jfrom1984

I actually work for Rebuilders Choice. These are actually one of a more popular pistons. Since introduction we have sold 384 in varying sizes. As you have mentioned these are available through Kanter Auto Products and many other Pontiac specialist as well . Our pistons are precision machined within .001” of each other and weight balanced within 2 grams. Currently we offer about 100 different types of pistons that have been discontinued by other aftermarket for cars of the 1920's through the 80's

I work for Kanter Auto Products and I can get you in touch with a person on staff that can help with any questions that you may have. Please private message me and I will help. Thanks James

Andy no longer owns the business the new owner Chris is knowledgeable very helpful. Just an FYI Thanks

At this point I want to drive and enjoy it for the summer. I have restored various cars but this is my first torsion level Packard. So it has been a fun and unique set up to work on. At this point I am torn on if I should repaint it or keep the car original and preserve the original paint. So for now it will be more or less mechanical restoration. James

The person that I purchased the car from was Stuart Blonde in our Packard Department Thanks James

I spoke with the previous owner and he said most of the work on the car was done in Temcula CA and a few other shops in the area till he moved to NJ around 1985 Thanks James

That is very true, the cost of shipping parts oversea can be very expensive. Here are some more recent photos of the. Since I have gotten the 400 on the road. I have logged about 200 miles or so. Each and every trip is an adventure I am always listening for new bumps and rattles. The next project with be the trailing arm bushing and the watts link.

Next was on to the passenger side window that was inoperable. Started with checking all my power and grounds, wiring wise the car checked out good. I then pulled the regulator and motor to see what was going on. I direct powered the motor and nothing I ended up pulling to the motor apart but over the years of use a burr had formed on the worm gear shaft portion of the armature which made disassembling somewhat difficult. What I found to be the issue was a stuck brush. So I freed the brushes up, polished the shaft part of the armature and lubed up the assembly and now it works good as new. From there I was able to get some more miles on the car(50 or so). The car had a pinging issue and a shutter so I rear timed the car and fine tuned the dwell. The pinging is gone but the shutter is still slightly there. As it stands my new list for now is: 1)Fixing / diagnosing the shutter 2)Pulling and checking the wiring for the head lights as the dashboard lights do not work. 3)Torsion level system it works when it feels like, but Dan Kanter has been a big help working on this part. On a side note I made it to my first car show. I will tell you the car got a lot of looks and attention plus the fact that it was the only Packard there. I enjoyed all the people that stopped to talk and reminisce especially one guy that told me how in 1955-56 during his senior year of H.S. He remembers how he and his buddy's would stand on the back of any Packard they saw on the street just to test the torsion level system.

I went through the front end on the Packard and the only real issue was the upper and lower control arm bushings. They since have been all replaced and the front end greased. The only thing that will need to be done is I will need to go up in size on the torsion bar pins to most like the 4 ring as the car has the 2 ring and is very close to the bump stop.

Here is the maiden voyage after a major tune-up, tank cleaned, trans serviced and a oil change. Click on the picture for the video

I needed a break from the mechanical side of things so I pulled out the H.D. rubbing compound Sunday evening to see what could be done with current status of the paint on the car. I am torn with this car. I haven't decided fully what I am going to do with it restoration wise. This car is still wearing its original paint so its only original once. I think at this time I will try to save the scottish heather side and repaint the white. Thoughts or opinions would be appreciated. As you can see the color is coming back ever so slowly.

The driver side manifold is cracked on the 400. I took sometime on my breaks during work and was able to find a nice used exhaust manifold. Here is the manifold as I found it. Then Cleaned: Painted and ready to be installed Here is the old next to the new good used one. The removal wasn't to bad luckily no broken bolts Install:

Next was the wheel cylinders and cleaning of the brake lines. The brake shoes were still good but I did have to get hardware kits as some of the springs were bad.

First order of business was going through the brake system and BTV Power unit. Unfortunately the brake system needed a full overhaul. From a rebuild on the BTV to cleaning lines and new wheel cylinders. I had taken the unit apart piece by piece cleaning each part and inspecting. I glass beaded the can and master cylinder portion and lightly honed the bored on the vacuum canister. I will be used one of Kanter Auto Product BTV rebuild kits in the rebuilding process. I will also be replacing the original piston with a brand new stainless steel one. Here is the me testing the unit before install

I purchased this car from a guy that I work with at Kanter Auto Products back in November that had sat un used in his drive way for over ten year. he had owned the car for many years and had purchase the car back in the 80's in California. My current plan is to get the car in mechanical order and then attend to the body and paint. This is my first Packard and I am very excited on bringing it back to life. Here is the condition of the car when I picked it up in November:

NEW 1951-56 Packard Fuel Tanks Now available by Kanter Auto Products new production fuel tanks for 1951-56 Packards. With your original Packard tank being close to 60 years old, now is the time to replace it with our NEW tank. Stop being plagued with the thought of rust and other debris flowing through your fuel systems endangering your fuel pump or carburetor. The days of boiling and reconditioning tanks are over. Each one of our tanks are precision built to OEM specs to provide the perfect fit and function like factory new. Kanter Auto Product’s new tank will provide you with the assurance and peace-of-mind of many happy miles and years of use. Our fuel tanks are available in a deluxe kit for a seamless installation that includes the tank, straps, sending unit, T-bolts, vent tube and clamps or as individual components. Steel tank is a direct replacement of the original tank Tanks are Ni-Terne treated steel Drain plug in tank Original placement of threaded bung for fuel pick up Constructed of 18 gauge steel Includes correct filler neck with rolled lip for a perfect seal Kanter Auto Products 1-800-526-1096 or WWW.KANTER.COM

Buick 430 engine runs smooth,quiet, and does not smoke. Come see and hear it run. It is still currently in the vehicle. I an located in northern NJ $900 or best offer James 862-266-2183

Currently he is sporting a dark red burgandy. I really do like the color because in different lighting he changes color. Thanks for the welcome James

Hi Guys, I figured I would introduce myself my name is James and I too work for Kanter Auto Product as the marketing supervisor. I have had a love of Buicks since I was a child. I grew up in a family that always had a Buick in the drive way. Well fast forward to High School I went to a vocational school and one of the teachers had an antique car but none of the students nore the shop teacher would even consider working on it. That is when I said I would except the challenger. So low and behold he has the delapitated wreck of a car towed in. To my surprise it was a 53 Buick Roadmaster estate wagon I loved every minute working on that car and from that point I promised myself I would get my own. Once H.S was over it was off to work at a restoration shop and college full time. Then one day I went to visit my sister in Toms River NJ and went to church with them and saw Sherman a 53 40series sitting in the back parking lot of the church. I spoke to the pastor and he said is was a member of the churches car but he had past away and the family donated it. Well I stuck a deal and it was on its way to the shop I worked at. I have now owned the car for six years and have loved every minute of it (even when I break down on the side of the road lol). My Buick I use all year around I have not restored it yet I just keep it on the road and fix the rust a little at a time and have done some re-chroming. He is driver and that is the way I like him. Ive used the car in my wedding and even to get my xmas tree. I love buicks so much that I even set my parts car up as a lawn decoration every Holloween. Well sorry to make this intro so long lol but I truely am a Buick fan.