Just 2 cents worth and agreeing with Owen Dyneto, the hood of my 54 Caribbean is steel /lead and much heavier than my 53 Clipper steel hood. I would suggest that the brace is an absolute necessity given the lever effect of the modified heavy outer hood (scoop) end, and the marginal upward push of the standard hood springing. Peter Toet

You are probably right. I could have sworn about a year ago there was a fiberglass hood on eBay advertised being for a Caribbean.

Come the think of it (trying to remember back), that eBay hood did look more like the 53-54 styled hood.

Maybe it was an old proto-type for one of the showcars.

I'm quite certain the 53/54 Caribbean hoods were modified standard steel hoods, with the air scoop section added and leaded; thus the need for the hood support rods. 1955 hoods may indeed also contain considerable lead as they too have the support rods which 1956 Caribbean hoods don't; 56 hoods are VERY much lighter than 55s. Someone who has stripped a 55 hood in the course of repainting could confirm this.

BigKev -

Actually, the 1955-56 Caribbean hoods were steel stampings.

Not sure about 1953-54 Caribs, but the 1955 Packard Request show car had a fiberglass hood.

Randy & Robert -

There was barely enough room at my offsite storage to get to my Carib Hardtop to get another part that Randy needed study for his car, but I think I can clear this up from my chair.

I cracked open the good old factory parts book and started scanning thorugh the body section looking for things unique to the Carib. No luck in the "Front Fenders" subsection, but I found something interesting in the "Radiator Grille & Splasher" subsection.

Check out Group 30.874932 for a "Radiator Side Splasher to Frame Brace". The hardware listed seems to match details that Randy provided to me (privately), and there is a LH and RH version of the brace.

Also, this bracing is used only on 5588 and 5699 (convertible) body styles, but NOT the 5697 (Hardtop). Actually I'm not surprised about that since the Caribbean Hardtop body is essentially a Four Hundred shell. So, there's probably no need to check my Carib.

I think Robert is right about the purpose of this brace. When I have had my Hardtop up on a lift or four jackstands, I see a change in the gap between the trailing edge of the door and the leading edge of the rear fender. I can only imagine how much more the deflection would be on a car without a fixed roof.

Hence, this is very likely one of those things that was added by the factory to accomodate an open car configuration. I'm sure there are other measures employed throughout the convertible body and chassis.

My only explanation for the lack of the RH (passenger side) brace on Randy's car might be an omission made during some past collision repair.

Perhaps the bracing was added by the factory too increase the ridgity of the front end because of the fiberglass hood?

Just a wild theory.

Thanks for the offer. The engine is painted at this point, and the color has mellowed a bit. So I think I am going to roll with it. I find that when I take a picture of it with the flash on, the color looks like just like the pictures I have found online. So I think the color maybe be ok, its all in the lighting conditions I guess.

But I do appreciate the offer.

Thanks Robert, you have confirmed my suspicions that the fender was replaced at some point. I do have the other brace but wanted facts not conjecture.

Kevin, I have a new original power steering pulley that is factory painted gray by Packard. If you have no luck, let me know and i'll loan it to you to get matched at the paint store. It is on eBay right now, so let me know and I'll end the auction to loan it to you.

Randy,

I have that same brace on both my drivers side and passenger side fenders. On the Passenger side the same spot weld is to the left of where the blower motor attaches to the body.

My only thought since it does not appear on your 400 is that it adds extra rigidity to the convertible body since there is not a hardtop to help prevent body twist.

It will be interesting to hear from Brian to know if these braces appear on the inner fenders of his Caribbean hardtop.

Regards,
Robert.

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