Re: Randy Berger's 1956 Caribbean

Posted by Randy Berger On 2007/10/22 20:29:06

Robert, sorry I missed you at Hershey - hope you found any needed parts. I bought the display license plate frame from Mid-Atlantic Packards. They had sold out to a bunch of Ford folks. They probably just wanted to buy a part that wasn't pre-rusted.
While I was enjoying the train meet, my friend removed the core plugs and scraped the block. As suspected a lot of crap in there. As I was cleaning up the block today to paint it, I looked for the Utica engine plant number on the right rear boss where it is supposed to be - nothing. On a hunch I chemically stripped the paint off the area where all other V8 Packards have their serial number just to the right of the oil filler tube. The number "C1339" was stamped there. I am waiting for Owen Dyneto to state what his Utica number is. He said he thought he had written it down. My engine was cast on 9/21/55. Owen thought his was cast in November of 1955. None of this is must-have info, but it adds some provenance to the vehicle and satisfies my own curiosity.
Robert, if you look up this info on your engine would you post it for those of us who are curious??
I forgot to pick up core plugs to block the exhaust from the intake manifold - get them tomorrow.