Latest acquisition

[RO]

Needs work! Parts car only. I got right front fender and bumper with it, but the fender is for the senior car or a '56 Clipper or Executive.

http://www.aaca.org/photopost/showphoto....&page=1

http://www.aaca.org/photopost/showphoto....&page=1

[RO]

And one thing that should NEVER be done is to store one of these cars outside with black tarp anchored to the ground because the moisture got inside this car and destroyed all the door/window handles and the dash. One of the worst dashes I have ever seen.

[Guest Albert]

It does not look too bad, you should have it ready by spring...I picked up this one in November off e-bay. Had to do a valve job on it and remove the dog food I found that the mice have been packing around the frist 4 exhaust valves, and there nest around the last 4, but it's running great now just a few more little things and i will be ready for the summer.. The only a couple of problems in getting it back , frist forgeting that the Clipper rims are a different bolt circle than the Packards, and the second getting the driveshaft off. the towing from around Scrantion Pa. to Toronto on a tow bar was not too bad behind a 90's Pontiac Bonniville. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...item=2440759036

[RO]

I was told the engine in this car was rebuilt 15 years but never started. If you look under the Packards For Sale/Wanted companion forum, you'll see the other two cars that I did not bring home. Good luck with your '54. Should be real nice when you get it done.

[Guest JT]

RO, you're right on never covering a car with a tarp. I learned the hard way by using a car cover outside. It ruined a good paint job in just a few months even though I took it off after every rain and dried car out. It was the long term ground moisture that did the damage and I didn't notice until too late <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[6219_Rules]

Is that because the tarp does not breathe? How do you escape this when using even really good car covers? I ask because I am forced to keep my cars out of doors. If a car cover gives no real protection, then I will have to rent a place to store them. Thanks, guys! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[RO]

This tarp was thick black material and was over the cars such that no air could circulated at all. Rather than just over the car top, hood, trunk, sides, this cover was weighted down on the dirt ground all the way around such that no cirulcation was possible. And it was left on for years in this very humid environment of north Alabama.

[Guest JT]

I think long term storage with any cover could be a problem so if the cost of storage is reasonable it's well worth it.

[Centurion]

I have found that even an expensive, breathable car cover will trap moisture during damp winter months. I have a nice but unheated garage. I placed a plastic tarp on the garage floor to provide an additional vapor barrier. A couple of winters ago, I was amazed to pull the breathable Evolution fabric car cover off one of my cars to find that the car was soaking wet. Thank goodness I discovered the problem before any damage had occurred. I now use the car cover only as a dust cover during the warm summer months; I would consider using it during the winter months only in a heated storage environment.

[Steve Brown]

Randy, I think that front tire is a problem. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I've talked to people who have used those giant sandwich bags for their old cars - the kind you drive the car onto and the whole thing zips up somehow. My best effort so far is to keep the air circulating. My two box fans in the garage are on timers and blow air under the car. If I don't get the car out for a few weeks it helps. And I also keep the doors open as much as possible. That helps keep things dried out I'm hoping.

[Steve Brown]

And your new parts car is the reverse personality of my 55 hardtop. I have lite green on the trunk deck and roof and dark green on the hood and lower rear.

[RO]

Engine identification for this 1955 Clipper Deluxe

The engine number is SP 21161 or posssibly 9P21161. Has Delco distributor. Has Packard black valve colors. Has Carter carburetor. Anyone familir with this engine # to identify what the engine is?

[WCraigH]

RO: Your parts car looks a lot better than the 55 Clipper I found in Pahrump about a month ago and posted here! Maybe it has coil/leaf so that maybe "G" can retrofit it to his T-L Clipper? LOL. Hey, just kidding "G".

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

Are those sandwich bags breathable or will they hold a vacuum???? Everyone can probably see where i am going with this.

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

WHERE on the engine did u find that number????/ Do the valve covers have the embossed 'Packard' stamped on them????

[RO]

Yep, Packard on the black valve covers and the number was the usual place just to the driver's side of the oil filler tube there behind the water pump. Only thing that came to mind to me was SP = Studebaker Packard. I am trying to determine if it is a 320 as supplied with the car or a 352. Note, too, this car has a 3-speed on the tree labeled WG Div.

[Guest]

Centurion: I have stored my 66 Chevelle in an unheated garage for better than 17 years with a car cover. I have never had any problems with moisture the entire time. The way that I keep moisture from happening is to put carpet down in my garage, both bays of my garage are carpeted. A good way to obtain carpeting is to go to a carpet installer in your area and ask them for the used carpet they take out from a job that they have completed. I would never consider storing my Chevelle without a car cover, the same thing can be said for my Packard, even thought its in the garage on jack stands

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

Just to be on the safe side, check for an engine number on a pad on the upper most right rear corner of the block just below the the head. You indicated that the 'SP-...' number was near the oil filler. This was put into practice sometime late 56 (fifty SIX) production and there is an SC or STD defining as such. NOTE, that my 5672-1074 has ONLY the '5672-1074' stamped near the filler nech and an ENGINE NUMBER on the rear pad of the block. BUT, my 5674-1834 has '5672-1834' stamped by the oil filler AND an ENGINE NUMBER stamped there TOO. Oddly enuf, the engine number on the later Exec has a first or 3rd character that resembles an upside down 'b' that i contrued as a '9'. This might have some relation to your 'P' stamping. In any event, i am guessing that your 'SP-...' engine is a late fifty SIX engine due to the location of this engine number as u describe. What color is the rest on the engine????? Can u scrape away any paint to see if it is a repaint??? What about the casting numbers on the heads just above the centre exhasut ports???? If they start with 'CD" (as in Cast dome) then it probably has the 352. Be sure to check BOTH heads.

[RO]

I'll try to check that tomorrow best I can.

[RO]

Another one of those blue engines.....everything blue just like on that '56 Custom. Number on the exhaust port side is 6480400CD.

[RO]

I removed many more parts from the car today before hauling into Tenneseee for its resting place. Engine blue all over, original blue looks like (just like on the '56 Custom). With the Delco distributor, I think it must be a late '56 and maybe designated for a Golden Hawk way back in '56-57.