Hello Doc. If you need rear shocks, they are the same as a new-ish Toyota Hilux. Same eyes (tapered for 2 piece rubbers), same length.
However shocks won't lift the back of your car. Two solutions are to have the rear springs reset, or put additional leafs in. My 49 sedan has 9 on one side and 10 in the other, that is how it came.
Gary

You could install a tap in the fuel line, reasponably accessable but out odd sight.
Anyway do car thieves know how to hotwire a car these days? It's all laptops and electronic key codes now.
Gary

Since one of these heads seriously lacks anywhere to grab it, as a matter of interest has abyone ever lifted a head using the spark plug threads? Like a piece of box tube with 8 holes and bolts into the plug holes, attach that to an engine crane?
Couldn't see a problem just lifting the head, assuming it unsticks ok. A Chrysler Slant 6 has 2 x 7/16 UNC holes in the head, that's how yoiu lift the complete engine.
Anyone tried this?

Those handle clips look very similar to early 60s Plymouth Valiants (and Dodge Lancers) and probably a lot of other Chryslers. Same technique of removal.
Gary

Just a suggestion, you could take power from the ignition switch, then to the switch on the reverse linkage. That way it will work without the head/tail light being on, and if you park the car leaving it in reverse, the reverse lights won't stay on and drain the battery.
Gary

Dan, my manifold has never had the bimetal spring on it. The flap isn't siezed, but the weight on the shaft is hanging down, this puts the flap in the "warmed up" position. I have had my manifolds off recvently, so I have seen this.
The intake gets plenty of heat from the exhaust manifold anyway, so unless you live on the Arctic circle, you really don't need this flap to work at all.
If your car is overheating, it is probably other causes. like the block full of rust or the distribution tube not doing its job.
Gary

Hi Bob. Important point: where are the solid lifters from? Now if you just install new lifters on a worn-in cam, you are going to have trouble. Your cam lobes will be circles in no time.
Cam and lifters must be run in together. If the lifters are used, AND come with the cam they ran on, AND you know which position they originally were in, fine. Swap over. If the cam and lifters are new, put loads of moly grease on the lobes and follow the break in procedure, that too will be fine. Mixing new and used will be a disaster.
Gary

Thanks Dell. There was no leak between the 2 manifolds. Must have been good mnachining, because I couldn't find any remnants of a gasket there, and I am pretty sure these have never been apart. The gaskets to the block needed replacing, and being RHD it mneans more skin off the knuckles.
Gary

Hello everyone. On a 1949 288 is there supposed to be a gasket between intake and exhaust manifolds? The hot box, that is. I have my manifolds off, and apart, there was no sign of any gasket. Thanks.
Gary

Well, we discovered that 48 Packard and 48 Buick front shocks are not interchangable. On to Plan B.