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.

Other than the horrible door jambs, it looks great! Just kidding! The door jambs that you worked on so hard look wonderful too and the whole package looks like a new car.

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My partner at home in California where it is far from totality said that it got slightly dimmer out for a very short while but here in the High Desert of Central Oregon where I am at my shop, it's totally and heavily overcast so if there was any dimming at all, it wasn't noticeable. For the last total eclipse, this area was in totality even though the closest town of Terrebonne was not so we made it a point to be here. It was during some very heavy fires with lots of smoke and usually virtually no visibility but the winds changed for a while so for that brief time it was very clear. We could see the shadow of its edge coming across the plains, then the other edge when it was passing. It got noticeably cooler and the dogs were confused not knowing what was happening so they hid under the deck. Absolutely incredible!

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The slider doesn't get out of position. It was apparently left parked in gear so that's the gear it's stuck in. It is supposed to slide up and down the shaft as you pull or push the shifter handle in order to engage in one or the other levers, then up and down on the handle moves the engaged lever up and down. As Howard pointed out, the rod in the column is likely rusted and that being the case, removing the column for a complete disassembly is the only way to get it apart for cleaning. Watch out for the little piece at the end of the spring or it will go flying! On one of my cars, I soaked in all sorts of oils and penetrants but in the end it was a waste of time as it had to come out.

My 1951 Henney-Packard had them on only one side too although there was only one very thin one on the right. The left had, I believe, three and some were substantial.

Now that you've said that and gave such a glowing recommendation, you'd best buy stock in the company as I failed to do with Gummi Pflege Stift!