Re: Adventures with a 1955 Clipper

Posted by JWL On 2011/6/2 15:44:17

Guy, thanks for the encouraging words. I think the blog will get more interesting as I start to re-assemble the top of the engine.

I should have talked more about the water pump. I bought a rebuilt one from Max Merritt. The old one looked okay, but I decided to replace it now when it is so easy to do so.

Also, more should have been said about the vacuum pump in the oil pump. Many of us know that the Packard engines Nash and Hudson used in some of their 1956 models used a single function oil pump and a double fuel & vacuum pump. This must have been a special build specification for the American Motors engines. I am not quite sure I understand why this change was made. This brings up another thought: I don't know which oil pump Studebaker used in their Packard-engined 1956 Golden Hawks.

I was told by the previous owner that my engine has one of the Bob Aller modified oil pumps. The front cover looks like it had been off at some time and hopefully, the late style cam retainer was installed. Lifters are quiet and oil pressure comes up quickly.

(o{I}o)