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Great notes and lots of work ahead but progress is progress. The stack of wood works although I would have put them at a diagonal to minimize the possibility of toppling over should the car move a bit forward or back. Being at an angle would prevent that, especially with each side at opposite angle.

Thanks Don. I decided to throw the wheels back on before I left. Part of the reason I asked is I noticed the front doors slightly sticking / out of alignment compared to before. Not sure if this is normal but then again people sometimes have wild door sag issues for no apparent reason so IDK.

Also it has a new tarp on it now (after 2 years). Gotta preserve that patina somehow 😁 and it's also nicer when the inside doesn't turn into a rainforest climate.

BTW, when I got the radiator out I found that it was somehow still half full with coolant. I say somehow because this car has been pretty much off the road for the past 3 decades; nor did it look diluted. Unfortunately the other half of the radiator is filled with mouse nests so further inspection is required.

Got the carb rebuilt today, but have no working engine to test it on. Yet...

I don't have a wire gauge set for the two measurements, so perhaps I will have to bring it to work sometime to borrow theirs for a bit.

It may be close enough already.

Got the carb calibrated the other day at work. Also fixed the horns and horn relay.

I made a good amount of progress today. I got the fenders and bumper off, mainly. It started like this…




First thing is to take off this splasher. There’s about 5 self tappers going in from the bottom with a 7/16” head and also a 1/2” bolt and nut to attach it to the bumper support. Per side. Very fun…









Next, there’s 6 self tappers attaching the fender to the frame. There is also a bolt on the top rear of the fender in the corner of the hood. There are also 3 bolts on the bottom of the fender behind the wheel well, of which only the rear two should be removed. Then the fender will come off.



I decided to pop the brake drums off and check it out. Anything that can’t be fixed with some new parts and TLC?

Continued (ran out of time yesterday to post)

The bumper is held on with 4 bolts that use 15/16 nuts but 2 bolts have a 15/16 head (rear); the front two are cam bolts and use a 13/16 head. So you gotta break out the fancy wrench set. One was so stuck that I had to pound on the open end of the box wrench with a dead blow about 50x just to crack it loose, then use a 2” wrench as a cheater bar on the 15/16 to turn it.







You guys think I need new brake lines?




The absolute level of sprawl…

Get some trans oil or diesel oil on those thread's..

Last resort heat.

Even more important progress today. I got the spare engine off of its crate and on to an engine stand. I plan on doing a pretty thorough inspection of it. I took the valve covers and rockers off: the engine turns over well but has one very stuck valve. I already tried beating on it with a dead blow but to no avail. I did test all the spring retainers and they are the soft type, so I'll buy some new ones.

How do you remove the valves without the special tool?

Also: Looks like both of my water pumps are shot. Fortunately they are not too expensive. I removed my front two brake lines as templates to make some new ones. Will also be making a new fuel line. And grabbed my blower motor and I will bench test that. The carb is already rebuilt and mounted to a good intake manifold. I have a starter or two and a generator in good working order and I'll pull the regulator off my 400 which has an alternator.

Edit: thanks Riki but I managed to brute force it 💪💪

Engine reference threads:
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=265679
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=268968

I use this.

Get about 3 feet small rubber hose and put down spark plug hole.

Turn engine till it stops.

This holds valve up.

Attach file:

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  20240324_180015.jpg (419.96 KB)

Thanks RH.

Here is my RockAuto cart. Please let me know if there's anything important I'm missing for reviving a car that has been parked for 30 years (or a part I don't need).

I checked the casting no. on my cylinder head and it uses the short spark plugs.

Edit: I will replace the brake and fuel lines also. Fuel line I will buy later.
Brake hoses:
autozone.com/brakes-and-traction-control ... e-88226/124847_0_0?searchText=88226
autozone.com/brakes-and-traction-control ... e-88284/712935_0_0?searchText=88284
Brake line kit: (also bought extra fittings)
amazon.com/gp/product/B07BMZ5FV2/ref=ewc_pr_img_1?smid=AV4VLMSTCBS13&th=1

Spark plug reference:
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=7976
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/SC/SC-VOL29NO7.pdf

You'll be wanting a condensor to go with you points.