How many things can you spot on this car that are WRONG?

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I have a 1955 400 that i bought in 2003 I have replaced 3 ultras in this car; the best was the original which lasted 51 years until it gave up on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Of those three rebuilt Ultras NONE lasted for more than 2 years. In 2014 I had Bendtsens 700r conversion kit and a GM transmission installed in my car; although it cost a boatload of cash to do it (about 4K) the car has never been better! The last time I drove to Hershey for the car show I drove from my home (Philadelphia Pa) to Hershey and used only about 5 gal of gas I could not believe it. The car also has more performance and far more guts than it ever had before.

One more question if this indeed is the right pulley do you think $250 is a reasonable price for it?

I saw this entry on ebay stating 1955-1956-Packard-Factory-A-C-Pulley-On-Crank-465510 and before I pay $250 for it I would like to know if this is the right part. Later in the year my engine is getting pulled out of my car for rear main seal and detailing and I wand to know from someone who had actually seen one with air if this is the right part.

I recently had my ultramatic replaced with a GM 700e conversion since the reverse gear is now at the top of the prndl instead of the bottom my reverse lights do not come on anymore. My question is is there a switch I can use in its place?

Doesn't John Ulrich have battery boxes for sale?

I would also like to say with the Independents gone the big three that were left got sloppy in regard to quality, made cars that were unsafe (the Corvair and Pinto come to mind). They made cars that rusted with a vengeance (my fathers chevelle nomad wagon started rusting 2 years after he bought it new) They made cars that were terribly unreliable again the Pinto and also the Vega. Needless to say competition makes products better-and they would soon learn this when the Japanese arrived on our shores, some learning it at the 11th hour (Chrysler comes to mind).

The sad truth is, unfortunately nothing could save the Independent carmakers save a miracle-and none was forthcoming. Studebaker made a great car in 1953 that was visually stunning but prone to severe rusting; everyone wants to take credit for its styling, no one wants to take credit for its engineering. Hudson make a great car in the step down model only to be unable to update the design at a time when a new car was expected EVERY THREE YEARS (imagine that now). Kaiser made an attractive looking car but never jumped on the V8 bandwagon which was fatal. Nash made a reliable comfortable car that was maybe visually challenged but everyone I Have ever talked to that owned one liked it. The 1955 Packard was a technological tour de force that unfortunately was rushed into production before all the bugs were out-especially the T/U automatic (I finally gave up on mine in 2014 and went with a conversion to the GM 700r). Nance did have one great idea-the banding of the surviving independents together. If the heads of the independent car companies back in 1949 when they were benefitting from a sellers market, and has cash pouring into their coffers had banded together and formed an automotive company structured like GM they might be still here today. Unfortunately in life hindsight is often 20/20.

Just wondered if anyone out there had installed an aftermarket cruise control on their 1955 or 1956 Packard. Any info would be helpful.

I guess my second question is why did managment move the production for 55 into Conner instead of using the East Grand Blvd plant-or just used Conner for making the bodies and have the cars assembled at East Grand Blvd?