Thanks for the extra incisors Brian. I was really getting anxious. Can you believe it took them five hours from the Pa border coming up 79 to reach Irwin? I knew one T/L limit switch was bad and replaced it today. While I was routing the wires to the control box I discovered the other limit switch also had broken wires. I have a replacement I'll install tomorrow. Mechanic Barry discovered a leaking core plug. I'll replace them all with brass when we yank the engine. It's difficult working on a frame hoist X grease rack. The arms are in the way. There is a lot of old undercoating and crud on this frame. I'll get dirty tomorrow.

Keith, why would you need to cut off the dipstick for a Packard factory pump, or did I misunderstand you?

the car arrived today and now I know why it was so late. They had an F550 Ford hauling a long tri-axle trailer and I doubt they went over 40 mph. These two were as dumb as a box of rocks. They had no paperwork. They had an idea how much to collect. I could have dummied up the original document and robbed them blind. I wondered how they could get so close to the destination but they had a GPS that told them when to turn etc. My friend did note some scuffing on trailing edge of front fender but it will buff out. The car is here and work can proceed. See you in 2009

Well folks, Monday night and still no car. The hauler had an excuse from last Thursday, but the main hauler said it would be delivered today. Today only has 2 hours and 15 minutes left in it. Am I getting worried? YES!

I need to pick up two brass freeze plugs to block off the exhaust and preventing those gases from traveling thru the intake manifold. It takes a couple of minutes to warm up the engine, but after that no problem. I block them off so my nice bronze manifold doesn't turn black.

Ian, welcome to THE forum. What a great project. I am a V8 owner but appreciate all years of Packards. Start a blog to document your progress. Others will be able to learn from your experiences.

Keith, It DOES mean something in the context of discussing the replacement of the Packard oil pump. Everyone interested in this problem knows what it means. Talking about different pumps and which one we are referring to only muddies the waters. When I say 56 400 everyone knows what I mean - I don't have to say model 5687 Packard 400 hardtop which is missing the B pillar every time I refer to my car. Whoops, I called it a car and everyone who knows me knows that I always refer to it as an automobile. It is not just a car. My Caribbean was supposed to be delivered this evening - they haven't gotten here and now my cellphone has gone on the fritz. I knew all my good luck couldn't last.

Keith, I didn't understand your original question. The conversion says to buy a Melling M22FHV pump and 22FHVS screen oil pickup. I did that, so why are you questioning whether I bought the proper pump? I may install it in the Caribbean after I plastigauge the bearings. That's why I initially asked for comments on this pump. I didn't want this thread to wander off discussing some other pump someone might have bought. Is anyone else running this conversion and do you have an opinion to express?

I just tried it - same result.

Yes Keith, I bought the kit a while back but just bought the pump and screen yesterday. What needs ground away - the rearmost part of the pump??