Thanks guys for all your advice and especially the offer concerning the Packard meeting in Switzerland. I'm envious too.
First move today is change the starter for a shifting type, which was coincidentally available for testing purposes, and see what happens. Jason, thanks for your tips. If the test today will not give any positive results, I will look further into that matter. I will report back on this forum.

Well well, all of the efforts to get the creeping or drifting problem solved have come to no result at all, aarghh.

A friendly co-Packard owner borrowed me a Delco Remy starter 1108027, which fits the 327 engine but has a gear shifted forward by the solenoid. I will fit it tomorrow to test whether this type of starter will cure the issue. It was fitted in the same year 1954 actually but on the Super versions (5411) of the Clipper. My Clipper is a Deluxe (5401) Imho both cars are technically identical.

Maybe the other approach of shifting the starter gear into the ring gear and therefore locking it more positively when the starter is not functioning will solve the problem.

An interesting question is why the shifter type was used in the Super versions, is it a better starter, more modern?

As I could only borrow the starter and have to return it, does anyone have a tip -if the problem is indeed solved- where to buy one? Has it been used in other makes, models?

Well-- some investigation over the last few days pointed out that my remanufactured bendix doesn't seem to have an anti-drift pin but an anti-drift spring. This spring is invisibly positioned in the barrel of the bendix gear, around the helix shaped spline.

Although this spring should do the job of holding bscht the gear when the starter is off, it probably doesn't.

Anyone who experienced the same issue and came up with a solution? Coud it be as simple as a stronger anti-drift spring -and where to get it from- or would I mess up some balance in the operation of the bendix?

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Once again Howard, thanks for your extensive information.

I will try to get in touch with Jason to find out if he can throw more light on the issue.

Thanks Howard.
This is very useful info and it proves my point. My car is from 1954 and the information you point at is about the carburator switch operated starter of course. But the type of bendix is the same type as in my car.
So I guess in my case the detent pin preventing the gear to return to its original 'departure' position on a false start wouldn't be there (?), but the anti-drift pin surely should be there, as the situation of the starter gear of my Clipper occasionally creeping up to the rotating flywheel or the flexplate (in my case) and physically touching it is of course the same as in earlier cars.

How is your opinion on what I have read on the internet that in remanufactured bendix units the anti-drift pin is not always present? My bendix unit is a new and therefore almost certainly remanufactured item. And what is your opinion on the theory that the pin could be overslippery due to liberal lubrication of the spiral?

Do you think the issue I describe is common or rare?
And what can be done to fix it? I think the bendix unit can't be taken apart to look inside (maybe I'm wrong)and a new unit is not necessarily adequately equipped with an anti-drift pin???

Thanks Howard for joining me in my quest for a permanent solution!

Hi guys,

My starter bendix gear (Clipper 327 Deluxe Touring sedan 1954) seems to be creeping towards the ring gear on the flexplate with the engine running. This is not always the case, but if it does it occurs sometimes immediately after starting or when driving along and produces an annoying metallish ringing sound. Stopping the engine and restarting it mostly cures the situation but is of course not a permanent fix.

The bendix seems to be new and the bendix gear is undamaged, the starting motor -a Delco Remy unit 1108008- is otherwise in good shape as is the ring gear on the flexplate.

Anyone who recognizes this issue and has a cure? I have read something about an anti-drift pin in the bendix which prevents the gear from moving once in the resting position.
I also read that this contraption could be faulty or (in remanufactured bendix units) even absent.

Can anyone please throw his light on this problem? Any information is welcome.
Help, help.

Hi guys,

No problems so far with the primer bulb. I came to the idea because I wanted an easy way to prime the carburator after a prolonged standstill (weeks/ months) instead of making the starting motor labour to do exactly the same thing. Starting the car after a short period of time is no problem and has never been.

I understand the concerns about the priming bulb being in the engine compartment and positioned the bulb against the right fender so it is as far from the engine heat as possible. No deterioration of the bulb material (which is not rubber) as to this point, but i will keep an eye on it.

Gentlemen,

would all this mean that a remote brake fluid reservoir cannot be installed on a BTV, because of the relief port opening being permanently immersed in brake fluid?

Some car Kev!

B/W pictures do have that special athmosphere, especially with cars like these

Thank you for your advice Owen. I will look into the situation further and test a Willys coil spring to check how it functions.