I tried out my wideband oxygen sensor on the clipper and went for a drive. Idle is normal or perhaps a Touch rich, but ok at Lamba 0.85 or 12.5:1 AFR. Most driving is beteen 12.5 and Stoich (14.7:1)

The car is running fine, but I was curious how well the carb is performing. When carbs are set up properly, they do a pretty good job of mixing fuel and air!

I suppose things could be leaned out a tiny bit, but maybe I should not touch a running system.

Attach file:

---

  20230810_175544.jpg (290.15 KB)


  20230810_180518.jpg (255.00 KB)

There are a few differencces between the clipper and the caribbean. Some from the factory, and some changes over time.
The rear of the car is longer, but I think that is mostly because of the continental kit and the associated bumper extension. There is some extra weight way out back becasue of that. I have not had the caribbean on axle scales yet. I'l try and do that someday. With respect to extra weight and where it is...
Front: The hood weighs a ton! Honestly it feels like you are lifting a spare tire to get the hood raised. So, there is extra weight up front also.
Rear: Continental kit is out back in the carib, so extra weight is there.
Middle: The frame is strengthened for the convertible. It is pretty crazy, there is basically 3/8 (estimated) plate welded all along the middle section of the frame. They beefed it up and certainly added some weight.
The Carib has a panhard bar on the rear, which keeps the car a lot flatter.
The clipper has stock suspension, but the caribbean had the rear springs replaced with non-tapered end leaves, and the whole car sits about 2 inches higher than the clipper. -so the panhard bar, and the springs might make it sit flatter.
That being said, the clipper feels like it leans more in curves, but is more willing and able to go around corners.
Also, the clipper has cloth seats and 3 point seatbelts, and the caribbean has leather seats and no seatbelts. Take a hard left, and you wind up in the passenger seat!
They are 2 different animals.

Hi Gerd,
The main differences are the 600 pounds extra the caribbean weighs, and the power brakes and power steering on the caribben.
I think the freshly rebuilt 327 in a 600 pound lighter car is more responsive than an older 359 in the heavier car.
The easamatic brakes are a completely differnt feeling than the standard brakes. The brake pedal ratio and pedal travel are totally different. (Easamic has very little pedal travel, and std brakes have a much longer pedal travel)
The power steering also makes a difference. In short, the clipper accelerates better than the carib, but needs more driver strength to turn and slow. Both are awesome to drive

Well, Madelyn came home for a checkup and some TLC. I'll take her to TÜV for her inspection soon. Checked fluids, adjusted the brakes, fixed a bad ground on a turn signal, and am giving everything a look over. When I picked up the car from my brother in law, the battery was low, and I push started the car. Started right up, but on the way home I could see the generator was only putting out about 11-12 volts. When I got home I put my meter on the battery, and was somethign like 11 at idle, and went up to about 12 when I brought up the engine speed, but it was not 14 volts like it should be...I have the battery on a charger overnight, and will check tomorrow if the voltage comes back up with a charged battery. Not sure if the clover electric regulator went bad, or if the generator is weak...I checked all the wires between the gen and reg, and they are fine.... I tell you, the clipper is a lot lighter and nimbler than the caribbean to drive!

Attach file:

---

  20230730_161007.jpg (498.27 KB)

It looks like a great car. I bet when you get the mechanicals sorted out, it will be a nice original car.
Sounds like there is dirty fuel issues. All good comments about cleaning the lines and pump from the other guys. I would drop the tank and look inside the fuel tank to see if that is clean. If there is junk in the tank, you will be fighting with it for a while. Might Aa well clean the whole fuel System starting from the back.
Have fun.

I still have not done anything with that vent bolt yet. I did however go on a Trip the past weekend of about 250 miles roundtrip. Drove down to a friends birthday. She ran well, and I actually clocked 16 mpg! Most of that was autobahn or sideroads with 50-60 mph indicated, which is actually 45-55 mph according to a GPS.
I ran out of 90wt gear oil, so I added 1/4 Quart of 15w40 motor oil...in a pinch I guess that is better than running dry. 50wt engine oil is about as thick as 90wt gear oil....I will soon drain and fill the OD back up with propper 90wt gear oil. This Was my longest Trip yet, and the Packard performed well, even if I was gentle on the throttle. I got a lot of thumbs up and smiles on the way.

Oh I hope I can just swap that bolt to the other side and improve this mess. I checked the picture in the parts book, and that also shows it pass side rear. (Like Howard wrote, thanks!) Now I have a plan! Cross your fingers for me.

Attach file:

---

  Screenshot_20230702_221934_Samsung Internet.jpg (99.51 KB)

Is that bolt that is drilled to be a vent supposed to be on the passenger side rear? I think mine is on the drivers side. Since the trough that Peter mentioned is on the drivers side, and the oil would be slung up there on that side, maybe it is getting pushed out the vent bolt.

I too an 80 mile roundtrip last weekend and everything worked well, but now I am loosing a lot of gear oil out of the transmission. The underbody is wet,and the X-frame drips oil after a long run. The leak seems pretty bad. The OD was not low, so it seems to be coming from the Main 3 speed transmission. What can I re-seal without removing the whole trans? Only the overdrive solenoid, and check that the lid is on tight?

Attach file:

---

  20230625_092906.jpg (259.57 KB)

This evening I added a bottle of radiator flush before driving my 20 min drive home, then drained the rusty coolant, and hooked a garden hose up to the heater outlet on the cyl head and flushed a bunch of rust out the drain hole by the starter. I hope that got it pretty clean, but I think there is still more rust to get out someday.
I have now clocked 550 miles in the caribbean, I hope there are many more in my future!