The only way I could see clothes pins working on the fuel line as picture above would be if they were made of aluminum. Then at least they would act as some kind of heat sink!

Production records for some, though not all, of the '56 models are in the hands of the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, IN, and they charge for copies or time to research and answer a question. I personally have not tried to order a copy for any of my cars.

While some automakers plastered their vehicle with build sheets and left plenty of 'em with it, Packard did not.

The only thing you might find is a strip of paper (like ticker-tape) affixed to the top of the glovebox. The only thing printed on that strip is a string of codes - hence, the need for my build code (RPO) chart.

Those who have found a build strip so many years later report that it is fragile and the printing is badly faded. I may have even inadvertently thrown the one away for my dad's Exec, after removing the i/p assembly and cleaning it up - not knowing what it was.

IIRC, the build code strip does not contain a date. Why is the build date important?

If you just want to change the rear, then adjusting the turnbuckle will do it but if you want to lower the entire car equally keeping it level, then I believe the proper way is to reduce the amount of twist on the long bars allowing the vehicle weight to lower it.

This is usually done by the different links in front. A shorter link equals less twist so overall, the car will lower. Whether you can get the two inches you are looking for is not known--each notch on stock lengths was said to change height 3/8" on new bars. Not sure if the spacers you are thinking about would do that since the tension on bars would be the same--although raising the axle would lower the rear, am thinking the front might be high.

After the new height and neutral point is established, the compensator position for short bars would have to be determined for neutral. The turnbuckle attachment to the long bar would then be clamped to the new location.

EDIT: Under car at approx front drivers seat location is a short rod connecting the level switch to the long bar. In the middle of the rod is an adjustment turnbuckle. Lengthening or shortening the rod changes the point the switch activates the compensator.

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If you examine Trade Letter 56-1004, Dealer 2, Supplement 2, which BigKev has now added to the archive, you will see that the one and only regular production interior available with Flamingo paint for the Four Hundred model (5687) was black cloth and white leather (trim set 85).

Given the interior trim colors shown in the above pic, it is more likely that this is a Dover White (Code "M") and Scottish Heather (Code "K") two-tone car with badly oxidized paint with black cloth and "red" leather (trim set 86).

When it comes to interiors, it seems that Packard used the term "red" rather loosely for '56, but it is closer to the Scottish Heather exterior color.

Again, many people mistake badly faded Scottish Heather as Flamingo. You'll also see people who say they've found a "pink" '55, but Flamingo was a '56-only color for Packard - and a late one at that. There was Rose Quartz (Code "U") in '55, which most would call "lipstick pink", but the available factory charts show that it was only used on the Caribbean.

Barring the existence of a production record, we only have the VN tag to tell the tale.

Can you elaborate on adjusting the turnbuckle please?

Why not just adjust the turnbuckle??

So let us assume for the moment that Cadillac had never existed. THen would Imperial and Lincoln have had some advantage over Packard that would have diluted Packard prestige level and thus their demise????

Packard V8

The car was left hand drive - it came from Victorville if I recall correctly - on the way to Las Vegas. Push button auto, PS, PB, Electric windows, electric seat, underseat heater.

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Someone please correct me if i am wrong but it is my understanding that during some long prewar period that Packard was considered by far and away the most prestigous car to own nearing RR status. Definitely higher prestige than Cadillac, Imperial or any other US made cars except for perhaps Dusenberg or Marmon.

I am lowering the overall height of the car, A flick of the TL switch will level it, or drag the tail or rake it towards the front, i have fabricated adjustable pins for the height on the front. I am just trying to decide the safest way to lower the rear about 2 inches. Inexpensively.