My car and speedo are from 1953. And it is an intersting idea about the 'transmission' on the speedo cable. I'll search to see if there is anything available anywhere. I don't know if the gearing on the output shaft (to the speedo) on the trans could be changed. I know for GM transmissions you change a gear depending on the rear axle ratio. Perhaps something like that could be had for the packard trans?

Right now I have stickers on my speedo indicating 30, 50 and 100 kmh, but at night I can't see the stickers, so it would be nice to have a speedo with the numbers on the face switched around.
Anybody ever take apart a speedo (53 clipper or similar) and have any idea how easy/difficult it would be to relocate the numbers?
Used instrument clusters seem to show up on Ebay pretty cheap. (Converting the odometer doesn't really seem feasable) Or can I somehow multiply the speedo cable speed by 1.6? Would be a good winter project.
Thanks, Prosit!

Got to steal some time today and visit the packard and install the side emblem I got from Emblemmagic. -Thanks to Big Kev for posting that they were available. I had bought one years ago at Perrysburg, and the other side was looking dull. Removed the back seat, the arm rest, window crank and the stainless section on the side. Now there is some more color to see. The quality of the part was really good. When I looked *really* close I could see a little bit of fingerprint in the red paint, but I am still very happy with the part, and the price is fair.
Here's a before and after shot!

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I went to one of the local Deutschebahn offices and got some info...
maximum dimensions seem to be:
5.3 meters (208 inches) long (barely OK)
Max width is 2.05 meter (80 inches) OK
The roof can only be 1.96 meters (77.2 inches) wide at the highest point, which I am going to have to measure and see if it will fit....No plans to go to russia for me!

I don't know about crossing into russia! I better have a look at googlemaps. North Germany is already pretty for for me! A friend of mine rode his motorcycle over into Russia, and it seems a lot different, bribes are somewhat normal, so answering questions at the border might involve trading vodka or 'geld' My passport is US, and I think we need a visa as well as a list of where we would stay, and detailed plans of our travels....I don't think it is so easy.
However, when you show up in a packard, you always get special treatment!
-Tobs

Longshot except for Guscha perhaps...

The European meet is "coming up" in June, and I am thinking about going. Driving to Denmark from Munich would be a bit far, but there is an "Autozug" where I can load my car on the train in Munich, get a sleeper car overnight, and then unload in Hamburg for about 600 euro roundtrip with 2 people. Not cheap, but I guess still cheaper than gas here! And a little more relaxed.

Anybody know about putting an old car on the autozug? I looked on the deutschebahn website, and the limit on length is 5.3 meters. (Exactly the length of my car a 53 clipper delux coupe club sedan) Other tips, or other people from Austria, Germany or Spain going?

Viele Gru?e,
Tobs

Just was visiting my car in the "tiefgarage" (underground garage) and took note of the number stamped on the block. It corresponds to a 1954 237 5 main with solid lifters... I know the numbers on the head are from 1953...I knew the engine was changed before I got the car, but could they have put the original 53 head on the 54 block, or were they still using heads from the previous year?
Cheers, Tobs

Thanks for the translation of the buildsheet! Now I know for certain the wunderbar is not correct. I pulled that out of a patrician in a junk yard in Maryland about 13 years ago.
And the painted grill doesn't look bad, but somebody once commented that there were no "cheap packards" Painted grills are more often seen on pick ups from this era....Someday... after my rockers and wheel arches are free of oxidation.
Tobs

Some more pics of my weekend activities. In one photo you can see the kickpanels I made years ago and never painted or upholstered. Also visible is the ignition push button, and the switch for my hazard lamps. The H4 Mazda Miata headlights are also to visible. They look a little funny because they are flat, and not convex like the original lights. The light pattern is a little better than the old lights.

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I did some 'fun' jobs over the weekend. I got a few things from Kanter, and after calling DHL 10 times and tracking down my package paid the import tax and claimed my long lost parts.

Gas tank spring. I didn't even know there was supposed to be one before this website. The door feels a little more luxurious now.

High beam switch rubber boot. Really a silly thing to do, but adds a little more luxury to the experience.

New parking light lenses. Brightened up the front of the car a little. A chrome grill would also help, but that is not in the budget right now.
More Pics to follow
Tobs

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