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All my 1940 Packard 110s and 1941 Henney-Packard 120 used the same element for turn signals and brake light. Granted that turn signals did not come with the 1940 but it was fully wired for it both front and rear so the front fender lights were also dual element.

Plastic body filler (Bondo is a brand name) might not be the best idea on a surface that could flex slightly in use. However, before anything else, they should be sand blasted and given a phosphate coating using something like Ospho. If you need to fill in the ridges, I think that Fiberglas would be a better choice. It’s harder to work with and you need good protection (high quality mask and goggles) but it will give a far better and longer lasting job once done. I know that body filler can have a strengthening in mesh in it but even so it’s just too brittle for this sort of thing.

Howard, they are not grooves but rather are raised upward under where each rib was. This not only strengthened the steel but also required less rubber for the vulcanizing process. They really can't be ground away as doing so would leave gaps, kind of like trying to grind off an anti-theft number from the firewall.

I thought it might have been a shadow but even enlarged, it appeared to be at an angle! Thank you for the clarification.

The originals as these two that I found in my stock were very basic and, while I can’t quite make out how they vent, I know they do. These were from my 1939 and 1940 and are very slightly different from one another but the difference is almost imperceptible.

1954 was the first year that Packard used vinyl covered wiring without the cloth so it gives many more options while still maintaining some sense of authenticity.

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Doesn't the Panama have hydraulic lifters?

Looking at the photo it appears that the needle had gotten twisted at some point which may have been why it was off so far. Where the needle comes up out of the hole and the needle itself begins should be straight to one another and it usually aligns more or less in the same direction as the swing arm underneath but, unless it's just a trick of the photo, yours appears to be at an angle. Since it is calibrated now, obviously leave it alone but I would have probably started by physically aligning things, then calibrating it.

If you're not replacing the pistons, be sure that Egge's rings with fit the stock ones. Otherwise you'll have to find NOS.

Olson's Gaskets should have them for a better price than from one of the Packard parts dealers. They are fast, friendly and family owned so I get most of my gaskets from them. They can also make custom gaskets from a good sample or even from an outline.