Wow, you're not messing around. Check out the rest of the property for the decklid, any remains is a start.
Trying to get as much done as I can before going to Az for the winter, also running up against the supply chain holdups, waiting for parts. When I get the body home in April, things will get serious, want to have the frame ready to drop it on. It will need a full floor and substructure, wood removal, etc. Also going to do a mild top chop similar to the yellow coupe. I have a line on a 46 Ford trunk lid, they are a similar shape though much larger than the Packard one, so I may be able to harvest enough good metal from it to do the job.
Got the engine mounted, had to make a jog in the crossmember to get around the steering box, first try was a fail - the pitman arm hit the crossmember, so I had to rework it. Decided to mock up the power adder for inspiration - 871 BDS, 10% underdrive to keep things sorta sane.... I don't have the 750 blower carbs yet so those are just a couple of stand-ins so I could perch the scoop on top. It could just fit under the hood with some low profile air cleaners, but where's the fun in that?? At least it's a roller now...
'NOW I unner'stand' why all the heavy-doody/over-build on the chassis!! "Big block with'a huff'a"!! That engine would twist most frames like a pretzel. Nice job so far 6sally6
Lmao yeps brings back memorys of when you could do other things than clean the shop an look for something to sand
Finally got the body home, along with a pile of parts, 7 fenders, 3 grille shells, 3 doors, 2 hoods and a whole lot of smaller parts, also a couple 40 Packard trunk lids that I should be able to cobble together to re-create the missing coupe trunk lid. Squeezed it all into my little trailer for now 'till the other coupe is out of the shop in a couple weeks, then it will get mounted on the chassis at last.
Got the body into a dry shop for the first time in years. First thing to do will be to cut out the floors, along with the wood subrails, so it can sit on its new frame for the first time.
I'm looking forward to seeing you start working your magic on this Packard. Are you going to finish Hercules first?
Got the floor out, lotsa fun removing the wood sills and other lumber, cut the wheelwells since it will get mini tubs, likely just widening the stock tubs. Added some tube bracing before cutting to keep everything squareish. The rear will sit a bit higher with the 30" tall M&H cheater slicks if Coker Tire ever gets them produced, waiting for delivery since Aug 2022! I also have a rear tailpan from a sedan that is better than the mangled one on this body.
After finishing another hotrod project, its time to get back on the Packard. Removed and straightened the rocker panels, fixed some rot, and welded them back on, eliminating the factory seams at the front and where they meet the quarter panel. Building a new floor structure and body mounts from 1x2 and 1x1 tubing, working my way to the rear. Squared up the rear of the body and braced it then cut out what was left of the trunk floor. I was going to use the other tailpan I have to replace the messed up one on this body, but its pretty crispy and by the time I straighten it and fix the rot, I might as well have made a new one - so that's what's going to happen. Also got a roof skin from a 96 Grande Marquis today to fill the top.
Great work, Charlie! I plan to use/steal a lot of these when I start on my Packard. Keep those details coming.
Thanks Rock! Working on putting the roof skin on today, first melting off the old rotten lead from the seams. I didn't like the big ditch revealed on both sides where they made a lap joint, bashed it in and leaded it, so I cut it out on both sides, put in some new metal. Trimmed an fitted the filler piece and got it tacked in place. Lots more hammering and welding to do, but it fits the shape of the roof pretty nicely.
That is a nice fit. I scored the roof of a 53 Rambler coupe that I will use for mine. According to the templates I made, it is almost perfect. We will see.
Finished the top insert, just a bit more hammer and dolly work to do. Got to work fixing the rot at the rear of the body and making a new tailpan from scratch. Once the floor is in, the temporary supports around the trunk opening get removed and a new 1" square tube frame will get put in - it originally had all wood framing around the trunk and on the trunk lid. Another challenge will be to make a trunk lid 'cause this body is missing it, and they are next to impossible to find....
Started making the wheel tubs, rolled a small lip on the edges so when the pieces are welded together, its not a sharp 90 edge, got the first one fitted and tacked in place.
Put the other tub in and welded them both in, also moved the trunk bracing up out of the way to allow me to start putting in the floor pieces.
Filling in the blanks.... floor pieces going in starting at the rear, made an access hole to get at the tank, sender, etc.
I am glad that you plugged that hole in the roof ,never dug that covering that would rot and leak thereby trashing the interior.
Don't get the whole covert to a 2 door thing. Makes it a pain to get friends and family in and out of the back seat.
You need to go to ratrodsrule.com and see the thread. He built a really cool hot rod out of a really ugly 4 door and no, it's not a rat rod. https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28389
The Jalopy Journal
