FWIW, the old HVAC guys I know say the Lehigh compressor was one of the best ever built and designed to run 24/7 in commercial applications. One of the reasons no one else used it was it is large and expensive. If the car is to be judged as a restoration, it would be the way to go. I have one which looks very good.

thnx, jv.

Dear dr,

as if straight line acceleration was the reason you love eceterini above all other automobili? then we might accept the power-to-weight ratio was the common denominator.

as mentioned in my earlier post, love needs no logic.

thnx, jv.

Hi, dr,

From 750cc and 1200# to 6200cc and 4600#. Try to find a unifying theory in that!

thnx, jv

Greetings, dretceterini,

Cars, wives and mistresses are all individual choices and none can say him nay . . . but a '52-56 Nash? I've had the bad fortune to own a '53 and a '56 (the latter had the Packard V8 and Twin-Ultramatic) They were both roomy, comfortable and quiet. However, so is my living room sofa and it drives about as well as did those Gnashes. They are also a style which never grew on me. I've come to love the Packard Hawk, but the Nash of that era still doesn't find a home in my heart or my garage. I will, however, keep you in mind should one be offered in my area. Just a last question, why not a '57-58? They were even less attractive to my eye!

thnx, jv.

The late Steve Williams had a '56 Carib with an overdrive which was a dealer conversion. The high clutch pedal and the low power brake pedal looked clunky. Don't know where the car is now that Steve has gone.

thnx, jack vines

Greetings, Eric,

It is to be hoped your simple solution is permanent. Question. If there is a spacer between the two pulleys, then the outer portion is no longer an interference fit and thus is un-supported. Am concerned the sheet metal might eventually fatigue.

Second point, even though the harmonic balancers you mention have the same bore diameter as the Packard, none of them are cantilevered way out as is the bad-science Packard design. I am using a Ford Racing balancer on my hot rod engine. If you want to try one, I have an extra. It does require using a different water pump and grinding off the timing tab from the front cover.

thnx, jv.

Greetings,

I have three engines with aftermarket AC setups, complete with brackets, pulleys and compressors. The interesting thing is all three are different. Two mount the compressor on the passenger's side and one on the driver'side. All three compressors are different. One is the Lehigh, one a York and not sure on the third. If anyone is interested, I could adapt a Sanden, put new bearings in the idler pulley, paint it up and ship it ready to install.

thnx, jv.

It looks like a 352" Packard V8 which Studebaker sold as surplus through the late '50s. Stokes Marine sold many conversions. Internally, it is the same as all Packard 352" engines. The usual Egge, Kanter, Packard International, Max Merritt sources have all the hard parts, albiet at a price.

If you are interested, I have two completely rebuilt 352" V8s on the test stand ready for purchase. Contact me off list at PackardV8@comcast.net

thnx, jack vines

Very interesting. I have a unit from a '56 which was a flat fabricated steel bracket and the separate Lehigh compressor bolted to it. Has anyone seen this version?

BTW, Compressor and bracket is for sale for $150 if anyone needs it. Compressor is clean externally and the bracket has been sandblasted.

thnx, jack vines

Greetings, All,

What am I missing here? I use a large multi-purpose three-jaw puller all the time on Packard V8 front dampers. The inner main pulley is cast iron and a part of the assembly. I have never damaged one yet. As long as your puller is sufficiently large for the jaws of the puller reach around and catch the back of outer ring of the damper and pull on it, essentially, this is the same way the factory puller works. It is pulling the balance ring against the cast iron pulley. The sheet metal pulley mentioned by Randy is a separate piece, removeable after the center bolt is out. Not really a big deal with a good puller.

thnx, jv.