Re: 55PackardGuy's '54 Clipper Deluxe

Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2014/8/7 10:38:17

Mechanical stuff and rust underneath:

The oil sending switch is leaking. I'm not sure where to get a replacement. If I can't find it on-line, I think I'll have my mechanic order it from NAPA. Maybe they won't charge him big$$ for shipping. Then at least I'm not dragging more of my own parts into the shop, which I don't like to do. I know my dad used to hate that when he was doing work for customers, especially first-timers who would show up with an alternator and a "could you put this on for me." More like an order than a request. He charged premium labor to those guys, or sometimes just turned them away.

While I have it in for the oil sender unit, I think I'll have another oil change, probably to straight 40 weight. The summer is hot.

Then, the fuel and temp gauges are not working. I've been told that they are on the same circuit, and it might be the breaker. I hate messing with dashes, and it might not be the breaker, so I'll have the mechanic check it out, and also lube the speedometer cable.

On to the body business. Having a heck of a time getting the little rubber hood stops to go in the holes on the front edge of the hood. I can tell they are going to make for a quieter ride, because with just three of them partially seated, the banging of the hood stopped. It reverberated through the body so badly that I thought other parts might be loose, too.

I think I'm going to use silicon spray to get the tapered rubber peg to go on all the way to the groove that is supposed to seat in the hole.

Speaking of hood stuff, I acquired through the forum here (thanks Packards51!) a new hood latch assembly that includes a safety catch hook, which was broken off of my old one. I haven't tackled that yet, but it looks easy as pie. Yeah right. Simple, but easy? Probably not for me.

One thing that I recently completed that might deserve close attention for all who have cars with the long air ducts from the front of the car to the heater/fresh air system. Any breaks or cracks in the flexible portions, or gaps between the pipes and the flex, cause massive amounts of engine odors and underhood heat to enter the passenger compartment. Also, I suspect, plenty of carbon monoxide! Fixing any openings is a safety factor, in my book.(It also greatly enhances driving comfort.) I wonder how many people passed out or died from fumes while innocently driving down the road in the winter with the windows rolled up?

I'll be posting a pic of the "swell job" I did temporarily fixing the tear that frequently occurs in the flexible duct that is positioned right over the con-sarned Master Cylinder.

Body mounts, with brackets, will need to be in the near future. I think my body man can find the rubber mounts, but the brackets?

Lots of rust on the front shackles on the rear springs. They need at least some welding.

Boxed tubing brace that goes from the front of the rocker panels diagonally across to attach to the main frame... passenger side has huge rust hole. It requires a new brace or welding a couple of pieces to it.

On the same side, the inner fender has come loose from the body. Bolt/screw is there, but the corner of the fender it attaches to just happened to rust off.

Funny thing is, although there is pretty bad rust in spots, there are places where you'd expect it that are fine.

There are nooks an crannies galore where dirt and mud can cake on and stay forever. I'd recommend getting a car up on the hoist once in a while and check for this stuff. It looks like this car was driven on muddy gravel roads at some time in its life.