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Believe there is different number and location for different bodies. The frame section of service manual lists what should be there for various cars.

Keegan, your blog wets my appetite for a standard suspension, standard transmission V-8 Clipper. I wonder if there are any out there for sale?

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There's 3 ears per side. Two at the front close together. 10 mounting points all together for the body. I thought that I had disconnected them all until I removed the front clip and found two more hiding on the frame rail behind the fenders.

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As far as I know this is the standard rear suspension, but Eric has me thinking about some alternatives.

I'm hoping to spend a little more time with it this weekend because I know next week is no good for "packard time".

Just some progress photos of the floor repair.

The replacement panels are from classics2current. The one's seen on Ebay. I cut the panel on the bend and will need to make some modifications for them to work. They don't have the correct contour for the floor supports or the bends for the trans tunnel and foot well.

Knowing that, I probably wouldn't have bought them.

I hit the braces with some POR15 before I put the repairs in for good.

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I really like this project Keegan, It reminded me that I have a car that needs to be finished. I do hope one day to have a Packard, but before that other "loose ends" should be finished off.
This project is a inspiration same also gose for Wades Workshop to.

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Thanks Hardtop!


I got a small amount of work done today. I finally got to use my cleco panel clamps!!

Clamped the first repair panel and then started to weld it in.

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Such excellent work. I, too, am glad to see a standard suspension V8 Packard being preserved. With the popularity of the T-L, these might be the "really rare" Packard V8 cars of the future, as fewer and fewer standard suspension models are chosen for restoration.

I think you'll make your deadline. It looks like you definitely got an "A" in shop, and know how to keep things moving along.

I admit I haven't read your whole blog, but what I see on this page makes me want to read the rest.

I've had limited Clipper time lately.

I did manage to get a little further on the passenger floors.

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Really nice work! and great that you are saving that car. I have classics2current panels for my '58 DeSoto's floors, and find them to be pretty crude and inaccurate - are there any alternatives at all for 55/56 Packards? Sure would be nice if we could buy die stamped pressings like you can for muscle cars and the like.

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That would be nice, but I don't believe there's anything available.

The replacement pans are the general shape, and with some work can be made to fit reasonably as the photo's show above. I guess if we wanted it easier, we would all be working on Chevys

I've moved to the drivers side rear floor brace and floor pan. This one was pretty bad and required the floor be cut away and the brace removed for rebuilding. Unfortunately, my camera wasn't available for most of the process, but I managed to snaps some shots of the floor repair in progress.

Still lots of grinding and finish welding.

I picked up a couple new tools from Harbor Freight last week. A set of sheet metal shrinker/stretcher tools. I must say I really like how well they work.

I'm going to try and dedicate more time to the Clipper. I'm not getting much done with only a couple hours a week right now. Spring is closing in fast.

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