on the wire going to dist.

There have been several instances of the soft fabric covering on the wire between the outside terminal and points connection disintegrating or becoming frayed and wire grounding out. That is usually a permanent thing though unless something besides the rotor is moving inside the distributor and hitting or moving something causing it. Too long a screw could also cause the same thing.

One other remote possibility is the ign switch is heating and opening when the current through that particular coil contact is long or heavy enough. Re establishes contact when cooled. Don't know enough about the wiring thru the switch and armored cable on yours to know if that is a possibility but has been an issue on later models.

A reasonably sized commercial yet affordable tank would be interesting. If you do a google search for "electrolysis tank" several articles come up with some how to's for the do it yourselfer. Some are interesting and practical--others maybe a stretch or too elaborate.

Not sure what you used for replacements and might not explain why firing one time not the next but there have been reports of replacement mismatches here and on AACA in last year or so.

New supposedly correct caps were not making contact with rotors--either due to length of rotor tip or depth of cap--either the center button wasn't making reliable contact or tip to plug output too far or high. Another was of new rotors looking identical but upon turning upside down and checking, the index to shaft point was off by a few degrees. If you still have the old ones might be worth comparing very carefully.

There was a discussion here not more than a month ago about engine not starting and problem turned out to be old plugs not firing for some reason. Replacing them solved that problem.

Harbor Freight appears to have the same thinghttp://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-inspection-camera-with-24-inch-color-lcd-monitor-66550.html so if there is a store close you might be able to look at it in person. This one seems to be in HongKong. There are also other similar models which have a different and interchangeable business end--one small enough (8mm, I think) that would go down a spark plug hole. Home Depot carries a model by Rigid called the SeeSnake 2 which I believe is the one with optional head. Don't know if any would have a 12ft range though. That is asking quite a bit. Harbor advertises 4' camera range and a 3' snake. Others are probably comparable.

Quote: Gerd, I wouldn't know a ship gun from one that's not but will take your word for it. Looking at the photo again, maybe the two bladed props should have given it away but then again, the Soviets did seem to do a lot with what was at hand.

When it comes to Soviet attempts at aircraft or anything else for that matter, I am of the belief they would try almost anything if they thought it had a purpose or would one-up the US or the West including putting ship guns on a plane.

As to large, one of those Russian cargo planes brought something for a new power station a few years ago. Was so large that was the only way to get it here since it couldn't travel the distance via truck. Plane was here two days while they unloaded whatever it was. Provided quite a stir and a lot of entertainment for the town. I saw it from a distance and it towered over our little airport. Without a doubt, was the most plane I had ever seen before or since. Believe newscast said it wasn't even the largest as they had built one even bigger but it didn't fly anymore. Something needed replacing and the cost to repair something that was one of a kind on that plane was out of reach??

As to the "what do we have here" question on the other photo, will guess hand rails and a mount for a running board for bodyguards or someone to stand on.

Wow! And we thought the spruce goose was large. If that thing is as ungainly as it looks, surprised it even got off the ground to crash or did it crash on the runway trying. Hide the wheels and it would look like a building on stilts. I see at least 10 cannon type guns and then some machine guns. Wonder how many are not seen.