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Fred & James,

I really like your most recent parts catalog with the Apollo theme cover. I was involved with NASA Apollo from 1968-70 and was in Mission Control during the first two manned landings on the moon.

Craig

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Hi James

Thanks for the prompt response of the rear door structure photos. I suspected they cut two interior stamping to cover the needed length. Does the door measure 10 inches longer than the standard unit?

It would also make sense they would weld outside surfaces in narrower sections to avoid warping in the pre-MIG welder era. Its something of a surprise they didn't utilize the outside metal from the hearse body doors for stock.

Now, to build the new rear doors, are you planning to use solid sets from inventory?

Steve

This car was built by Ray Dietrich at Dietrich Inc, contemporary hearses were built by Henney.

We are not building new doors as there's no need to. The rear bottoms of both doors are rusted out, we are cutting good sections out of '53 Senior doors to repair them.

The original center section of the floor has been sand blasted and our shop is trying to re use as much of the original floor as possible. Soon they will be mating the front and rear halves of the body once the body to floor braces are completed.

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The dog legs on the rear half of the body will need to be replaced. In this case replacements were cut off a donor car, sandblasted and will be fitted to the current body.

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With the nor'easter making its way to the NJ. It is best to be prepared. So Fred went searching for head lights and wiper components for the 52 Limo. He came back with new headlights with matching GE bulbs and new headlight rings. As well as a new new wiper motor, washer tank, washer pump and a wiper transmission. The wiper component came from Trico roughly 30 years ago. When we made a visit to them and purchased all of their 51-56 Packard components.

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Work on the floor has been progressing, about 12 hours left to go. So far the body is made from pieces from 5 vehicles, several NOS pieces and much new sheet metal for the floor.
The frame is made of pieces from 3 vehicles. .

The engine is complete from head to pan, made of 2 engines and lots of NOS parts.

Photos next week

More NOS has been located in culling the warehouse of scrap parts. Found second parking light, last 2 NOS hubcaps and lots of little stuff.

Putting the great puzzle back together is coming close.

Fred has been busy with the Limo project. The engine is assembled and painted. Now it is on to the accessories such as the generator which is out bringing rebuilt, intake which is a NOS and other items. From there he will move on to the transmission.

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As mentioned above a NOS intake and air cleaner were found while going through the 3rd floor and will aid in the restoration.


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Continuing on Fred has been spending his time aside from going through our 3rd floor inventory cleaning and prepping the transmission for the limo. The transmission was thoroughly cleaned and fresh coat of paint was applied in preparation of mating the trans and engine together. The original trans pan once cleaned was found to have small pin holes and required a replacement. A replacement was found from inventory that was a super-session that Packard had offered that was slightly deeper and the location of the drain plug was moved.

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