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The 53 caribs had a very normal 5 main bearing 327 that is not hard to find. It only differed from the 53 Clipper engine by having a 4bbl. What is your parts car?

Of critical importance on the convertibles are the torque boxes built in behind the rocker panels. I am guessing that they are gone on your car, and I don't think anyone is making them. They are vital for the rigidity of the car and you will need to plan those into your work.

I guess what I am getting at is that it would be far easier and more economical to put your fender extensions and hood on another car and voila: Caribbean. That is all that they did in the day.

That'd probably be fine, if it was just for the looks of the Caribbean - but then the vin numbers wouldn't match to a real Caribbean, which would probably make a difference if it came time to sell.

Otherwise you could put Patrician wings and a hood scoop on a Clipper and add a couple thousand dollars to the value. :D

Okay, luckily I took a picture of the vin on the parts car for my records, so it turns out it's not the base Clipper with the 288, it's the Clipper Deluxe, which had a 327. So instead of a whole engine, I might just need the carburetor. I'll confirm when I get over to the storage building this weekend, but I feel better about that now. :D

More pictures of the parts car:

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You will need the 4 barrel manifold in addition to the 4 barrel carb, but they aren't too hard to find.

You are very fortunate in that your parts car has been converted to stick and overdrive. All of that will go very nicely in a Caribbean.

The column shift still says L and H like I figured would be for Ultramatic - I thought it was weird that you had to push the clutch in to change gears though.

you really need to read into what Ross is saying, his idea could save you 10 thousand bucks and make your car still correct and original, you need to buy the more solid 53 convertible NOW

It's already sold - I had called the guy back today to talk to him about the split bench from the convertible. The frame on the Caribbean is fine, all the new floorpans just came in the mail today.

Managed to get back by the storage building today - got the radiator out, the area with the hood latch, the trunk and trunk hinges so far. I'd hoped to get the fenders, but just didn't quite get there. I tricked myself for the second time now thinking I had everything I needed because my tool kit was in the car, but forgot that I'd taken the 3/8" ratchet to use for one of my others cars I was working on and not put it back, so I was stuck removing what I could with a 1/4" ratchet and wrenches. I'll have to go back with a 3/8" and extension to get those bottom bolts.

Everything on this car is in great shape - I have the new trunk floorpans ready to go in, but was worried about how I was going to make the spare tire well since noone seems to sell it - well the one in this car is perfect, now I just have to find the best way to cut it out in a storage building with no power!

My wife amused herself reading headlines from the 1983 newspaper she found in the trunk, until I gave her a wrench and told her to get the hinges.

The bad news - it turns out it was a 288 in the car, but correctly from 1953. Unusual since the info page here shows that model of Clipper coming with a 327, but as it's still a 1953 serial it seems like a swap would be unlikely.

So it looks like I'll be looking for a correct engine now. In the meantime I'll grab this one and get it working, but no point in rebuilding the thing if I'm just going to be getting rid of it, as long as it runs. If I get ready to put the engine in before I find the one I need, then I can at least put something in to get her moving down the road while I try to find the right parts.