56 Packard Clipper

Larry is this the Packybaker discussed earlier? If so its got a Borg-Warner Flightomatic(similiar to Ford C-4 and AMC BW auto trannies of the sixties).

larry wrote:

In your previous posts I seem to remember that it was never determined that this is a 'big' Packard based car. Some were telling you the car was a Studebaker based body. At one point you gave the engine number LS352. I'm sure you found this number stamped in the block at the left front near the oil fill pipe. This is definitely a 1957 Clipper engine number. Engine numbers began at LS101 that year. The numbers '352' are simply sequential and have nothing to do with cubic inch displacement. That engine is actually a 289 and originally came with a supercharger on it. Likely this car was originally sold in late 1956, causing it to be registered as that model year. Read us the numbers on the plate attached to the driver's door hinge pillar. It will start with 57L- followed by the serial number. Okay, now with all that said, the Ultramatic questions are moot. Your car has a Borg-Warner built transmission that is mostly identical to a Fordomatic of the era. Very easy and comparatively cheap to rebuild.

Chevy conversions are available for both Studebaker & Packard engines from vendors, but I would keep the excellent fluid cooled Flightomatic you presently have, as it should give you years of good service, & parts are readily availale for it. Myers, Steeltech, and Fairborn Studebaker should have the turbo adaptor kits, but save your $$.

I'M DONE. THIS CAR HAS TO GO EVEN IF I HAVE TO SELL IT AS SCRAP METAL !!!

Did anyone near Riverside ever contact him? I have written by email for pictures but have not gotten a response. As I remember from all the other posts that the car was given to him, he has restored several cars but never a S-P Product and then dismantled the car prior to researching anything about it. Be sure to take a large truck and scoop up the parts as if I remember correctly the suspension is off and so is the rear axle. Who ever and how ever they get it, drop a line and solve the mystery.

On Jul 8, 12:54 pm, bob m wrote:

Nobody close to Riverside has contacted me. I did hear from a guy in San Diego once, but that was it. I have responded to everyone that I have gotten mail from.. I am glad to send pics to anyone that gives me an address to send them to. I did try doing some research (perhaps not enough) about this car BEFORE I got it. I heard from several people and several sources that parts were available for it so I accepted the car. AFTER it was delivered these same sources (both local, and some not so local) said that most, but not all parts were only avail by special order. The car was dis assembled so I could determine the condition and size of things that needed repair or replacing (there are over and under size, remember?) You are correct in that I haven't worked on an S-P before, and that I have dis assembled alot of this car. This isn't my first car to be torn down and rebuilt. I have since found sources for all of the parts I need thanks to sources like Hemmings, but I no longer have a job to pay for all of it all. That is why I'm selling the car. It has nothing to do with having the whole car apart and me being overwhelmed, or anything else that I've heard some people say here. If I sound a little short, its because I don't appreciate some of the things being said both on this discussion, and in some of the other discussion about me and this father / son project. Its like some people turn their noes up at a "father / son project" Larry

Best of Luck to you. Can someone help him out? I wish I could but I am in Tucson.

I think that "father/son" projects are great and in a way serve a similar purpose as does a family that eats meals together etc.

That said and since I'm under the impression that this is a '57 model year vehicle, the fact that it is basically Studebaker would make it a relatively simple re-assembly project. Studebaker was pretty straight forward in their design/engineering which was not always the case with their Detroit counterparts.

With the aid of the proper shop/part manuals, this task would not be overwhelming and I would urge you to hang in there and press on as time/money allows.

I would also hope that some Stude folk within range of your location would offer advice.

JT