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here's to your finger?,

Keep 'em coming Ross! Speedwell Garage is now the undoubted home of bespoke Packards long after Dietrich, Darrin, Rollston, etc, etc closed their doors!

Per request, here is how I strengthened the underbody before cutting the roof off.

First shot shows the profiles I used. I had them bent up from 12 gage. On the right is a section of rocker panel to give an idea of location. I put in new rockers at the same time.

I had to use the 3 profiles so I could install the pieces by sliding them into the car from the rear end. The ends of the frame outriggers were all cut off 1/2" or so to accomodate what became a box section inner rocker panel. The broad top of the middle profile was welded to the floor stringers and also to the heavy box section that spans from b-pillar to b-pillar on the hardtops. The outer rubber body mounts were discarded and replaced with steel discs and the broad flange was bolted down through them to the frame outriggers. The C-profile was then inserted from the rear and stitch welded to the other profile to form a box section with very good torsional and bending stiffness.

The forward ends of the profile sets were tapered to fit the bottom of the A pillar and well welded to it. Braces from the leading edge of the A pillar were brought down to the profiles to eliminate cowl shake and door sag.

The rear end of the profiles were cut off about flush with the forward edge of the rear inner fender. A large flat plate closes that hole and carries torsional load from the rear sheet metal down to the profiles.

There was also bracing from the B pillar downwards before the rocker panel was installed.

I think the whole affair weighs about 120 lbs or so. Door gaps are unchanged and the car feels very tight. Also, this was all done so that the body can still be lifted off the frame with out encumbrance if need be.

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That's some good work, Ross!

A man of my own heart: do something Packard-wise that no one else has ever or rarely done.

Craig

Thanks Ross,,

So that's where you do it, i thought it was inside the 1/4 panel..

nice work,,

Beautiful work! If you ever get bored (yeah, right), I have a suggestion for another car I think would be interesting. Take a '55 Clipper hardtop and make a Nomad-like 2-door wagon. And, if it could be more watertight than Studebaker made the Wagonair, have a sliding roof panel rather than having to make a solid extension. Of course, the same thing you did to the '56 could be done to a '55. So many ideas, so little money!

Ross,

Top off looks nice.

I was fortunate to be able to borrow an NOS inner rocker MANY years ago. I had a friend make he and I copies. Attached are some pictures I took before the NOS inner rocke was shipped back to a trusting Packard person.

Questions;

Are you going to modify the outer frame brackets to fit the new inner rockers?

Did you box it in all the way to the firewall?

Will the body come off the frame, so the extra steel strapping can be welded to the frame?

Are you going to use the windshield as is, or cut it down like the Caribbean windshield? Will you add the extra bracing on the inside of the firewall? Can't wait to see how you are going to do the header.

Will you be adding the brace in the trunk, like the 56 Caribbean convertibles had?

I have more, but enough for now.

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We just "rolled" a 53 Clipper here to aid in parting out. This might give you a giggle.youtube.com/watch?v=AG9eqOwHvqo&feature=youtu.be

ross, custom pick up,

i saw a packard here years ago with a camper shell on it..

that's the only way to roll,,,,,,

The three entities in this picture are all within 3 years of each other. Two are still functioning. Can you arrange them oldest to youngest?

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