Re: Opinions on to Restore or Sell

Posted by BH On 2013/4/29 9:02:50

There are several things you should consider, privately, before selling any car in this level of condition - regardless of year/make/model.

Just how much more "disposable" income will you really have in the future? (I actually have less of that to work with now than I did 20 years ago.) Also, keep in mind that more prices go up, rather than down, over time, and that is further compounded as the general supply of parts - and, to a lesser extent, cars - continues to shrink.

Will some other "restored" example be restored correctly, or even to your specification? (I prefer to buy unrestored originals - even if in need of reasonable level of restoration.)

Also, thanks to the Great Recession, this is an especially bad time to sell.

When it comes to Packards, I only collect the V8 models, but since you're in it this far and have a place to store the car indoors, I suggest that you keep chipping away. A car that doesn't move under it's own power, and safely, is a hard sell.

Before you try cranking the engine over with the starter, pull the spark plugs and make sure the engine bars over freely. If so, drain the engine oil and drop and clean the oil pan before you refill. Also, give the wiring harness a good visual inspection, before you turn the key.

Then, go through the fuel system from stem to stern. Once you verify that it has the correct carb, rebuild kits are available from Daytona Parts Co.. Also, I donated scans of several original sheets for Carter carbs - including service procedure for WDO models as used on Clippers - for this site's Literature and Manuals archive; see the article on Carter Carburetor Service Sheets. I also donated a scan for the 1947 and prior Carter Fuel Pump Service Procedure which may be of help to you.

The ignition system should be pretty basic, but the archive also has a Ignition Service Training Manual that was written specifically for the 41-47 cars.

Once you get the engine running and have drained and refilled fluids for the rest of the running gear, you'll wanna go through the brakes - including hydraulics.

Then, you can evaluate the rest of the mechanicals and body to determine your next steps. As you continue to make progress, you can always revisit the notion of whether to sell or keep going.