Marston,

Thanks for the pointers - I thought maybe the solenoids would have to be different or insulated? But good to know, thank you.

Looking good on the fender! That is a definite tricky spot with the wheel lip. There's a guy I watch on youtube - fitzee's fabrications. He does some major body repairs with basic tools - he might have a video or two on wheel lips and such, worth checking out. The hard drive crashing is unfortunate. I'be heard some folks have had success placing the hard drive in a sealed ziploc bag and in the freezer for 24hrs and then attempting to get the data off..

Still working on the gas tank, but in the meantime I followed a few suggestions on here to get a new pump. I was shopping on Max Merritt for new gas tank retaining bolts and saw the pump and thought, why not. I just need to pull the old one and send it back. Looks like a very nice unit. I also ordered a '57 thunderbird sender per Don's suggestion and I'm just waiting on that. Finally got the floor plate off the BTV, had to cut the last bolt. Not ideal but the unit is free to send off, soon as funds allow for a rebuild.

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That paint really came back to life. It's always a great feeling bringing back old paint. Just feels right.

I like the carpet on the footrest. And your trunk is looking great also.

What would someone with a positive ground '55 have to do to make their T/L work with negative ground?

I saw this car on craigslist back around when I bought my Clipper (late October I believe).

I believe the price has significantly reduced since then. But still, the amount of money it would take to get that one restored.... but the convertibles are very cool. If I had an extra 2G's..

I saw this car on craigslist back around when I bought my Clipper (late October I believe).

I believe the price has significantly reduced since then. But still, the amount of money it would take to get that one restored.... but the convertibles are very cool. If I had an extra 2G's..

Took some time today to start on my cleaning/rust treatment of the gas tank. I called a place to boil it and they said they aren't allowed to do that anymore, and it would be upwards of $400 to cut it open and clean it. Well, that's not in the budget, so I turned to DIY solutions... which brought me to Sterosol milkstone remover (phosphoric acid). I first degreased the tank with "purple power" and then rinsed the tank, trying to get as much debris as I could out (found the float in pieces in the tank). I've got the acid sitting in the tank currently. I took a picture after 6 hours and it's doing a fine job. Below are before and afters. Should be good to rinse out in the morning.
Also, I had my helper to assist me. :)

On another note, I spent some time on the doors - three open and close, not perfectly but they'll stay closed which iOS a win for now. Passenger side front door is stuck close and has been since I got the car. I'll get to it, one day.....

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Thank you both! I see now where I was making a mistake. Rather than reading the document just left to right I was expecting the document to be read backwards as well, so I was reading the line "Moonstone and Turquoise" when in fact the combos listed are just a list of combos, some marked as "reversible". So when I check the line for color G (moonstone) on the left instead, I see trim 40 is available and has an X, allowing for any color combo of Moonstone listed on the right, with an asterisk denoting reversibility.

Ok, now it all makes sense. Thanks again!

I was spending some time reading through the brochure info for paint and upholstery options for the'55 Clipper Custom, and I noticed the info on my tag on my '55 Clipper Custom 4 door sedan doesn't match the combinations listed in this book:

http://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/1955_1_Paint.pdf

So my tag (picture below) states PAINT: LG TRIM: 40

Based on the book these codes are Moonstone and Turquoise paint and Charcoal flame tapestry cloth and white vinyl upholstery.

The book (at least how I'm reading it, apologies if I'm just not getting it) shows no option for this upholstery for that paint combo. In fact it shows no mark for this color combo on a Custom 4 door sedan at all (again, how I'm reading it).

Which makes me wonder if my tag has been recreated or is fake? I don't know why someone would go through the trouble. I have some original documentation showing the serial number as matching, but I wonder if someone chose their own color combo and upholstery choices there?

Would love to hear everyone's thoughts on this.

Thank you!

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