RobertKB

Yup, that’s exactly what my spacers that I used looked like. I’m going to have a better look to see if I can find one or two. I just can’t remember where. I’ll get in touch if any luck.

I wouldn’t be too worried if only 1/8”.

There were factory spacers used to help line up the water pump pulley with the others. Four holes drilled for the bolts to go through. I have used them but can’t remember which car(s). Not even sure if I have spares and even less sure where they might be.

Nothing wrong with zip ties! Occasionally, new devices are just better than the old, especially if not normally visible.

I’m kinda partial to the rims being the body colour of my old Mopars. I’m pretty certain that’s how they came from the factory. Even with full size hubcaps.

Glad you could make it out!? Since my last post the weather has been snow, cold, windy and miserable. Presently +1F and snowing. It had to happen sometime and the long hibernation has started. I do not like winter!?

Manifolds look really good!! How soon before you fire the rebuilt motor for the first time?

No one else will say it, so I will. If you are this concerned about the rust, dents, and nicks, why don’t you just replace with new valves. It sounds like the old valves have been resurfaced maybe more than once and the edge thickness is already minimal. New valves are not that expensive and the peace of mind they would offer would certainly be worth it.

I stopped wearing shorts two days ago as we got our first bit of proper winter, but hope to be back in them soon. I wear shorts every day as long as the temperature is going to get above freezing during the day. Never wear a jacket or warmer shirt unless it’s below 45F or a cold wind blowing. I’m 72 and don’t like being cold any more than the next person. Guess it’s just what you’re used to regarding weather. I live in southern Alberta, Canada.

My thoughts exactly!

It’s a pressed fit. If you can’t do it, any decent local mechanic or machinist can.

Pictures needed!

Hope it works out for you. Pictures will be needed!

Out in my ‘51 Dodge D39 business coupe for what could be the last run of 2021. -3C (27F), little bit of wind, and cloudy although you can just make out our star in the first pic. Supposed to get 5-10cm (2-4”) of snow overnight and tomorrow and then a bit cooler for a while. Colder weather doesn’t bother me as I just about got roasted out of the car with the heater fan off! Just don’t like messy roads. If things clear up I hope to be out again before the end of 2021.

Take them to an engine rebuilder and have them tanked. Maybe magna-fluxed while you’re at it. In my experience it doesn’t matter what you paint the exhaust manifold with, it will sooner or later burn off. Intake manifold holds onto paint way longer. I did my intake silver and exhaust black. Just a personal preference. Your engine is looking great by-the-way!

Totally agree with the above. I appreciate the shout out he gave the forum but as mentioned some of the info he gave is a bit Dodgy (pun intended). I have owned and put a lot of miles on five old flathead Mopars from 1938 to 1953. Never had a broken axle or even heard of one. I’ve had gear ratios from 3.73, 3.91, and 4.1. All cars cruise well at 55. New brake drums are expensive but older drums are plentiful. I’ve got a dozen or so sitting around but then again I’ve collected old Mopar parts for 40+ years. I have done road trips of several hundred miles in all. Just takes a little longer. Never owned one with overdrive but would be a plus. I appreciate car wizard plugging our forum. Also, he obviously likes his gorgeous ‘54 and that’s a huge plus! I know he will enjoy it and put lots of miles on!!

Yup. BC is a mess. Glad to hear all is well with you. They are calling the atmospheric river that dumped on BC a once in a century storm. I find that optimistic. Now, more like once in a decade or five years. Maybe more often. No doubt in my mind the climate is changing rapidly. It’s mid November in Alberta and it’s still like fall. A couple of minor snow skiffs and although weather is cooler, nothing really cold yet. Strange!! Stay safe!

Enjoyed the video! Glad the truck is running well.

Those coupes look so good as is, it would be a shame to chop. It would then look like a squashed bug. I just think the factory lines are perfectly proportioned. T

That was absolutely my first thought as well.

Interesting to note that in the second picture of my second post in this thread and the fourth picture in Chris’s post the same Packard appears. Difference in my picture taken a year later is that the car next to it on the driver’s side is gone. Someone possibly got it as a project but more likely for parts and it will live on in another project. Chris’s picture from a year ago My recent picture.

Andy, the yard is amazing. Lots of really old cars and as you say, these yards are getting few and far between. A couple of 30’s Packards and a Pierce Arrow in there. They were well picked over but certainly recognizable. Most cars were parts cars but a few very desirable cars that would be candidates for a proper restoration. A few more pictures of the yard. The DeSoto coupe in the middle of the last picture is one he will only sell complete. It always amazes me to think these cars were once brand new and someone’s pride and joy.

Very nicely done repairs! Those "rocker deletes" are as bad as anything I've seen!

It all started over a year ago when Chris Bamford (bamfordsgarage) posted about finding a really good steering box in a ‘47 Dodge club coupe which he got to use in his ‘47 sedan. I messaged him and asked if the coupe still had the rear window which is the only curved glass in the car and is different in size to sedan windows and hard to find. He said the window was in the car. I was visiting relatives this weekend about 90 miles south of Edmonton, where Chris lives, and arranged to get the window which we did. It’s perfect and will make a great spare! See pic below. However, that is only part of the story. I met Chris at his house and visited his Garage Mahal. Inside were some amazing non-Mopar cars, aka the benefits mentioned in the title. First was a 1912 Kissel Kar that was rebuilt as a replica of the Edmonton fire chief’s car. Pictures of this car “as found” make it an unbelievable restoration. The weather was decent so we went for a drive and then for brunch. After brunch we got in Chris’s famous 1947 Dodge D25 sedan to go and get the window from a wrecking yard 30-40 miles out of Edmonton. Chris's Dodge has been to the southern US in the summer and driven to the Arctic Ocean in the dead of winter. Looks a little rough but runs beautifully. Chris was kind enough to let me put a few miles on it also. We got the window from the coupe on the left below. This yard had hundreds of old cars from the 20’s to the 70’s. Returning to Chris’s home we then went out for ride in his Model T sportster. We went down and up Groat Road, a very windy and steep road, at speed. What a hoot! Chris has a couple more old cars. A 1906 Orient and a very original 1926 Model T. Chris is currently doing engine work on both. Thanks Chris for showing me such a wonderful time!! It turned out to be so much more than a rear window retrieval!! I realize this a long post but I thought other members would enjoy it.

That’s kind of discouraging. I would follow it, especially if keeping the car relatively stock. It’s a good source of answers for the builder as well. I followed the rebuild of the ‘55 Pontiac wagon on the OT forum from start to finish. There are a couple of rebuild threads on the truck forum right now that I follow. To the original poster……go for it!