Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

Thank you Howard. Over the years I've been doing just that and have quite a few photos but each is different. On a recent set from a 1952 Henney-Packard ambulance just like mine sent to me by the owner but made, as I recall, for the Army (mine is Air Force) it was quite different even though externally it looks identical other than having an incorrect '60s era spotlight on the door. I know someone online with a Cadillac version so maybe he has something closer on his as the basic equipment was the same no matter the chassis or coach builder.

While on the subject of equipment, mine has an antenna on the roof identical to that of the ambulance mentioned above but I see no sign of a two-way radio having ever been installed. However, I'll look more closely once it's back on the ground and moveable under its own power. If it ever had one, it would probably have attached under the dash - or at least the control head would have been there. The radio itself is huge so would have been mounted on one of the steel plates in the rear compartment on the panels where the rear side doors would have been had it had them.

I posted this list way back here nearly a year and a half ago so here is the progress so far. Countless other things done not on the list too.

Simplified here and not necessarily in the exact order but these are the basic tasks with the primary goal of getting it movable under its own power even if not quite road-ready:

Clean and seal gas tank (have cleaner and sealer)
Rebuild fuel pump (have kit) - PUMP REBUILT BUT NOT INSTALLED
Install new fuel sender (being rebuilt now)
Clean fuel lines and install tank with new filler hoses - TANK NOT YET INSTALLED

Install muffler (I already have several new ones)
Install tail pipe (an NOS one has been sourced)

Install already-rebuilt brake cylinders - FRONT ONLY
Install sleeved and rebuilt master
Replace rear axle seals and maybe bearings
Install replacement rear end with reproduced steel crossover lines
Clean wheels and install new tires (already have them)

Take off bell housing and check clutch - BELL HOUSING NOT REMOVED BUT CLUTCH REBUILT
Repair is a needed, reassemble clutch
Install R11 transmission
Install driveshaft with new u-joints and revulcanized supports (have all)

Add petrol, start it and drive! Soon! I bought the petrol yesterday!

For the body, nothing is planned except to replace the rear door and I have a replacement already. I may have the rocker panels addressed at some point as there is little left and it leaves a trail of rust pieces whenever moved but not sure yet.

So close Don. Hope to see it moving again soon.

-Kevin

Thank you Kevin! Probably won't get it fired up this time but I hope to get it as close to being ready for when I'm here next! Even then it won't be ready to drive as there are no rear brakes installed yet and the axle needs seals and other work. Also, I can't get the shift linkages connected to the arms which seems to be an alignment issue. Trying to keep everything as original as possible seems to take more time than the actual work so if I'm not searching my shop or the dealers for parts I am looking for tools that I misplaced.

Today I got the fuel pump and the rear transmission yoke installed with the u-joint attached so the driveline is complete finally (other than the rear brake work). First time since I bought it that it looked like it could go somewhere.

While installing the pump, adding a filter while I was at it, and looking around under the hood I noticed or was reminded of a few oddities. One is that the head is not original as it has a 1954 casting date although I likely have the proper head should it need one. Also, there are a couple head studs that have been replaced with bolts and a couple without nuts so I will have to address that.

Another is the odd vacuum canister mounted at the front passenger side inner fender. I’m sure that was added later so I’ll likely remove it. There is also no wiper motor as I went around one day many years ago long before moving to all my cars, removed the pumps and sent them off to Trico for rebuilding so I just need to find the box with the rebuilt pumps in it! Of course, there are no wiper blades either. What I hadn't noticed before was that something had once been mounted to the heater box as it has four holes in it.

Then finally I see that this car apparently once had a Delco-Remy voltage regulator as the screw holes are visible but it has the Autolite type installed now. In addition to that, definitely something was done with the charging system as there are newer wires connected and old rotten ones laying aside.

Attach file:

---

  166E1809-0844-4ACC-BD1C-537BAE336399.jpeg (145.90 KB)


  9E844CE6-AA14-4362-AAE8-2F1FF64770BC.jpeg (110.83 KB)


  0E316611-59F6-43FB-9605-C9879FD71A6B.jpeg (157.02 KB)


  206F4A51-1E1C-4F10-8C86-DD9C79F4C503.jpeg (159.63 KB)


  9757B167-6CCB-4AAB-BE06-427E3C114A80.jpeg (167.74 KB)


  7C5898D0-9D5A-46D7-9672-49E5AC2F2DAF.jpeg (120.35 KB)

I discovered just as it was time to come in that I may have to remove the fuel pump again as it was apparently supposed to have a phenolic piece between two gaskets while I simply installed one gasket. I found the one that came off of it on top of the head. Can anyone confirm?

Attach file:

---

  D3C71E6A-BD8D-469A-B9D1-6993971B7FB7.jpeg (117.12 KB)

I was about to reinstall the clutch pedal spring (which I don’t recall removing) but I cannot see what it connects to on the front end. I see the pedal pivot but nothing resembling a hook!

Good news is that Fred at Max Merritt finally located the rear tailpipe hanger that I’ve been looking for! It took him a couple days but he came through at last late this afternoon. It’s the only Packard hanger I’ve seen that attaches 90 degrees to the pipe.

Attach file:

---

  14913D41-5063-4584-844F-1B45F1A79F5D.jpeg (148.74 KB)


  6AC64BA1-C6EF-4BB9-A965-EB96521B67E3.jpeg (145.97 KB)


  2CFCA69A-5142-45CE-9413-62D8BD4B28C3.jpeg (162.70 KB)

A couple more things.

The oil filter assembly is large so probably specific to the Henney-Packard. Either that or it was added after the fact but either way I need to address its hoses.

I also have two cormorants for the car. One matches its patina while the other is NOS and I had planned on finally putting one of the on for it's first test run. However, with the lift lowered as it was, I decided to try on the old one and found that it's bent! I’m not sure if it can be straightened without breaking it or whether some slight heat might help.

EDIT: I just noticed that the oil filler cap appears to be trying to say something! Either that or it's laughing at me.

Attach file:

---

  21407D8D-654B-4457-BD67-D58737CB6D97.jpeg (167.99 KB)


  1204119F-3CBD-491B-AB69-074DA0D14C37.jpeg (163.77 KB)

On the earlier cars the "hook" is a separate piece that has a curve on one end that goes over a round stub on the relay lever with the spring loop at the other end. It kind of looks like they did the same thing on the later cars but changed the shape of the hook and reversed the spring direction by placing the stub on the pedal instead of relay lever.

Here is what the hook on Clipper bodies thru 50 looks like.

Attach file:

---

  IMG_0707.jpeg (131.26 KB)

Thank you, Howard. I don’t even see anything for the hook to connected to but it’s really gunked up with heavy grease so a good cleaning is in order. Maybe it’s there but just glued down under the mess!

This, by the way, was the car’s original color.

Attach file:

---

  BCB14CAF-F3D2-497D-9BD1-F09E5CB53BE5.jpeg (101.30 KB)


  9137A111-874D-4763-B65D-BCB9708748C1.jpeg (190.19 KB)