Re: 1940 Packard 110 project car

Posted by Charles On 2016/11/28 19:39:35

Corey,
I invite you to read my '51 Packard blog, link below on my signature page. Just read the first few pages, then the last few on how it ended up. I was 18 when I bought that car. I'm 40 now.

Other makes and models of cars have passed through my hands over that time frame, but I always kept the '51 Packard until I got the '52.

So was all that time and energy wasted? Depends on who you ask. If you really like '40 Packards eventually you will buy a better one like I did. In my case I was not out any real money. The metal I got for free. Any Packard metal I bought was sold to others at my cost plus any other parts I was able to cut off my car for them. The wire harness I made went into the better car and also the better gauges and chrome. What I received from working on the '51 was a valuable education on basic auto repair and more importantly the confidence to take things apart and hopefully make them better.

Of course as your car sits you will be upside down trying to restore it. Heck it may end up as scrap down the road anyway like my car. As I see it, right now you have a free car, free metal, and someone willing to teach you. You have nothing to lose if you are smart with what you put money into.

Don't worry about mechanicals right now. That's easy. I recommend you try to fix the rust the best you can. Learn to weld and fabricate metal. That will help you decide if this project is right for you.

If you are determined to do mechanicals first and you are settled on this style of car, anything you do could be transferred to a better condition car down the road like I did. Good luck and I will be following along cheering you on!