"numbers matching" is a misunderstood and often misused term. It refers to a vehicle that has the original engine, frame and transmission; the ones that were in it when it left the factory.

Prior to 1955 v-8's Packard did not have the vehicle serial number on anything except the vehicle number plate on the firewall or door post. The firewall plate or "patent plate" was attached to the firewall with 4 small screws and could be removed, switched or replaced literally in a minute. Thus there is nothing for the firewall or door post serial number to match with. In the 30's the firewall plate # was very close to the number on the steering box, maybe 50 or 100 numbers away and thus nothing to match.
GM muscle cars which did have the car serial n umber on the engine block and transmission case.

Another abused term is "barn find" which seems to apply to any unrestored older vehicle that has just been discovered , even if it was "discovered" in the owners single car garage attached to his house. A desirable car is worth the same whether it is discovered in a barn or sitting on your front lawn. A piece of junk is still a piece of junk no matter where it was found

I don't understand the need to apologize for using a photo of a car that doesn't belong to you. As long as it is not used fro commercial purposes it's no issue. Even if it is used fro a commercial issue, such as a photo of a parking lot with some trees, would you have to get permission from every car owner AND from the "owner" of the trees?

Thanks, learned something new today. Thermostat manufacturers were unaware of that and certainly sold zillions of bellows t-stats for pressurized systems.

Next time I have a chance I'll put a bellows t-stat in my 52 and compare temperatures.

Gas tank sealer has been on the market for 50 years and millions have used it with no trouble. To clean the tank take a 2 ft length of chain and tie a string to the end of it. Lower it into the tank and anchor the string to a piece of wood or a long wrench. Put several gallons of hot water in the tank and with a buddy shake it violently.

Remove the chain, drain and flush with a qt. of rubbing alcohol to absorb the water. The sealer not only seals pinholes but seals any remaining particles to the inside surface of the tank.

Happy Motoring

Packard used lacquer right to the end in '56, when production went to South Bend in '57 all Studebaker-Packards continued with the Studebaker enamel finishes

Several months ago there was a discussion about the suitability of old style bellows thermostats in pressurized cooling systems that generally came into use in 1941. It was stated that pressurized systems would alter the performance of the bellows style and should not be used in a pressurized system.

I stayed out of the discussion not having time to research the answer that would show this to be a myth/misunderstanding.

Below is an ebay listing for a Bridgeport/Robertshaw bellows thermostat with an application listing from their catalog, note that the bellows type is listed for many cars with pressurized systems.

Here I have a New Old Stock N.O.R.S Low temperature thermostat opens at 155 for 1948-1956 Austin, 1953 Buick Special, 1932-1952 Buick all, 1936-1956 Chevy all , 1946-1955 Frazer Kaiser, 1945-1955 Henry J, 1955-1956 Hudson V8, 1939-1956 Olds, 1935-1956 Packard 6, 120, 8, Clipper, 1955-1956 Pontiac, 1939-1954 Studebaker Champion, 1939-1956 Willys all and Jeep,

I do not believe any chemical is responsible for the disintegration of the fuel gauge unit, the fluid travels in a copper tube from the tank and ends up in a glass tube in the gauge face. The unit itself is made of pot metal and over time it swells and then crumbles. Door handles on 7th series and other early cars suffer the same fate and they're not exposed to chemicals. Cars were not engineered to last 90 years.

Model 740 was factory equipped with prominent fender lamps which can be altered to accept dual filament bulbs. In the rear many owners put an additional left hand rear lamp on the right hand and make a mirror image bracket.

All very simple, been done hundreds of times.

I've never seen it elsewhere in that period except as the name of a very popular early singing group, the Modernaires. They were a group of harmony who performed with Glenn Miller and had a very special sound as unlike rap as could be!

Something does not make sense, perhaps some state laws explain that as some are illogical. If selling a used tire is illegal or a huge liability then is selling a used car with 5 used tires on it also a problem?? Used cars have 100% used parts so is selling a used car illegal or a liability problem??

There was a law proposed in some state or in congress to make it mandatory to replace tires after 6 years for safety reasons. A few summers ago I drove my '52 to a national meet on all 5 original tires with plenty of tread and 25,000 miles on them. Guess who was pushing the law, ...the tire industry.