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These are the ducts that are going under the floor and where they could be going is what I am curious about. The car doesn't appear to have the usual vents on the package shelf. The photo was taken by Dave and I believe it is the limo you are working on.

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My recollection is not accurate obviously , I recalled outlets through the shelf. The rear body section is still intact minus the AC unit, will inspect and photograph.

Here are 2 photos of the rear back tray of the back half of the limo. There are two vents on the back tray for the a/c ducts. Then there was 2 holes in the trunk floor where the hoses for the air intake.

Thanks
James

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Fred is moving forward on the front half of the body. We finally talked him to using a lift and not a pallet LOL. He is in the process of patching the front toe board on the drivers side.

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Quote:
Curiouser and curiouser. Definitely looks like holes in the package shelf were added for vents. Is that rusty flat piece on the left with slots or louvers the actual finish vent outlet? If so, it sure looks basic for being in a custom limo.

The hoses going under the floor are connected to the blower outlets in the photo so it does appear at some time air must have been directed somewhere under the car. The transition from the large to smaller duct is crude so maybe those larger hoses went to the shelf vents originally and for whatever reason those were disconnected and smaller hoses were cobbled on. It is too bad the thing is so messed up and so much of the original was lost.

I wonder if after it was retired as a limo it became a service or private car and there was not as much need for passenger comfort. An attempt could have been made to get more air past the partition to the driver. There is a wide open space or channel behind the rocker panels running the length -- at least there is on the pre 51 Clipper type bodies. Any evidence those hoses could have been feeding into those channels with a duct attachment or opening cut in just in front of the wheel wells and exiting in the kickpanel area?

I think I would be afraid - very afraid - of bringing in air from under a vehicle! This might be the part where you would seriously consider giving originality a miss.

Does it looks like there are other circular holes next to one with the pipe?
I can't imagine that the blowers could be that good and move the air that far.

Where is the inlet in the passenger compartment? I see an opening at the top back of the blue box. Is that the inlet?

What is the bracket in the middle of the package tray for?


Maybe this car had rear "air cooled brakes"?

When we restore one of our cars the most important decision are the colors. Often we choose from other cars that have knocked our socks off, case in point Gurney Nutting bodied Duesenberg convertible I saw in 1964. It was for sale at a show for $25,000 and I bought another car there more in my price range. A '53 Packard limousine for $20 but I never forgot the Duesie. Fast forward to 1988 when we were having out '30 734 Rumbleseat Roadster restored, we found the Duesie color and did the Packard. It was oh so glamorous Mack Truck orange.

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Well the '52 Packard limo got some inspiration at Hershey well before we owned it, about 20 years ago. I ogled a '55 Imperial in dark non-metallic blue with a medium blue wool broadcloth interior. '55 Imperial limo's are not that popular, they built less than 175 I think. We just happen to have a boring black one a few bays from the Packard, when done mechanically it goes to a customer in Dubai. The blue Imperial at Hershey was from NJ so it shouldn't be too difficult to locate the owner who restored it and find out what color he used.

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The engine block is finally back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After months and and extensive repairs. The engine is ready to start going back together. The crack between the seat and cylinder was repaired and a sleeve was installed. Then the rest of the cylinders were bored, blocked decked and the seats were done.

Now comes the fun part. Over the weekend Fred installed the cam and followers and started installing the head studs. He hopes to have the rotating assembly in before the end of the week.



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Here are photo's of the repair where the block was cracked into the seat and sleeve installed.

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