Re: The Stripper Clipper (1955 Panama)

Posted by 64avanti On 2014/6/30 20:18:04

So here are the Cliff notes on the last 3 weeks:
I got the intake bolts to fit with the thicker gaskets by drilling out the holes on one side by about .03, freshened up a new (to me) distributor (looked really nice), finished up the carb and started her up with fresh oil. Things sounded great for about the first 90 seconds & then the banging started. It sounded like a couple of ball-peen hammers at valve train speed. I could not believe how loud it was. Something inside must have gotten gummed up?
Fast forward: I had to pull the heater assy to get the right rocker shaft off. NOT fun. Pulled the rockers & lifters and the good news was that the cam lobes & lifters looked super. Disassembled & cleaned all 16 lifters. Put them back together & only lost ONE plunger clip. FYI, a Buick V6/8 lifter clip works :)
She started right up yesterday and is quiet! All that work is almost worth it. So far, special thanks go out to that Polish Packard Professor up in Duluth, der hey.