Re: Packard Pickups
Posted by Ross On 2011/9/17 21:41:49
Well folks, the old 56 finally got all her new rockers and fender bottoms, a coat of paint and even a new engine. She just made her debut at the Henry Joy tour and I stopped on the way home to pick up some fenders at the Packard Dealer in Shenadoah PA. Took some pictures at the abandoned St Nicholas coal breaking plant--9 stories of derelict industrial fascination.
The new engine is an early production '55 320 with the fully machined conmbustion chambers. Can hardly tell it from the original 352 powerwise, but it seems it might be a bit more economical once broken in. It is fitted with a Packard oil pump that I had rebushed in bronze, and then cross drilled for pressure oil feed to the bushing. That seems quite happy and the lifters have not been heard from since the initial startup--even with the oil level at the add mark. The old engine would have been in hysteria by then. I discarded the vac pump and made a bottom plate from ground flat stock from MSC.
I used the 56 Thunderbird fuel/vac pump, and had Mr. Ficken rebuild the wiper motor. The wipers work fantastic now--over 100 beats per minute at full speed on the short stroke. All comments to the contrary, there was nothing wrong with those wipers when new.
Having lots of fun, and am glad to have her back on the road. Will put up some interior shots as soon as that's done.
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The new engine is an early production '55 320 with the fully machined conmbustion chambers. Can hardly tell it from the original 352 powerwise, but it seems it might be a bit more economical once broken in. It is fitted with a Packard oil pump that I had rebushed in bronze, and then cross drilled for pressure oil feed to the bushing. That seems quite happy and the lifters have not been heard from since the initial startup--even with the oil level at the add mark. The old engine would have been in hysteria by then. I discarded the vac pump and made a bottom plate from ground flat stock from MSC.
I used the 56 Thunderbird fuel/vac pump, and had Mr. Ficken rebuild the wiper motor. The wipers work fantastic now--over 100 beats per minute at full speed on the short stroke. All comments to the contrary, there was nothing wrong with those wipers when new.
Having lots of fun, and am glad to have her back on the road. Will put up some interior shots as soon as that's done.
Attach file:
(168.05 KB)
(156.31 KB)
(173.31 KB)
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