734 speedster sedan project

Posted by tfee On 2011/6/17 10:43:46

I've got an itch to recreate the 734 Packard speedster sedan on my what's left of my 733 sedan and would love any information that you folks could come up with.

According to the reader in front of the car at the Gilmore museum it's lower and narrower than a standard Packard sedan. I did some tracings in ACAD of the car off some photots I found on the web and it looks like a standard 726 body with a longer hood and 1 1/2" to 2" drop to me. The front fenders look to be unique to the model (possibly from a 740?)but the rear fenders look like standard 726 items. Do any of you have actual dimensions for comparison?

Lowering of the car can easily be achieved with lowering blocks however I am sure that Packard didn't do it this way. I've already talked to a couple of sources who drop axles and they both suggested that my front axle can not be dropped in the traditional manner. This is mostly due to the large mounting pad cast in to it for the lever shock. I would like to know how (and if) Packard did it. 1931 and later cars mounted the lever shocks to the frame and mounted the dogbones to the axle. This arrangement would make it easier to lower the axle without major work. Lowering the rear of the car is very simple with new springs.

I also read somewhere that Packard reinforced the standard 733 frame by boxing it in (standard hot rod procedure)although I have never seen the frame of a 734 and can't confirm this. Do any of you have pictures of this so that I can recreate it? There are many areas along the frame where boxing would create a problem like the steering box and crossmembers and I wonder how Packard got around them.


I currently have my car stripped down to the chassis and the engine is at the rebuilders. The standard (#404)sedan body that came on my car has been modified in to a club sedan by someone with an axe, a stick welder and a deep love of lead so it probably won't be reused on this project. Moving forward, I'd like to find a 726 sedan body and use it on my 733 frame with a longer hood so let me know if you have an extra 726 body in your attic. In the meantime I will continue restoring the chassis components as needed and getting the engine back in order. Thanks for any help or insight you may be able to provide on this project.
Todd
Livonia, MI