Tim Wile	Re: Stewart's 1955 Packard 400	#31
Home away from home	Gentlemen, I am learning so much from these project blogs and I am humbled at the efforts many of you have put or are putting into your cars. It is inspirational and humbling at the same time, impressing upon me time and time again how very much I still have to learn about doing a modest restoration job right. I thank you all for sharing your experiences and providing much needed advice to those of us "newbies." We are grateful. Posted on: 2013/12/30 21:24
	PA Patrician (Tim Wile) [size=x-small][color=000099][font=Georgia][url=https://packardinfo.c

Tim Wile	Re: Wile Family's Second Packard	#32
Home away from home	Well, another day and another issue raises its ugly head with our 400. As I was working on re-installing the door vent and side windows, after parking the 400 after driving it about ten (10) miles, I noticed a wet spot on the asphalt near the left rear wheel. I was hoping that it wasn't brake fluid and discovered it was gasoline. It appears that the 400's fuel line has sprung a leak just in front of the left rear wheel. Not a large leak, but one that drains the fuel line after the car has run and has sit a while. I don't really want to replace the entire fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump. What I am thinking of doing is to cut the line about a foot ahead of the leak and remove the portion from the cut to the fuel tank. Once that is out of the car, I can make a replacement out of new steel tubing with a flaring tool and a bending jig. I would also put a connector on the cut end of the remaining fuel line and flair the end of that, since I have a hand flaring tool. The replacement section would be put in place with the old line and new line joined, then I would install it onto the fuel tank. Well, that is my plan. Does anyone in the group think it is a problem just to replace the damaged portion of the fuel line rather than replacing the whole line? I know, ideally, the whole line should be replaced, but seeing that it is winter and my skills are still rudamentary, at best, I was thinking that it would be best to take small steps to get the 400 back on the road so it can be driven and I would deal with further problems as they arise. Keep in mind that I bought the 400 as a driver while I spend the majority of my time working on the Patrician. Once the Patrician is done, then my attention would turn to the 400 for a re-build. Posted on: 2013/12/30 21:19
	PA Patrician (Tim Wile) [size=x-small][color=000099][font=Georgia][url=https://packardinfo.c

Tim Wile	Re: James's Black Friday 400	#33
Home away from home	James, it looks as it you are off to a great start! It also looks as if you have an impressive set up in your garage for working on the 400. Best of luck to you and I'll be following your blog as you progress. Posted on: 2013/12/30 21:08
	PA Patrician (Tim Wile) [size=x-small][color=000099][font=Georgia][url=https://packardinfo.c

Tim Wile	Re: 1956 Packard Clipper 2dr Hardtop	#34
Home away from home	First of all, let me congratulate you on your purchase. A 1956 Clipper is a great looking mid-1950s car and the $5,000 price, imho, is a decent price for a running, driveable Packard. Assuming from your original post that the drive train is in good working order, you did alright. I have seen a black & white 1956 Clipper at a local auto restoration shop in Lansdale, is that the vehicle you purchased? I also see that you are in Doylestown, which is not far from my neck of the woods in Southeastern PA. Perhaps we'll pass each other on the local roads sometime next spring or summer! Again, congratulations on your acquisition and welcome to the Packard family! Posted on: 2013/12/14 12:33
	PA Patrician (Tim Wile) [size=x-small][color=000099][font=Georgia][url=https://packardinfo.c

Tim Wile	Re: Wile Family's Second Packard	#35
Home away from home	Howard, thanks. Unfortunately, those leaf springs at the bracket are long since gone. A present, probably, from the 400's prior owner. With both the 400 and the Patrician, I really am feeling the motto of one of our other forum members who keeps saying that half of what is wrong with his Packard is due to its prior owner. I realy feel for you, guy, I really do. Posted on: 2013/11/23 11:05
	PA Patrician (Tim Wile) [size=x-small][color=000099][font=Georgia][url=https://packardinfo.c

Tim Wile	Re: Packard Plant (Maybe) Sold - $6.0 Million	#36
Home away from home	While the site might have had some historical value at some time, that time has long since gone. Better the preservation efforts go to places like the Packard Proving Grounds as opposed to this pile of ruins in Detroit. Much of the Packard stuff has already been looted or taken from the site so all that remains is broken glass; rusted metal; and crumbling bricks and concrete. Remember, the East Grand Avenue facility last produced cars in 1954. The 1955-56 models were maunfactured at the Connor Avenue plant that Nance leased from Chrysler. Posted on: 2013/11/23 10:59
	PA Patrician (Tim Wile) [size=x-small][color=000099][font=Georgia][url=https://packardinfo.c

Tim Wile	Re: Wile Family's Second Packard	#37
Home away from home	Well, it is mid-November here in Pennsyltucky and I'm still working on re-installing the door windows in the Four Hundred. The colder weather and the lack of a heated garage makes such work a challenge. I find that I can only stand perhaps a half-hour at a time before the fingers start to get numb and don't work the way in which I want them to. The Four Hundred has presented me with another challenge. The metal bracket that holds the hand brake handle under the dash has rusted in two. While I have procured a replacement, I observed that the handle appears to be pinned into the rod. I was thinking that replacing the bracket would be an easy thing to do; remove the handle from the hand brake rod, slip off the rusted out bracket, slip on the replacement; re-install the hand brake handle; and then bolt the bracket onto the underside of the dash. But with the hand brake handle being pinned to the rod, it now appears that the correct procedure would be to disconnect the pull handle rod from the hand brake assembly under the hood, pull it out; remove the old rusted bracket; reinstall the hand brake rod; and then bolt the bracket to the bottom of the dash. I only raise this question since I had been planning on removing the hand brake handle in the Patrician for re-chroming. If it is going to be such a PITA, is is worth getting the hand brake handle re-done at all? The group's thoughts on this would be welcome. Posted on: 2013/11/20 10:56
	PA Patrician (Tim Wile) [size=x-small][color=000099][font=Georgia][url=https://packardinfo.c

Tim Wile	Re: wanted to share my 49 restored Packard "story"	#38
Home away from home	I'm curious about the comment regarding the car's title and the fact that it cannot (or will not) ever be sold. What's the deal with that? Lovely car, by the way. I'm more than a bit envious. Posted on: 2013/11/20 10:45
	PA Patrician (Tim Wile) [size=x-small][color=000099][font=Georgia][url=https://packardinfo.c

Tim Wile	Re: How fast have you been in a Packard?	#39
Home away from home	The highest I've driven my '55 Four Hundred thus far has been 60 mph. I must add, however, that I've only put a little over 300 miles on it in the year since I purchased it and I'm still working out some bugs and gaining confidence in driving it longer and longer distances. Both my wife and I are pleased with the '55's ride at higher speeds and over back roads. Posted on: 2013/11/2 18:18
	PA Patrician (Tim Wile) [size=x-small][color=000099][font=Georgia][url=https://packardinfo.c

Tim Wile	Re: Wile Family's Second Packard	#40
Home away from home	I considered whether the brackets attaching the channel to the inside of the door were on backward, but it was set up the way in which it was taken out of the donor door. I'm going to do some additional work on the driver's door tonight until the light fails or it simply gets too cold. Our temps here in southeastern PA dropped some 30 degrees in a week. With the Patrician and its associated parts taking up the garage, the 400 has to sit outside under a car cover. I still have visions of getting the second bay of our 2-car garage cleared out enough so I can ge the 400 parked there next to the Patrician. However, I digress. As I mentioned earlier, I have the new window glass in the door and I'll be playing with the window channel tonight as time permits. It certainly would be nice to get glass back in both doors now that the colder weather is here. The 400's heater works great, but with missing windows on both doors, the interior still leaves something to be desired. Then there is foul weather which requires me to leave the 400 parked. Posted on: 2013/10/28 13:42
	PA Patrician (Tim Wile) [size=x-small][color=000099][font=Georgia][url=https://packardinfo.c