Hey,

Today I've made a lot of pics of the car, so you can see what has to be done.

You can watch them here:

Packard to do pics


Grtz.

Xavier

Hey,

Thanks for the replies! It gives me back encourage... .

Ross makes an exactly description of what should be done, more specific these are exactly the rusty places which has to be replaced.
The given amount is including a repaint.

I will make some photos of the bad places next weekend, so I can post them here.

Searching for another bodyshop will my next challenge... .

The shop I've been visited is a "pro oldtimer restoration shop"
Pro prices indeed...

For who is interested this is his website, he has a lot of pictures of cars he had done, also all the projects in the shop seems pro quality. Maybe to Pro for me... .

Decan Classics Oldtimer restorations

Thanks at all !!

Grtz.

Xavier

Hi V8 brothers,

I have a 56 Clipper Deluxe as you all know... .

The car has a Belgian license plate for daily use, so that means that the car may be used whenever I want, but it needs a yearly technical control inspection.
Last summer I had an appointment at the control station, they checked the car and made a positive decision for road safety and gave a green light for mechanical quality. The only remark was the poor state of the rockers, but because the car has an separate solid chassis, they won't keep it off the roads.

Yeah, it's visible that the lower side does has rust and also that the chrome parts aren't perfect anymore. There is a tear in the drivers seat cushion and the drivers door arm rest is worn.

When I lifted the car, indeed the underside of the fenders, the inner and outer rockers and also the rear fender/wheelwell is in a bad shape because of rust.

Since the inspection I was searching for a body shop who can redo the car.
Most of them don't want to do such old cars because of the big work it may be... .

Finally I've found a shop at Nieuwpoort, at the Belgian east-coast who would take a look at the car. I made an appointment, so I drove 55 miles at saturday to Nieuwpoort with the Packard to show him the car.

I mentioned him that all repair panels were available at the States to repair the car. Parts would cost +/- $ 500.-

He put the car on a lift for closer inspection of the underside of the car:

I quote the man:

Hmm, there will be a lot of work at the car, replacing the rockers will not be easy!! The body does has to be removed from the chassis for having a good access to the rockers. This will cause a lot of labour hours!! Keep in mind that when removing the old rockers and lower rear fender plate we might find unpleasant things there! I think this will run into 500 labour hours to repair it what means you may expect a price for metal works beginning at $ 25,000.- add approx $ 5,000.- for redoing the chrome and add approx $ 3,000.- for the seats and door panels. That results in $ 33,000.- excluding 21% VAT or a total amount "beginning" at $ 40,000.- repairing the car !!!

You have to know that for this minimum price the chassis will NOT be redone, there will NO work be done at engine or tranny nor the dash ( which is good ).

When I check American websites where cars are sold, I see that Clippers in a good to near perfect shape always are sold for prices lower than 15 till $ 20,000.-

Right now my question: Is it acceptable to make such big costs to a Clipper??
Do I come from another planet or is the price offered by that man totally absurd?

What do you think?

Advices?


Maybe I should better get rid of the car and buy something in a good ( better ) shape???

Help !!

Xavier

Hello,

Hmm, +1 for Bobby.

I think also a checkup with a thermometer will give you a right answer.
I once had it with my Dodge Ram Van, the gauge went to max temp, al lot of warning lights went on; just like a X-mas tree.
I pulled over and take a look under the hood, all seems be fine: result: the engine ran fine at nominal temperature, it was the gauge electronics that went bananas... !

If your radiator is not clogged, the thermostat works ( your radiator is equal hot the whole surface ) and your waterpump runs fine, your cooling system should work fine.

An external thermometer will give you the solution.

When I make a trip with my 56 Clipper, the gauge shows from cold to nearly halfway to Hot. When I stop and I open the hood, the heat is coming out the block, but that seems to be alright; no hissing or steam but ready to boil some eggs on the block...

Grtz.

Xavier

Hi,

When you see the car parked it seems pretty well reserved, when you take a close look, there are a lot of spots which are rusting bad. Knocking on the panels give the idea they are hard, but when the car is lifted you see that the rockers are damaged over the whole length. The floor panels are hard and rust free. I went to a body shop, they think that replacing a rocker panel will be a lot cheaper then remake them.

The front fenders are behind the wheel also in need of repair, the rear fender skirts do also need some refurbishment.

No big deal to repair it, but when there is welding word, it means repainting. I suppose it's also time to redo the chrome work.

The works are planned for this winter, so that it will be complete 'new' till next summer. I must go to the Technical Control in july.

Here in Belgium you can choose for yearly technical vehicle control, than you may drive the car whenever you want. If you choose the 'oldtimer' license plates ( I think such as Historic Car in the USA ) you never need to go to the technical control, but you may only drive the car to meetings and for a test-drive between sunrise and sunset in a region of 15 miles around your home.

My Clipper is licensed for daily use. Last control in july they made a remark for the rust areas at the rockers.

Xavier

Hi,

Sorry, missed that !

Xavier

@all:

Does anyone has an idea if Kanter should have these rocker panels, or if someone already bought them at Kanter?

Thanks,

Xavier

Hello 51Packard,

Thanks for the link to your blog, I've checked it out.

Your 51 rockers look indeed pretty the same as my 56's.

Xavier

Hello Cli55er,

Thanks for the link, the price looks fine for the parts, but I see they don't ship overseas... .

Xavier

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

Is Mr Dulinski here on the board? Or how can I contact him?

I saw these on eBay, what do you think about this? Buy or avoid ?

eBay Rocker panel

Thx

Xavier