Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

Is this the 54 colors of amethyst and carnation?

That is pink and purple?

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/uploads/photos/5609.jpg

No, it is purple and white.

This is purple and white. White was not offered in 1953, but it was for 1952 and 1954. The purple is a metal flake that the wife chose. She didn't like the lilac of 1957, so she had her own color made. She's hoping it's not as dark in the day light.

Got the engine back. All the bearing were replaced, the crankshaft was ground down, the cam shaft was replaced due to broken teeth. The Oil pump was rebuilt. I replaced 3 hydrualic lifters and 1 cam follower. The valves were previously ground and the guy took a little off the shaft as well. I am in the process of putting the engine back together. The oil pump is not in so timing will be fun.
I am trying to clean up the interior chrome. The 2nd picture is of the 2 chrome pieces on the dashboard. The top one is the after picture as the bottom is the before I took steel wool to it. I did not use any lube or paste, just steel wool.

Attach file:

---

  (127.40 KB)


  (186.05 KB)

Here's a 54 Pacific in carnation and amethyst. paint code "R". The usual precautions about judging photographed colors viewed on a monitor apply. Photo by this writer taken at the 1999 Centennial and as I recall this was an original paint job.

Attach file:

---

  (52.75 KB)

I'm sure you are aware of what that motor Is doing to your engine stand?

I'm sure you are aware of what that motor Is doing to your engine stand?

Agreed, a great way to crack an engine block! That engine is far too lengthy and heavy to be supported that way.

They're right about the engine stand. I made a cradle out of 4x4 wood blocks so that I could put the engine on a standup height table, and just used the engine hoist to raise it when necessary. Not the fastest way to do it, but at least I didn't drop the engine.

When you put the oil pump back in, pull the distributor completely out of the engine. Rotate the engine until the number one cylinder is at top dead center, rotate the distributor by hand, free of the engine, until it is in roughly the correct position. Put the distributor in the engine and mate it up with the oil pump. Then rotate the distributor until you get the timing set up correctly. Trying to put the pump in with the distributor will just frustrate the heck out of you and make you say naughty things. Much easier the other way. Ask me how I know!

I know the engine stand was not built for this engine, the picture does not show it but there is a 2x4 holding the end of the engine up so its not sagging. The engine is now sitting on my homemade engine stand made out of 2x4s. I put the engine and transmission together tonight and will put the engine stand away back in the shed.
I will try putting in the oil pump first and then the distributor trick. I don't like learning the hard way, which seems to be the norm.
This is not a show car. It will be a good looking car that my wife will want to be seen in and even drive. That's the goal of this exercise. The car has been sitting in my possesion for over 10 years and it was not getting any better. So I thought I'd get it running and fix a few things along the way and never thought of painting it. Then I thought I'd at least put it in primer to get it the same color. Then I thought that primer does not seal out the moisture nor stop it from rusting....so the paint job got a little out of hand.
I was thinking I might get this together in time for the National Tour in Arizona, my backyard. If it is, it will still be in rough shape, but it would be running and together but not done.

Attach file:

---

  (97.75 KB)

000 steel wool and a little oil works great to remove a lot of the rust from the chrome. Then go back over it with some quality chrome polish and a mothers power cone on a drill.