Re: 1956 Clipper Deluxe

Posted by Brian Wilson On 2020/4/12 4:24:42

Hello Don

Making a bit of progress with self-isolation time on my hands. Looking for suitable clips now to secure the new fresh air ducting. May end up using duct tape to secure/seal the ends as before. Would prefer not to. Looks pretty untidy (ugly).

Also been crawling around underneath looking for a Utica engine number on the V8. So far coming up blank, although may be hiding under the paint next to where the new Australian engine number was stamped.

Was reduced to reading my 1956 Clipper Owners' Manual, which contains a 5-page chapter entitled "Driving Your New Car". Someone has thoughtfully added a note on the back page. "How to drive. Place hands on steering wheel. Turn on key." Simple, eh?

At your suggestion, I'm looking for narrower radials to fit to my wire wheels. At present they have 235x75x15 steel-belted thin whitewalls (with tubes), which I guess will be even harder to steer at low speeds than the 215x75x15 radials on the steel wheels which came off the car. May have to go for the Cokers which look like cross plies (same as yours?) but are now quite expensive here. The existing tires look virtually new but are more than 15 years old. Definitely past their prime.

Have liberally greased up the front suspension/steering mechanism.

My paint guy scheduled to do the freshen up has gone home because of the virus. Was hoping to have that underway by now, but guess it will have to wait.

If paint looks like being far off, will get into the Bendix TreadleVac rebuild with the help of an experienced mechanic friend. Can't find local experts to do it. Would love to have someone like Ross Miller do it, but just not practical from here. Have his excellent write-up to guide us, though.

Cheers

Brian