There is also a sleeve-type thermostat retainer that is used. It looks to me like the sleeve is just some steel tubing (exhaust) with a slit. This is the type that is on my 115C. I believe the spring type retainers require two knobs on the inside of the housing to hold the spring in place. It would be easy enough to fabricate a sleeve retainer.

Bowman, I see that you have been a member since almost the beginning. My "Big Bang" comments were not appropriate for your tenure here. The subject of your inquiry was obviously more involved than I first understood.

Only pound on the ears of the puller as shown in the photo. DO NOT strike the shaft part as this may damage bearings and gears.

This site just celebrated its third anniversary this past March. A 2006 posting is probably as close to the "Big Bang" as you are going to get. Welcome to our universe.

Mal, thanks for the close-up photo of the full flow oil filter on the '38. I am impressed with your memory and recall of my post to your blog some time ago. Could you also get for me (and others) a close-up view of the oil lines connections to the oil pump cover plate? It would be an interesting project to have a full flow oil filter on the 115C. Too hot to work in the garage these days. Austin, Texas is about to set a record for the number of days of temperatures at 100F and above. We are at 62 and the record is, I believe, 69 set in the 1920s. It is getting a little tiring. It is our "Minnesota Winter". I blame Al Gore. Take care . . .

Joe, I noticed in your photos notes written on Packard Motor Car Company imprinted stationery. I have a similar note that was written to the previous owner of my 115C. It was from Wallace (Wally) Wamsley replying to an inquiry about a Carter carburetor and a new starter solenoid. Were your notes from Wally too? He died a few years ago. I believe he lived in San Diego. He was in the Packard parts business.

Joe, you are most fortunate guy to have all those records and paperwork on your '55 Clipper. Like you say it gives you a view into the car's past. A few years ago I bought a 1973 Datsun 240Z. The car was/is in remarkable shape. The log the owner kept on the car (it was in the same family for its first 30 years) was most revealing. It was a comprehensive history of the car, from the first tank of gas in December 1972 until the last entries some 30 years later. He was most a most diligent record keeper. The log went with the car when I sold it, along with all the papers and records from the first owner and my ownership. My 115C came with a lot of records and paperwork and I have transcribed them into an Excel spreadsheet and update it whenever I do something to the car. I will do the same with my '47 Clipper, and have started a log book on my 2008 Mini Cooper. Interesting, Mini provides a log book with its cars.

clipper47, how could I have over looked the Mosquito. The Packard-built Merlins powered the Mosquitos built in Canada. There, did I redeem myself?

Keeping this going, Daimler had a V-12 they called a "Double Six". One of these cars was a recent best of show at Pebble Beach.

I sometimes call my 115C a "Half Twelve", and Packard called their earlier 6-cylinder engines "Single Sixes" to differentiate from the just superseded "Twin Six" (but you all knew this).

Packard-build Rolls Royce Merlin engines were used in North American P-51B and up Mustangs, Curtiss P-40F Warhawks (and the British varant), Avro Lancasters, Hawker Hurricanes, and Supermarine Spitfires. Later after Packard started building the engines, Ford of England and the U.S. aircraft engine maker Continental also built the Merlins. During the latter stages of WW-II a four-engined Lancaster bomber could have been powered by an engine from each manufacturer.

Edit: This is the point I initially tried to make: The first Mustangs were powered by the Allison V-12 engine.

Edit Edit: Actually, the British were the first to fit a Merlin into a Mustang. Don't know if the fantastically successful experiment involved a RR or a Packard built engine.

That is all.

Edit, Edit, Edit: Okay, I lied here is one more. None of the Packard-built Merlins were Packard branded. There were many suppliers to Packard for parts for these engines, and some of those parts may have their manufactures mark (e.g., Maytag).

O_D, you are correct. That car has a similar body color. It is a gorgeous car. We got to listen to the restorer describe the cars past and its restoration on Ocean Ave. in Carmel. Great memory. We did not attend Pebble this year, but will probably go to next year's event.