So, I bought a new master cylinder for my '37 115c. Then I painted it, put it on my frame, and it sat outside for about a month while I was finishing the chassis. The cap was on.

The problem is, I forgot that the cap is vented, so some water got in and the inside is rusty. I have never put fluid in the master cylinder.

My thought was to disassemble it, inspect the bore, clean as required, and reassemble, but I don't know what to do about the rest of the master cylinder interior.

Any thoughts on how to clean the rest of the master cylinder?

Well, today saw more of the car back together. Bolted the body on (it was just sitting there before), put the starter and battery back in, and installed as much of the interior as is going in, consisting of the front and rear seats plus the rear arm rests and hang straps. I also got the rear brakes back together. HATE assembling drum brakes. More details here:https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=7773&forum=1&post_id=83237#forumpost83237

I also looked at the 1938 Packard "limousine." It turned out to be a mostly rust-free Packard 8 touring sedan. Pretty interested, but I'm not sure how I'd get it to Idaho.

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Thanks Packick for the photos and everyone for the thoughts. I solved the problem by putting spacers (on each side of the shoe) on the bolt holding the emergency brake to the shoe. The reinforcements were approximately 0.095" but they were pretty damaged from being chiseled off the old shoes. A 3/8" flat washer was 0.67" thick, so I ground off one side slightly to clear the shoe, and voila!

For the record, I hate assembling drum brakes. Or anything with a spring, really. I have brake drum pliers- must be a REAL nightmare without them.

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Flackmaster, you know me too well. Now that I'm posting from my computer instead of my phone, I'll pose the full question:

I found a 1938? Packard 8 that was restored 16 or 17 years ago. It has the wrong hood ornament because the original (which they have) is broken. The engine was rebuilt about 20 years ago. It appears to be rust (and bondo!) free, except for some bad spots on the rain gutters and the passenger side front door. The seats and carpet were redone, but carpets and headliner are loose, and the seats feel saggy, like they weren't rebuilt, just recovered. A lot of the chrome will need to be redone, as does all the wood graining.

I'm thinking it is WAY better shape than my '37, and I want to get it to either:

-Drive while restoring my '37 over the next 4-5 years.
-Restore instead of my '37 (if the body is too far gone to be done within my budget)
-Fix up a lot of the easy stuff and turn it for a profit (not ideal, but that's reality sometimes)

Things I've noticed it's missing right off-
- Glove box
- Splash pans
- Road draft tube
- Clutch cover

Some of that stuff may be in the guy's shed. He apparently bought it 15-20 years ago from the family that owned it originally. They have all the documentation, but don't really know where it is at.

Pros- the body is way better, the car is a lot further along, and it appears to be really rust free. Oh yeah, and it's an eight, not a six!

Cons- the paint needs some work, the roof is damaged from a shop cave-in, it's not a '37, and I don't have a two place car trailer.

Does anyone have any good companies for cross-country transport? Ballpark prices? Want to haul a car from CT to Idaho?

Thanks for all the thoughts! Sorry for the long-winded post.

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Looking at another Packard. It is a 1938 so the VIN tag is gone. I know the serial number is supposed to be on the frame, but couldn't find it. What is the difference between a 1601-D 1172 and a 1601 1192? I know the former is deluxe and they are both 4 door touring sedan, but what makes a deluxe de-luxe?

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Made a few more things Packard green and started on the re-assembly. I have reached the point where I am no longer restoring. (distributor, etc.) It's a temporary condition; I will restore it all someday!

Tomorrow I am going to put the rear brakes together. My plan is to rivet the reinforcements on my shoes and use that until I can get a better option.

I am also going to look at a 1938 Packard limousine that is for sale near here. Not sure what I would do with it if I bought it, but that's beside the point.

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When I took apart my rear brakes, I found that there were reinforcements on the shoes. After discussion with Fred Kanter, we determined that the reinforcements are not correct. I've attached a couple views of the rear brakes, could anyone tell me if what they have is the same? I have two theories:

The whole e-brake assembly is incorrect

-or-

The bolt holding the e-brake assembly onto the shoe is not correct, and was put into the car when the wrong shoes were put in.

Thanks!

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Thanks Mal!

I've accomplished a bit more in the last couple of days. Last night was devoted to taking borrowed tools to their owner. Today, I ordered a new exhaust, cleaned off the remainder of the Packard green engine accessories, and fixed my road draft tube. I'm having technical difficulties, so no pictures, but should have some in a day or two. Still have lots to do, but my list is getting a little bit shorter for the time being.

Also- what is the factory firewall color- body color or semi-gloss black? Mine is semi-gloss black, which is what I assumed was correct, but when I pulled off a piece of masking tape, I found the factory blue underneath.

Well, I accomplished a lot this weekend. I put the motor and tranny back in the frame, put the body on the frame again, and got the driveline and nearly everything else under the body hooked up. All I have left under the car is the e-brake cables, rubber strap that goes from the back of the transmission to the frame (Not that I have a bloody clue what it does!), and fill the rear diff with fluid. I did remember the frame to transmission grounding strap!

Wow, the contrast between the body and the parts I've worked on is amazing. Can't wait until the whole car looks like that!

I'm still trying to figure out how to return my rear brakes to stock, and that's getting a bit urgent.

Today, I painted the head. Tomorrow should be a good day to start putting the motor back together. I also found a shop to boil out the radiator, and another to cut me a new windshield.

I have to leave 19 August, and the goal is to drive it up on the trailer (and have it stop!) Lots of work to do. It won't be wired, I'm just going to jury rig enough wiring for it to run until I can do it right.

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Excellent! Thanks for all the info guys. I won't be driving my Packard, but I will have it on a trailer making its way across the country, so if anyone is in the locale and wants to chat, we'll be there in Dayton about 1 or so on Saturday, August 20th.