Some progress on the harness today, about 1/3 done. The 6way connector for the steering column was "easy" to solder apart and back together with nice new flexible!!!! wires. Still waiting for the more special connectors from RI. What a difference in flexability between the old and new wires.

Thanks for the hint Larry. Not too late! I am slow, and the 50$ worth of terminals I ordered from RI are still in the mail (or sitting in customs someplace)
I'll try that with the hacksaw blade on my remaining wade connectors. Still collecting all my parts for the harness.
I was at the Stuttgart "retro classic" convention this past weekend, and found the female blade terminals with a right angle end on them. Now I can re-use the original flasher base. I saw a 55 400 coupe in very nice original condition asking 30k? and a 6cyl race car from buenos aires. They were the only packards in sight.

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Thanks Dave,
When the car arrived here, the head was just laying on top of the block with the gasket underneath, but not tightened. We thought we would try using that gasket but now have leaks. Gregor did clean the surfaces well, and we used some copper spray on the gasket before installing. I also torqued it in 2 or 3 steps. I forget exactly, but we did the pattern according to the manual.
Cleaning the threads on the studs and nuts we can also do next time. I think I have a tap/die for those.
We'll see if we can either check the head ourselves or bring it to a machine shop and have them check it.
-Tobs

Ah, guess I misunderstood the manual. It must be 'After 2 min at 800rpm' to warm up, but then at the correct "low" idle speed of 400-450.
we will set timing, dwell and get the idle better adjusted then throttle and selector linkages adjusted.
The head is also leaking a little water. Might try a new head gasket. Any suggestions for Gregor on getting the head sealed properly?

well well well, Gregor got his motor running, brakes braking and transmission going in low and reverse, but he says high is slipping. Before we installed the trans, I adjusted the low and reverse bands, but as far as I know, the shifter linkage and throttle linkage are not adjusted. (just thrown together) The fluid level might also be questionable....I guess fluid level and both linkages are the first things to check.
Fluid is checked with trans warm at idle 800rpm in neutral, on the little dipstick on the side of the trans right?
The car is coming together!
His radio even works, I am so jealous!

Saw this on the HAMB today. The picture is supposed to be from Ohio circa 1965.
One more packard racecar!

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Thanks, I will try that. I also think that relay sockets can also be used for the flasher base. I mean the ones for the kind of relays that we use for common headlight relay wire upgrade.
The packard flasher base has a nice metal clip that holds it onto the loom, which is neat and tidy. I was hoping to retain that, but I guess if it goes for a new base, then that is not the end of the world.

OK, made my list of the connectors I will be needing, and came to a total of about 40bucks from RI wire. The two things that I do not know if I can get new are the terminals for the flasher base and the round connector for the turn signals. See the picture for the flasher base terminals. Anybody have a source for these?
I would also like to get a new "round cinch 1 inch diameter 6 pole female connector" for the connector that attaches turn signals to the steering column. I opened mine up, and the wires are crimped and soldered on there. If I can get a new one, I think it will be cleaner than taking apart the old one and re-using.
One more question, is there a trick to pulling wires out of the wade connectors? Some come out easily, and others the terminal is stuck in there so good. When I got the terminal out, the two little spring/contacts in the connector also came out. grrr.

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Thanks for the advice so far. I printed the wire diagram on some large paper, and started making a shopping list of what terminals I will need for the job. I'll be in the garage tomorrow evening, and can open the blinker main connector to see what is in there. Using the right tape I understand is also important. Larry, I read that entry of your blog back when you first wrote it. This will also allow me to integrate my extra wires for 4way flasher, extra fuses and german headlamp circuits into the harness so that they don't look like the 'add ons' that they were before.

The car has been 12v for many years, so I'm going to stay with that. Also makes The harness easier to handle with smaller wires. On my way to St Petersburg for work. Yikes! First time in Russia. Will keep my eyes open for zis and zil! With your guys advice, making The harness doesn't seem too daunting. -Mike