Stewart's 1955 Packard 400
Posted by Stewart Ballard On 2013/2/12 21:47:03
Starting my project blog now before I forget things. My 1955 Model 400 is currently inside my small garage. There isn't a lot of room in there but this location is only temporary. I have a new 30x40 building due to begin construction in April. For this reason I'm not going to jump into this project to fast or it would be harder to move the car later. Not sure yet what I'll do until April.
I found my Packard on Craigslist in Southhaven Mississippi. I'd been searching every city within 500 miles on craigslist for several weeks for a 400. I wanted a fixer upper and I got it. The car was actually parked about 20 feet from the MS/TN state line on HWY 51. That's about half mile south of Graceland. A buddy and I went down on February 2nd to bring it home to Kentucky.
The car appears to be all original. It's been sitting for a while and has some rust but so far it does not appear to be anything I can't handle. I'm not sure of the engines condition. The whole car does appear to be about 99% complete. All the chrome, trimmings, buttons and knobs are in place.
The floor and trunk pans do have some serious rust but I've not cleaned it all up yet so they are still unknown. The fuel tank is gone. At first I figured the straps had rusted and the tank was left were it was parked but I found the straps and the float device in the trunk so I am sure it was salvaged. The brake lines are rusted and broken in multiple places.
I am planning a complete frame off restoration for my Packard. I'm not sure there is any other way I could do it, having no idea how long it's been sitting or the engines condition. Frame off just seems the smartest way to go. I did pull the oil and transmission dip sticks today and both were showing good fluids levels and in good condition so that's another mystery. Below are some images I took today of some parts that I'll be eventually looking for.
By the way I am a photographer so you can expect many pictures once I actually begin restoration. I hope I can keep this blog up-to-date for both you and me. There are some blogs here (like BigKevs) that inspire. There are also many that got lost along the way. I hope I can rank up there among the former rather then the latter.
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I found my Packard on Craigslist in Southhaven Mississippi. I'd been searching every city within 500 miles on craigslist for several weeks for a 400. I wanted a fixer upper and I got it. The car was actually parked about 20 feet from the MS/TN state line on HWY 51. That's about half mile south of Graceland. A buddy and I went down on February 2nd to bring it home to Kentucky.
The car appears to be all original. It's been sitting for a while and has some rust but so far it does not appear to be anything I can't handle. I'm not sure of the engines condition. The whole car does appear to be about 99% complete. All the chrome, trimmings, buttons and knobs are in place.
The floor and trunk pans do have some serious rust but I've not cleaned it all up yet so they are still unknown. The fuel tank is gone. At first I figured the straps had rusted and the tank was left were it was parked but I found the straps and the float device in the trunk so I am sure it was salvaged. The brake lines are rusted and broken in multiple places.
I am planning a complete frame off restoration for my Packard. I'm not sure there is any other way I could do it, having no idea how long it's been sitting or the engines condition. Frame off just seems the smartest way to go. I did pull the oil and transmission dip sticks today and both were showing good fluids levels and in good condition so that's another mystery. Below are some images I took today of some parts that I'll be eventually looking for.
By the way I am a photographer so you can expect many pictures once I actually begin restoration. I hope I can keep this blog up-to-date for both you and me. There are some blogs here (like BigKevs) that inspire. There are also many that got lost along the way. I hope I can rank up there among the former rather then the latter.
Attach file:
(75.63 KB)
(49.89 KB)
(49.80 KB)
(61.61 KB)
(69.53 KB)
(67.86 KB)
(70.78 KB)
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