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Sorry Howard, I never responded to you. I checked the vacuum before but it's been a while. It was slightly low and had a pulse to it (16-17 I think).

I need to get my own gauge and test it again. It'll probably have to wait a couple months since I need to pull my radiator and have it repaired, as well as do a few other maintenance items.

I have not tested anything with the wiper motor. My assumption is that it doesn't work and will need to be rebuilt.

-Kevin

Rejoice with me, for I have obtained the un-obtainable.

A month or so ago I came across a random ad on Craigslist (I always search for Packard stuff) that advertised a '54 Packard windshield. Curious, I contacted the guy who helpfully sent me a pattern to double check the fit. He wasn't totally sure what car it went to as it's been sitting in his garage for decades. Turns out it was a perfect fit against my original windshield.

Made the drive and picked it up. New (not sure if reproduction or not) and never installed, clear color, overall good condition (a couple small chips in some edges) and in whatever box it originally came in. And only cost me $150. Score! Well worth the 7 hours of driving.

Now to get up the courage to go through the whole installation process again....

-Kevin

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  Windshield box.jpg (85.33 KB)


  Windshield box label.jpg (85.48 KB)


  New windshield.jpg (77.16 KB)


  New windshield 2.jpg (66.23 KB)


  New windshield decent condition.jpg (56.66 KB)

Excellent find! Maybe you could make a cardboard template in case anyone else is in need . . .

Great score on the windshield Kevin!

Nice find!

Awesome!

Thanks guys! I will need to work myself up to want to tackle replacing the windshield again. What a pain that was.

In the meantime I'm back in the saddle and working on other things that are on my list to do. Number one is getting the radiator fixed. Without that I can't drive. So I drained the fluid and removed the radiator. Very easy to remove and now that it's off I have tons of access to the front of the engine.

The coolant that I drained definitely had a yellow tint to it from the rust inside the system. I had replaced the coolant back in the summer from what originally came with the car (it was gross). The last bit I drained after I got the radiator out had some definite rust chips in it. Hopefully the radiator shop is able to repair and clean it all out.

The leak is at the junction of the upper tank and fins. Looks like it may have been repaired before. We'll see what the shop says.

With the radiator gone I want to get in and get a bunch of stuff done on the front of the engine. I'm even toying with the idea of removing the fenders and painting the engine. But at the very least I'm wanting to clean and paint and parts I can access. I will also paint the areas of the frame I have access to. I'll also strip and paint the front cover panel....lots of imperfections in it.

I'm going to take the generator off and clean it up, and maybe service it too if I can figure it out. Power steering pump and bracket need to come off for painting, but I'm not exactly sure how to do that. The belts will be replaced, and I need to paint the pulleys too.

-Kevin

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  New coolant after a few months of use.jpg (40.11 KB)


  Radiator removed.jpg (132.39 KB)


  Leaky radiator.jpg (154.06 KB)


  Down the hole.jpg (64.02 KB)


  Ugly engine.jpg (132.50 KB)


  Panel removed.jpg (98.45 KB)


  Parts for blasting.jpg (122.03 KB)

Kevin, what you are describing is something many of us have experienced - mission creep.

Don't forget to use the rubber washers when you get ready to install the repaired radiator. Packard originally mounted the radiators with a rubber shock absorbing washers. Big Kev suggested to me to use toilet tank washers and short sleeves made from 5/16" tubing to replicate the original.

I have a photo of what was used when I was working on my 55 Clipper and will post it for you.

Kevin, sorry the only photo I could find is the one attached and not a detail one of the bolts, sleeves and washers. They are in front of the radiator, but hard to see.

I used the cone shaped toilet tank washers - which are easily found at any hardware store - and some short sleeves made of 5/16" tubing to prevent them from being crushed when the bolts were tightened.

This allows the radiator to flex. Otherwise, it is fastened tightly to the cradle and subject to movement and failure.

These rubber washers and original shoulder bolts disappeared over time as the radiator was serviced.

Maybe Big Kev has photos of what I am talking about.

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The radiator core mounting instructions and illustrations are on page 27 of this 1951 service counselor.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/SC/SC-VOL25NO7.pdf

Packard followed the same procedure and used the same mount method and equivalent mounting pieces thru 56 so everything in the article (except trimming the flange to a shorter length) would be how it was done on your car.