'51-'52 pumpkins will fit into Clipper junior axle housings, but not Supers. But that still only gives a 3.54.

With the usual 4.1 and overdrive you are running the equivalent of 2.95. Unless you drive exclusively on the great plains, you don't want anything taller than that.

My first guess is that your high range clutch is worn out and will not hold. If you would like an adventure you could rebuild it yourself with a kit. If you don't want that much adventure I could do an Ultramatic for you and ship it over but it would be $3000 plus by the time it got there.

Oh yes, it opens. Will be working on that today.

327 from a 53 clipper Deluxe.

I certainly will sell in the rough. That way you can finish it with color-interior-etc as you wish. On this car the brakes,lines,bearings,fuel system have all already been serviced and no further attention is needed. Engine and trans are good.

After months of driving the (1954) lawn mower past two parts cars on the back of the property, we decided to combine the two to make a car. And since a 51 200 with no interior has all the resale value of a used Kleenex, have decided to make into a new style of truck--retaining the 4 doors for access under the bed but creating a coupe-style roof. Here are a couple of shots, and an entertaining video

https://www.dropbox.com/s/blbmmkd4e4aj ... n%20the%20Garage.mp4?dl=0

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  IMG_0896.JPG (2,465.34 KB)


  IMG_0915.JPG (1,883.01 KB)

The easiest trick: raise the rear and remove the wheels. Take a feeler gage or caliper and measure the gap between the brake drum and the backing plate whilst pushing in firmly on the axle. Then measure again whilst pulling outward on the axle.

Or, if you have a friend who is a machinist, borrow a dial indicator with a magnetic base and mount it on the axle behind the backing plate. Adjust the indicator to reach the flange of the brake drum and measure whilst pushing in then pulling out.

I think you will find that there is supposed to be piece of tack strip about 1/2 x 1/4" just behind the flange for the glass.

My best guess: Those are supposed to tension shackles. I have noticed that when those early cars are lifted by the frame and the axle drops the shackles pull toward the front to an almost horizontal position. It would not take very much at all for them to flip over center as the car came down and voila, you now have compression shackles and the car is sitting very high in the back. You just need to jack it up and flip them back.

Will probably be a week or so before I get the car.