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Hi there!

I just want to say that you are doing a phenomenal job on you Clipper. The finished product will no doubt knock our collective socks off!

With almost 200 posts, I know there must have been a few that I missed, but I have a question regarding the seat skirts (I don't know if that is the right terminology for them). Were yours in good shape to start with or did they have cracks and other wear as befit a 61-year-old car?

At about the center of the seat, the skirt rests atop about 1 1/2-inch steel support tab. This was a pretty poor design in my opinion because every time someone sits down on the front seat, the skirt is pressed down hard on the support tab. This causes stress on the plastic and the tab will eventually poke through.

If you have already dealt with this, could you give me the time frame so I can review your post? I am trying to conjure up a solution so that I don't have to fix the skirts about every other year. Thanks, Craig

unfortunately those pieces are sitting in my shed at the moment. they do have cracks in them. but you did give me the idea that maybe this company can reproduce these as well in black to be painted in your color of choice with plastic paint.

I have not gotten to that part of the restoration as of yet.

What a great idea! In fact I am sure there are a lot of folks out there with 1950s Packards with similar problems. Painting the skirts is no problem -- start with a standard automotive plastic primer and then a couple of shots of top coat.

As I mentioned before, I think it would be in your long-term interest to add a metal support at the seat's steel support brace (or tabs, whatever!). Although maybe using harder modern plastic might make the supports unnecessary.

Anyway, if you can find out about reproducing those skirts, please send me a note. I think there could be a big interest in pursuing this idea. Thank you. Craig

I will keep it in mind. thanks

I ordered the wiring harness for the car and as soon as the firewall pad and plenum ship I will start installing the harness as well.

WABAM!!! rejoice, for today is a day of victory! one year later and we have a prototype for the 55/56 heater plenum!

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Looks very good. Am glad they decided to go ahead and make the thing complete. The old flappers were a cardboard and tarpaper thing and probably wouldn't have been easy to transfer -- or at least not in good condition.

Have you decided to resuse the old ones of if not, what to do about making the defroster ducts?

I believe the plan is to offer this as a kit. I don't believe they are going to reproduce the metal hardware. you would have to reuse your original hardware. I did mention to them that they could have the metal piece reproduced and added to the kit if the customer does not have their original pieces.

the backer-board flap is original I believe, just new felt on the end. I believe they just used the original flapper as it was attached to the metal hardware.

the one sitting here on my work bench has the exact same flapper. same material.

they had the plenum I sent them and they had one that was sent to them a long time ago when they first tried to make this thing. I have no idea which one they used for the parts.

the new parts are in. fitment was dead on. finding hardware to mount it to the firewall was another story. trying to find plastic push fasteners that are 1/4" x nearly 2" long wasn't working out. so I used elevator bolts that I found at Lowes. they look like push fasteners, but I had to put a lock nut on the other side. no biggie, don't really plan on taking them back off. 2" was a bit much and 1" was not long enough. I'm thinking about just cutting off the extra that is sticking out, but its not like anyone will really see them unless they know what they are looking for.

hopefully next will be reproduction defroster elbows. we will see how that comes out with Quietride, the company that reproduces the firewall pad and the plenum.

lowes.com/pd/The-Hillman-Group-1-4-in-to ... n-Zinc-Plated-Elevator-Bolt/3722664

elevator bolt, not the cheapest solution, but the most locally available that presented itself to be a solution.

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I could not find long enough plastic push in retainers either so went to a two piece plastic rivet from McMaster. The shank is a bit smaller than the stock item but it was long enough and the cap on the engine side looked presentable once the extra shank was cut off. Was a bit challenging to install by myself in a few spots but we managed. You have your elevator bolts so no need now but maybe someone else can use the info.

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dangit I always forget about McMaster!! but regardless, lowes is 1 mile from my house and my wife helped me install them. pricing is about the same as you only need 6.