Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

I am new to this forum, and I am also new to the world of owning a Packard. The deal on this car kind of fell out of the sky and into my lap. This all happened so unexpectedly I am still kind of in shock. I had an ad on marketplace selling a vehicle and, in the ad, I stated I would only consider trades for a conversion van. Well as luck would have it, I get a message from someone offering a deal on this Packard. Having been around and working on old cars all of my life I knew at least a little about what Packard's had a reputation of being. Well one thing led to another and within 48 hours I had traded a project vehicle I was going to wait until spring and fix up a little and sell. Instead, I ended up doing an even up swap for this.





I will do my best to post the progress as I go down the path of getting this beauty up and running down the country backroads the way it should be.

I guess this was just all meant to be for the sake of the car. When I went to look at it, I was told it runs and drives. The previous owner got it running and everything seemed to be fine. I took it for a short test drive on a dirt road when I noticed a smell of gas. I went to turn around and saw a trail of liquid on the dirt. The previous owner got out and looked and said fuel was leaking out of the fuel pump. About 100 feet down the road, it ran out of gas. The car was not started again but I had seen enough that I made the deal. He told me he would have the car towed to me and pick up the truck I traded him. When I got the car home I started looking it over. The back seat and trunk were full of parts. After spending the better part of a day looking thru the parts I had a pretty good idea what I needed.




The next thing I did was took to the internet in search of information and resources for parts. I found this forum and decided to join and ask a question about getting the parts I knew I needed just to get it to the point of being able to drive it legally. What I quickly learned was everyone seemed very willing to be of help. I want to thank everyone that has already reached out to me and say that I am very glad I found this place.

Now for a couple pictures of what I am starting with. Body work I would say is 80 to 90 percent done to be ready for paint.








Interior has been completely re-upholstered just not completely put back together yet, but everything is here and all new hardware to re-install is also here.











A couple days ago I decide to look at the fuel pump issue. The first thing I found was the fuel had definitely leaked into the oil. It was not bad, and the oil still looked new and felt good, but it does smell of gas. I will be pulling the pump off soon and ordering a rebuild kit and getting that issue fixed. And of course, changing the oil.

I will be adding a lot more to this as I sort things out and move forward.

Good job in your acquisition and in starting a project blog! I’m sure we’re all anxious to see it move forward (both the blog and the car itself) and to help as you need it. I had a 1953 Clipper Deluxe for many years (my only postwar junior) and it was a great car, driving well and being very dependable. I drove it on quite a few NorCal PAC (Packard Automobile Classics, aka The Packard Club) regional tours.

Fortunately your car is one of the very easiest to get parts for as it seems like everyone and their grandmother has parted one out at one point or another. The trim should be very easy to find. You might want to talk to Ross in Maryland for your missing pieces.

Mechanical stuff you might want to browse my Deluxe project blog a bit (link in my signature) to see the work I have needed to do to run lines etc. Fortunately running a new fuel line isn't hard, the hardest part is you have to lay on the ground for a while...

Packard Don

Thanks, and I am very much looking forward to driving it. I am hoping I can at least get it legally drivable by spring if not sooner.

Pgh Ultramatic

I have already been in touch with Ross, and he is digging the stuff up.

I actually was just working on getting the bottom of the front seat out so I can fix whatever is preventing the seat from moving. I can get the front part lifted up out of the frame, but I can don't get it to pull forward to get it out all the way. I am trying everything I can think to the point I am afraid if I pull forward with any more force I am going to bend or break something.

Any advice from people that know would be welcome.

Sometimes they are just really stuck. Unless it feels like you are snagged against something solid.

Try it with a buddy as even the easiest seat to remove, that being the rear seat bottom, can still be a decent chore to get out of the car by myself, until you've done it a couple times.

The one in my 1956 Clipper took considerable effort but it came out at last. Just watch for sharp bit so you don’t give yourself a nasty cut.

Great job Ross. Looks like a nice set.

Ross Thank you sir it all looks great and will move this project along faster. I am sure there are going to be other parts I will find missing as I start putting this back together.