The block and heads are going to be chemically stripped. I'm not sure who Dan Boehm is going to use. As you can see, the engine was painted a teal color. So that also has to be taken care of. I need to find one rocker cover, as I have one Clipper cover and one Packard cover. As soon as I get the car back, I'll take more pictures. The trans is currently over in St. Clair Shores at Pointe Automatic Transmission being overhauled. The wiper motor is boxed up and ready to get shipped out to Ficken. I haven't decided just what to do about the washer unit. I have pretty much decided to go with one of Bob Aller's oil pumps. I thought about using one of the PI oil pumps, but I really want to keep the vacuum wipers. Now if I can only find a long, narrow box that will hold my electric antenna, I can get that sent out for repair.

I guess that its time to start posting some pisc of my Clipper now that the real work has begun. Since this was one of the snowiest winters on record here in Detroit, I was able to work much on my car this winter. Having a garage that is only 20x20, its not really possible to work in the winter with the door closed, so things have been at a stand still since last fall. Finally got the car moved to my mechanic about two weeks ago, and here is what has been found so far.
The cooling system looked fine until the engine was torn down. The block water jacket was almost completely filled with sediment. The casting plugs
were almost rusted through, the sediment kept them from leaking. Most of the valve stems are bent and the tolerances on the valve guides is way, way off. The cylinder tolerances are also way off. my 352 is going to become a 374. And as long as we're in the cylinder, a previous mechanic had installed the pistons backward, so that the oil groove on the connecting rods was facing away from the camshaft. Thus leading to the next problem. Without lubrication the camshaft has damaged, now requiring a regrinding if its possible.
Moving on, the crankshaft oil seal was bent, and not properly seated, so there was quite a bit of oil in the timing case and wear on the timing chain. Now on to the fuel system, the original steel fuel line had been disconnected and a rubber line installed, ok..... but not such a good idea to weave it through the torsion bars and between the exhaust manifold and the block.

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Well finally got a short break in the weather and got my Clipper to the guy that is going to do the engine and T/V overhaul. l got a good look at each of the brake drums. The shoes are in good shape as are the springs and retaining clips. All the brake lines and hoses are new. However he did find rust on the inside of the wheel cylinders. So it looks like my non-stopping experience may not have been the first one. The T/V unit looks like its never been touched. So hopefully a complete rebuild will get me back on the road and driving safely for many more years.

Thanks Brian and Howard

When I called Ficken the other day they they mentioned some name that I couldn't understand on the phone and after asking him to repeat it twice, I just gave up. Now if they only have the part that I really need. I looks like the electric pump on my unit overheated at some point and melted the plastic cover and the wires leading to it are broken.

Does anyone know of a company that can repair a Trico Mag Nu Matic windshield wiper? If the same company can also rebuild a wiper motor too that would be great. I've tried Ficken, but they don't do the washer.

Looks like time has finally caught up with the old East Grand Blvd. plant. After last week's 60 degree weather, we had very strong winds last Wednesday. Those winds caused some of the facade of the bridge over East Grand Blvd. to come crashing down.

Hey guys,

Sorry that I haven't posted anything since my first question, but that's what happens when work life gets in the way of Packard life. I took advantage of last weeks warm weather to get the Clipper pushed out and took a look at the reservoir, which was completely dry. I assume then that the fluid has been sucked into the vacuum chamber. I filled it back up and checked for leaks in the lines, but didn't find any. So, it must be the compensator valve. Well atleast I have a starting point for this spring. Will keep everyone posted on anything new, and will try to get some more pics taken and posted.

Thanks everyone, but I decided to pass on this one. I'm sure that another one will come along .

Thanks Mal, I should have thought of that myself.

Anyone near Oroville,CA that might be willing to go and check out this car?

Anyone seen this 1941 Special on eBay? Any feed back on its value? I think that this might be the perfect pre-war companion to my '56 Clipper.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching&viewitem=&item=230198996724&_trksid=p3907.m32