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With this Blog I intend on keeping a record of the restoration of my 733 to something a little bit different. I'm already about a year in to it but I've spent most of that time hunting down parts and taking the car car apart slowly and photographing everything so I can put it back together correctly. The car is from Ohio and I don't have any idea who owned it in its previous lives but time has not been kind to this car. The car started as a 7P sedan but at some time it was cut down to a club sedan and the work was substandard and never really completed. It's also been in an accident and the frame is bent up a bit in the front. Someone has also cut off the bumper mounts and all the expensive bits have been removed from the car.

That's most of the bad news, the good news is that it's 90% complete and it's exactly the kind of Packard I was looking for: a car so far from perfect that it would not be a good candidate for a spot on restoration. My plans are to turn it in to a 734 Speedster Sedan at least visually.

This will require that the body and engine be pushed back 7" on the frame and that a new longer hood be fashioned. In addition, the roof will be getting a 2" beauty chop as Packard did on the original speedster sedan.

Here is what the car looked like when i received it:

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One of the first projects was to get the engine out and to a rebuilder. I wanted to know exactly what I was in for so I took the engine apart in the garage to see what I had to work with. The cyclinders were .016" oversize and also tapered .010", the cam has actual grooves cut in it from the tappet arm bearings and it had two valves seized in it. This engine was run in to the ground, I can only imagine the clouds of white smoke that accompanied this car wherever it drove.

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Lucky for me I have had some help on the car including my stepfather and my son who between them have about 50 years experience working on cars. With them helping I was able to get the engine out of the car.

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As of this last weekend the engine is starting to come back together. It's been cleaned up a bit and bored oversize for new pistons and rings.

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With the engine out being worked on it's given me time to rip the car down to its bare chassis. I managed to get it in my truck and drive it the 5 miles to the sandblaster. I had about 8 feet of the frame dangling out the back of my F150 but I got it there without incident. It was returned a few days later with all the rust and oil and dirt blown off of it so I sprayed on a coat of black chassis paint that day before it had a chance to rust up. With the frame sitting on jack stands it was easy to see the front end damage. The frame was bent 1/2" to the left from the radiator cross member to the front frame horns. Luckily I found a 726 donor frame in California that was not only straight but also had the bumper brackets I needed. This last weekend I chopped off the old frame horns and grafted in the new front frame section and straightened the frame as well.

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Also of note are the brand new leaf springs I got from Eaton Springs here in Detroit. I had them use my old springs as guides and they crafted me a new set of springs that should ride 1" lower than the old springs. Not a huge change but enough to give the car a slightly sportier look. They can be seen on the floor in the pics above.

Todd,

Nice project looking forward to seeing your progress.

Looks like a great project Todd - I'll be following along with interest.

Got a laugh out of the photos of your two helpers - I wonder where the majority of that 50 years experience is?

Wow, Todd. All I can say is that you will have one beauty when you are finished. I am personally envious of your skill bank with your father-in-law! Best of luck and keep us informed!!

Nothing like the two-thumbs-up from a two-year-old to inspire you to keep movin' on. I too will continue to watch your thread with interest and anticipation.