Is there a power brake unit incorporated into the ABS system or does it just replace the BTV with a manual unit with remote fill?

I cannot see from the photos posted, but would like to know if the ABS unit affords a dual master cylinder.

I guess a lot of us are hoping that there is a dual master cylinder with the option of power assist built in or available through a remote electro vac or Hydrovac unit that will be able to use the original pedal location with the 1-1 ratio.
Please keep us posted.
thanks
RJR

I purchased the kit from Kanter for my Caribbean. The pieces are essentially all Steele Rubber and were in fact drop shipped directly from Steele.
I have no gripe with Kanter's offering. The parts arrived quickly and were as advertised. I learned after my purchase that if you contact Steele directly they will send you a listing of any rubber parts available for your car-- some of which you may need and are not included in the kit offering. I also mention this since there may be pieces in the kit that you do not need for a paint job.....and it is all expensive.
The rubber parts with the exception of the windshield surround matched the originals very well. The windshield,rubber seemed to be cut a bit differently from the original which made installation of stainless surround trim a real chore.
The original rubber around the top and windows on the Caribbean were cloth covered and the Steele rubber is not. They supply rolls,of cloth tape which you can apply over the rubber to replicate the original appearance butI gave up on it after tangling myself up trying to do the install. I do not plan on submitting my car for judging and I doubt than anyone will see the top or windows raised until the car is sold,or stolen.
Good luck with your efforts
Stay well
RJR

Tom- I wrote a long reply and apology, but it disappeared. I was not being critical but I have three old cars that spend each Wimter in heated storage. Our cars are required to undergo an annual safety inspection to be operated on the roads. I always replace the entire brake system with the best new or rebuilt,parts available and try to keep up with periodic inspection and maintanence. Despite my efforts,I have had a Hydrovac fail on my Cadillac, wheel cylinders fail on my Lincolns and I am more,paranoid than most.
I was under the mistaken impression that your vehicle has not been used regularly for some extended time and was going to be used for daily commute on the freeway.
Good luck with your plans. I will keep my fingers crossed that you do not experience any problems. Finding repair parts is a challenge but finding a new arm or eye due to old equipment failing tends to be more daunting,
Stay well and keep the shiny side up.
RJR

You have more guts or faith than I.. Hoping to pull any car out of dead storage after 6 months of Winter and expect it to start and run, much less serve as dependable daily transportation is a stretch. Attempting this with a vehicle that is over a half century old after 14 years storage goes beyond wishful thinking into the realm of delusion.
A well sorted out Clipper of this vintage can , no doubt, operate with relative safety at freeway speeds. It can probably function as a commuter with regular service intervals, but it will not compare to virtually any modern vehicle for safe stopping, starting and handling.
After extended storage, I would be more concerned with deteriorated brake lines and wheel cylinders or steering components than tailights or wiper blades.
There are just so many things that can fail on old cars coming out of extended storage that can leave you stranded or wrapped around a tree, that I would be very reluctant to risk it without adequate time for sorting out potential problems or test miles on uncrowned highways.
I would take the money that it will take to replace the wiper arms and tires and apply it to a " rent a wreck." for the month.
It will turn less heads, but it has a better chance of having you and the Packard in one piece for the Summer.......and it will probably have working air conditioning.

Howard- I posted an inquiry recently regarding the green 1955 400 that has been profiled on this site since 3-18-15 and has been listed for sale on eBay for essentially the same period.
The ad says that the car is fitted with front disc brakes and the photos posted show a brake fluid reserve tank mounted on the firewall with two descending lines. More interestingly, the interior photos show the brake pedal listed in what appears to,be the stock configuration and location.
I don't believe that the BTV will work with disc brakes nor would there be reason for two lines from the reserve tank to the master cylinder.
Unfortunately, I have posted three inquiries to his listing on eBay and one here about the master cylinder/ pedal arrangement and whether he has installed an Electro- vac or other unit. I have received no reply.
He does not list a phone number or email address but invites inquiry.
Maybe if he gets a note from you or Big Kev he may answer the question.
RJR

Since I can't get to sleep, I was perusing a Hemmings blog on the 1956 Caribbean. There was a comvertible pictured in the article in a color scheme I have never seen. The top was black, the middle stripe was burgundy and the bottom was silver.
I have no idea whether the car still exists, but it is/ was stunning.
Does anyone know whether this color combination was offered or was a special order.
If the car is in the possession of anyone on the Forum- congrats!!!
It may be the most spectacular Caribbeam color combo I have seen.

Leeedy- Thanks again for your info. Since you are familiar with the Hughes car and have done several replacements, does the original liner feel like fabric? I am leaning toward spraying the inner surface of a top from Hirsch which comes with a tan interior surface. They are sending a sample.

I have had contact with a supplier in California who asserts that their upholstery spray will adhere to the top and not crack....and can be produced in a color that matches the interior. However, if the sprayed tops do not look like the original liner, I may try to figure out how to use the fabric from the top I received from Kepich.
Let me know.
Stay well
RJR

I would like to see a $165000 Caribbean. There has not been one sold in the past few years at over $145k and that was a spectacular all black 56. When I started looking for a Caribbean project in 2008 the price guides suggested that a Number 1 restored car could sell for nearly $200,000 but in the years that have followed, the prices have tumbled.
I anticipate that you could spend well,over $165000 to acquire and restore a Caribbeam to Pebble Beach standards with a professional restorer...., but unless the younger generations become intrigued with the cars, I anticipate that it will be quite some time until the cars compete with Cords or the Twin Six cars.
Most people under 40 have never seen or heard,of a,Caribbean.....or a Packard.
Just my opinion.

I have been looking at the 55 400 in the recent photos section. The car is listed for sale,on eBay and says that it is fitted with front disc brakes. The photos show a remote reservoir for the brakes on the firewall and as best I can see, the car uses the original brake pedal location.
I was under the impression that the existing brake would not operate a modern master cylinder due to the 1-1 pedal ratio.
I posted a question on eBay about the master cylinder he is using.
I was under the impression that the Tredle Vac,could not be used with disc brakes but perhaps that is wrong.
Has anyone looked into the disc brake,conversion and whether it would operate with the Tredle Vac?
If a modern dual master cylinder will work,with the existing pedal,location,it may be preferable,to the Tredle Vac even if it was not power assisted but not sure it would stop the car without power assist. I guess if the pedal works, the unit could be supplemented with an Electo- Boost.
I would prefer to retain the existing pedal location and maintain the drum brakes.
I know this subject has been beaten to death but ........
If I get a reply, I will post the results.

Owen- Thanks. I'll call Bill and order a top. If anyone has ideas on a dye that might work, let me know. I was thinking of getting a Hirsch top anyhow and attaching the green material from the Keppich top to the pads. The sides near the rear window were the areas that I was having questions about covering. If I can find a dye color to match the pads, it might work better.
I will do serious harm to the upholsterer if he drives one staple before assuring the top fits and the staples will be covered by the stainless strips.