JD in KC

The 'Carter Carstarter' carburetor based switch was in use on Buicks from 1939-54 and on Packards from 1941-53. Edit: Just realized that the date range I used above for the Buick is from a Motor's Auto Repair Manual from 1954... so the 1954 end date for Buick ain't necessarily so. 1953 is correct for Packard. I should stick with what I know!

I believe it did have a starter button, but I am not positive. It's been like... 50 years :eek:.

Can't help with the window trim question but here's a link to a chart that correlates the year/model with the correct engine number ranges (PDF).

I'm going to go with "Automatic Choke Manifold Heat Chamber". PS. I don't see a gasket listed.

It's been down for over 24 hours now. I'm getting withdrawal symptoms. I don't know whats happening with the Duchess, down under at Wade's or with any of the on-going restorations. ARRRRGH!

Thanks for the lead/information and clarification.

That might work for me. Let me compare the lower moldings on my'49 (22nd series) with the battered running board side moldings from my '41 and see how different they are. In any case I may want to replace some of the door/skirt/front fender lower moldings on the '49 anyway so I'll keep you in mind.

I would be interested in the running board side moldings (148" wheelbase 180). I've got all the rest. Got any leads?

Yes, this is a Packard windshield division moulding. Fits all 22nd/23rd series (1948-1950) models except the convertibles.

I think most of the discussion about that Custom Club Sedan over on Packardinfo.com centers around the asking price of $5,500.00 being too high and the suitability of the car as a candidate for restoration. It's true that two of the members stated that they thought the value was "scrap value" and "$500 tops". I would respectfully disagree. As a parts car to be used for the restoration of a better Custom Club Sedan I would put the value higher than scrap. As a car for parting out, the potential value is possibly much higher than scrap... how much higher would depend on the marketing ability and patience of the parts seller, the current/future market and demand for the parts. Stating the obvious, if there is a buyer somewhere in the world that wants a 22nd series Custom Club Sedan badly enough to pay $5,500.00 for one in that condition, then the car is worth $5,500.00. As far as the 23rd series Super Deluxe Club Sedan with the 22nd series front bumper in this thread goes, I think $2000.00 is a good asking price. Then, after inspection and depending on the extent of any rust-through and/or critter damage to the interior, a suitable offer could be made. To some folks $2,000.00 is chump change, to others it represents a lot of money. It's all very subjective.

The easiest way to test whether or not you have a bad carburetor switch is to just turn on the ignition, and use a jumper on the two connect points on the switch. If the starter cranks, it's the switch. If the starter doesn't crank it's something else. I believe the Carter starter switch is the same for Buick and Packard, but since I'm familiar with Packards and not Buicks, I'll leave the ignition/wiring questions to the Buick experts. Welcome to the forum.

Click on the link in the posting for pictures and description.

Aside from the already mentioned "Did you buy it new?", and "Who made Packard?", the question I always get asked at a gas station when filling up one of the bathtub Packards is "What is that noise?" I then go on to explain that from 1941-1951 most models of Packard were equipped with a Packard 'Gas Tank Whistle' which alerted the gas station attendant that the tank was within 1 gallon of being full when the whistling stopped. Not exactly a questionable question... more of an inevitable question. It's a been a great conversation starter.

The car sold for $1,200.00. If the buyer follows through, I'll bet that you'll be seeing the car on eBay again... as parts. In this case I don't think that's a bad thing.

It will be interesting to see what it goes for. I think there is at least one vendor bidding on it. Generally, where you see a vendor's highest bid end is going to be below the cut-off where the current value of the parts vs the cost of the car plus transportation becomes a wash. Vendors don't get caught up in a last minute bidding frenzy brought on by dreams of restoration. Some may have stopped bidding because they intend to spike the auction during the last few seconds with their best bid.

I didn't want to get into the value of the car, the final bid will settle that question. I will however back off from the 'parts car' inference I made. The car can certainly be restored (Heck, the Titanic could be raised and restored with enough money). My thoughts were that given the rust problems (not the surface rust... look at the replacement trunk floor, spare wheel well, and trunk lip for starters), the general condition of the interior (good for patterns but everything needs to be refinished or replaced), needed body work, cracked block, the condition of the chrome, plus the normal engine re-build, glass, paint, suspension system, brakes, etc. this would not be a car I would want to restore. My guess is that the cost of restoration would be well into the five digit territory. So, yeah... it's better than a parts car and I sincerely hope that a Packard purist with all the necessary skills and/or resources buys it and restores it back to its original glory.

I see the car is now on eBay. The seller has included lots of pictures and some fairly candid comments. IMHO that car is a parts car unless you have extremely good restoration talents and/or are as wealthy as Croesus. Is that engine crack as long as I think it is?

This thread gives a phone number: http://forums.aaca.org/f169/overdrive-242486.html

I'd want to see a high resolution photo of the crack to show to a knowledgeable engine re-builder before I went very far into the purchasing process. I don't know what it costs to 'pin' a crack but I suspect it ain't cheap. The body has surface rust and needs some work but I 'd really want to see the floorboards, trunk and frame before I got serious with the purchase. In the long run, the Custom Clippers are more valuable (monetarily) than the 22nd/23rd series Customs. The Custom Super Eight Clippers are 'Full Classics' as determined by the CCCA, the 22nd/23rd series are not (if you care about such things). In 1946 Packard built 1472 Custom Super Eight Sedan/Club Sedans, and 1291 LWB Touring Sedans/Limousines.

I know of the Clipper you are referring to. If it didn't have a cracked block I would have gone up to look at it long ago. I'd love to have a Custom Super Clipper to add to my Packard menagerie but the cracked block is a non-starter for me. I agree with HH56's comments regarding the Clippers.

I don't think that's correct. I believe it makes a difference which wheel you have.

Look under 'Studebaker'.

If you are referring to the plastic middle layer of safety glass, there is no remedy I am aware of other than having new glass cut to replace it. The old safety glass was prone to de-laminating and discoloring after long term exposure to the sun.

That is spectacularly hideous. I have some other examples of misguided efforts in my files, but the owners are still very much alive and proud of their ex-Packards so I will refrain from posting. Also, they are just too depressing.

I use the same stuff/method on concrete and it works for me.