Thanks Ross

Sounds like I need to go out and get some more oil!

Cheers

Brian

Yes interesting how the brand changed in 1956. It didn't really stick here. My car was imported and registered as a Packard Clipper Deluxe - still is. It has the small Packard script on the rear trunk lid, and was imported/sold by the Packard dealers in Melbourne. Hard to shake off history!

I took mine for a longish drive early on Saturday - see pic. Everything was fine until I noticed the lifters clattering at about 60mph. Checked the oil level when I got home and found it right on minimum, so added some. Looked back in this forum and found the correspondence about V8 oil pumps etc. Also looked at the service history, and found the oil pump was replaced when the engine was overhauled, the lifters were "resurfaced" and the valve seals replaced. This was about 35 years ago but car has not done many miles since then so I am guessing the pump etc is ok. Wondering now whether the oil return channels from the top end are clogged? Oil pressure seems fine - although hard to tell because it's only a warning light. Is it possible to clean out the oil return passages by simply removing the valve covers and attacking them with something like a rifle cleaning brush?

I'm guessing that the "fix" with the Olds pump had not appeared by then, but presumably the Packard pump was worn enough to need replacing at that time. The vacuum function of the Packard pump has not been required since the car seems to have been delivered with electrically operated wipers. I have not looked closely to see if there are any signs of vacuum piping remaining on the car.

Cheers

Brian

Attach file:

---

  (183.97 KB)

Hello Tim

Yes, that's all true unfortunately. I'm more familiar with vintage race cars. It happens with those too, particularly in the US where documented history is not essential. And the courts are not sympathetic, as you say.
Somebody from Australia posted a message on the AACA website that he was looking seriously at buying a 1939 Packard 12 Limo (1908) which was recently auctioned here. He has been told it was restored (not true). I know the first Australian owner, who passed it on after deciding against trying to restore it. A subsequent owner attempted an engine rebuild but ran into problems. It has a reproduction data plate. It reportedly sold for more than I thought it was worth, given its condition and the cloudy nature of its history.

Caveat emptor!

Cheers Brian

Jason, Howard knows a lot more about this than I do. The Buck step down device I have is supposedly rated for things like small electric motors (not all are). It has an overall capacity of 18W and standard output of 3A at 6V. There is already a fuse in the power circuit for the clock, so I'll put something in there for extra protection. Any advice, Howard? I guess it should be a pretty small one. Don't know what sort of current the clock motor would draw. As I understand it, the electric motor winds the clock so it's quite unlike a modern quartz movement and actually makes a ticking sound. Silence would be a clue to the presence of a quartz movement - or a deceased clock!

Will get around to fitting this soon (when I put away the clean up stuff for my 56 Clipper). Will let you know how it goes.

Cheers Brian

Hello Jason. It's true that I was inspired by what you achieved with your car. The paintwork on mine is quite a bit worse than it looks in the pics. I hunted around for someone to do a reasonably-priced tidy up and drew a blank. All the experts said it would cost more than the car is worth. So Plan B was to try your approach, which has produced quite reasonable results. I drove the Clipper about 200 miles early this morning with no problems. It attracts quite a bit of attention (so long as you don't stand too close)! Keep up the good work. Cars like yours have often ended up being scrapped or cannibalised for parts, which is a great shame and a real loss. Of course, it helps that the patina on some of the original cars is increasingly appreciated. Cheers Brian

Riki here's some pics which show how the electric wiper setup is mounted to the bulkhead on my RHD Clipper. This could be a good conversion for a left hand drive car to replace vacuum operation. Maybe drive unit mounted on the left side, using an electric wiper motor you can source in the US. It would definitely be worth getting one designed for wipers. They usually have two speeds and a self parking function.

Trying to attach pics! Cheers Brian

Attach file:

---

  (275.85 KB)


  (254.45 KB)


  (266.05 KB)

Another alternative is to get a Buck or similar 12V to 6V electronic step down power supply and attach it to the clock. There are also Ford and Packard boxes which were used to power the 5/6V instruments in the 1950s 12V cars/trucks. They obviously cost more and have multiple connections for instruments. The Buck is much cheaper, but more than a buck! I'm about to fit one to the clock in my 1941 120 Club Coupe, which was converted to 12V (sort of) by somebody else. The clock still works but would not for long on 12V.

Cheers Brian

Sorry, wrong heading it's a "740 Roadster".

Yes, and when you see it beside an original Roadster the rear part of the bodywork is different. Nevertheless, a great looking car and well built. Provided it's provenance is truthfully disclosed, no problem. Does anybody really drive these? B.

OK I'll try to get a pic tomorrow. The motor and gearbox are one unit and are purpose built to drive wipers. I'll try to show how it's attached to the actuating mechanism. It looks like it would be easy to fabricate something like this to replace the vacuum mechanism. Most of these Preslite units come with a 2 speed motor (for two wiper speeds) and will generally run on 12-36V. No, I don't know why.

Cheers B