Re: Newbie here,with a question about an engine swap.

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2010/9/5 20:46:35

#1 A crack is not the end of the world. They are fairly common on old engines from a cold climate. If not too bad they can be repaired by welding, stitching or even JB weld epoxy. If the engine is otherwise good, and the crack not too severe it may be an easy repair. You will have to see it or wait till the inspection.

#2 It would cost no more to find a suitable Packard engine and rebuild it, than to install a junkyard Ford engine. And the Packard engine will not depreciate the value like an engine swap would. I would not even consider such a swap, it would be too much work and expense for too poor a return.

#3 Usually "browning" is the result of delamination. Laminated safety glass is made of 2 thin sheets of glass with a sheet of clear plastic in between. After many years the glass can start to separate around the edges allowing the plastic to turn color.

This only happens to the windshield because it is the only glass on the car that is laminated.

But usually it is white or light green not brown.

If it is not the windshield maybe it is only dirty. I have seen cars that belonged to a heavy smoker that you could hardly see out of.

In any case the windshield and side windows are flat glass. This can be easily replaced by any auto glass shop. Only the back window is curved. It can only be replaced by genuine Packard glass. But they seldom get broken.

(PS it is possible to make a replacement back glass of clear plastic but this is seldom necessary. Used back glass is readily available).

Going by your questions, I suspect you have not had much to do with restoring an old car. This would be an awfully big job for a beginner. It's hard to describe quite what you are getting into but let me try.

Imagine yourself writing a check for $1000 every week for the next year, and the car still won't be finished.

When I read old car ads I envy anyone who lives in San Diego because there seem to be so many solid, rust free, low priced cars in southern California. May I suggest you keep looking until you find a car in better shape, closer to home, that needs no work? I realize it will cost a lot more money but believe me, it will be way cheaper than trying to restore a cheap car and look at the time you save.