With spending 25 year behind a barn I would assume that the 45K mileage figure is not 145K

Since you stated that authenticity was not a primary concern
I would opt for the solid state conversion for the T/L box.
cost = $85 the last time I looked. The unit is available thru a vendor that advertizes in the CNB.

Will do as soon as I can put some together.....

Well just a quick update.. The car has new tires, and now rolls well to get it on and off the trailer, and is up in the air on the rack. The wheels and drums are off. This is where my methodology pays off. I don't have to do the front brakes, they are brand new(cost savings $225), I have to do the rears, well that's half of it anyway. The undercarriage is suprisingly intact with the exception of a 4 X 6 photo size spot of rust on the floor just behind the passengers door. Next after the brakes I will take some steps to make sure the engine is free and turning and then make an attempt to start it. The gas tank has been done and sealed and has no leaks. When the motor is turning freely I will take this to the southeast Packard guru, Don Taconne, the president of Pac who will make the car live. When I get it back it goes in for paint, while that is being done I will have the seats worked on.

After initial purchase the car sat for about 3 months. In December my friend and I went thru it and retrieved many parts from the front and back seat. There was also some very nice upholstery material that will look great in this car. I have set aside all the parts that I could find that were not on the car but in it. The back seat now has all of the part that I need to put back on.

Update 02/04/2008
Well have started on this project. Have removed the wheels and will be putting new tires on. I hooked up a battery and got lights, but only a click out of the key switch. Waited until the battery was fully charged and tried it again and got nothing although there was a draw on the battery. I held tension on the fan belt and rotated the fan and got the h-balancer to turn so I know the engine is free. Removed the gas tank and sent it to the shop for cleaning and sealing. Next on the list is to take it to install the gas tank when it comes back, then take it to the tire shop to install the brake master cylinder and have him check the brakes out for pads and drums and see how they are. Once that is complete then it goes to see if it can be made to live.

I will try to get pictures as soon as I can

The 55 patrician that my wife has had the 56 trim on it. A lot of people preferred the trim that went all the way back so when the 56 came out those folks went and put the 56 trim on their 55. I prefer the 55 trim the way it was. so when I went to work on her 55 I took the rear trim off and sold it.

Owen
The Studebaker museum angle is an avenue I will take, a bit down the road. First an foremost I need to get it running. I am by no means at this time claiming the car to be original. I hope I did not give that impression. Actually from the story I got from the man I bought it from quite the opposite. My impression from him was that it was put together by the original owner who was a Packard employee.

I am resurrecting this thread because I too have a Clipper with the 374 and 2 fours. The story I got was that the original owner was a Packard employee and he put the 374 2 fours in the Clipper. I thought I had a cobbled up hot rod. Now I am going to check the numbers and see.

Let me see if I understand you correctly are you saying

DO NOT CUT ANY WIRES????

Is that a fair interpretation(smile).

Call me at 706-641-6609 during the day or 334-298-8052 in the evening.