BDeB, that metal filler you describe (and picture) seems so correct. The irony of this thread is that I just bought a driver's side mirror on eBay for my '41 Clipper and had the same question. My other question is; where on the molding is placement of the mirror correct? I noticed in one photo (blue car) that it was placed forward to the edge of the door. I've also seen it placed back farther, under (green car) or farther back beyond the vent window. All of these locations will work, I feel, but which is correct?

You could use a strip of heavy rubber in the channel between the screws to fill the void and make it sit flat. Just a suggestion.

NAPA has them too. . . NAPA 1080. I guess it was a standard size for many early filters. Why they got away from an industry standard, I'll never know.

Where would one find correct fitting shocks with a spring assist?

Do you feel a new set of stiff shocks would solve my problem without doing anything with the springs? The car doesn't appear to ride low now, but with back seat passengers, it will bottom out over bumps. With two in the front, there is no problem.

Go to:http://www.packardclub.org/ and click on the Reference icon and then the color chips for 1950. I'm partial to the Astral Blue Metallic or Ash Green for the '50's.

My '41 Clipper with the engine no. on the title was sold new in Ohio, but spent most of its life in Michigan before going to Indiana. I brought it back to Ohio and had to have it inspected for title transfer (because of crossing state lines) and they accepted the engine number as valid. I don't know how long that number had been the official title number as I only have access to the current one and the Indiana title it was transfer from. It sounds like this was a common practice so I'm somewhat relieved. It just seems odd that a VIN number stamped on a cowl plate so obviously issued for vehicle id was ignored for a hard-to read number stamped on the block. Curious . . .

I have an oddity too, I think. When transferring the title of my '41 Clipper when I bought it, I noticed that the VIN number on the cowel plate didn't match what was on the title. The number stamped on the block was used for the title id. Anyone know why this might be?

If the steel has metal fatigue, won't it go back in short order?

Funny...yes sAggy. It's been a long day. Where can one get springs re-arched? I've never heard of it being done.