I always thought that the 1948-50 skirts were different from the 1951-56 models which prompted me to check. It turns out that they are different in length and shape as can be seen in the photos of 22nd Series and 1955-56 examples.
I also took some shots of the 22nd Series skirt that shows the tubular rivets used to attach the gasket, so using pop rivets on the later skirts is not much different than what was used on the earlier ones.

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If it is a small rubber hose it would be for the vacuum booster to help the windshield wipers. These cars had a combination fuel & vacuum pimp with the vacuum section used to assist the wipers when manifold vacuum was low. The vacuum pump is in the upper part of the fuel pump and connects to a steel line that runs along the side of the engine block towards the rear and then by a rubber hose up to the wiper motor on the firewall.

Re: build sheet codes.
I've kept track of the information on any of the production slips that I have found in various 22nd series Packards.
I haven't seen BAFR but have seen BAEF and BAER for a model 2295.
No ML or WL but have found DML which I believe means Door Mirror Left and refers to the mirror that mounts on the outside beltline trim.
No SW but have seen WSW which I think means White SideWall tires.
Have found WR and CL but don't know what they mean.
No FGP or SE but have seen FRCP and FSE.
No FAHB but FAHD appears on many and I think it means Fresh Air Heater & Defroster
All the above is from clearly legible printing on the slips found.

Heat might do more harm than good on 60 year old plastic. The knob has a brass insert and the shaft that it slides onto is made of steel so it is likely stuck due to corrosion between the dissimilar metals. Try removing the set screw and squirting some penetrating oil into the hole to help loosen things up.

Don,
The 1946 Accessories brochure also shows a vacuum antenna that mounts on the left front fender. Any sign of a mounting hole there?
The roof mounted rotary antennas are scarce and tend to be quite pricey.

Kevin

I have most of the missing Service Counselors except the index for 1946 and will send scanned copies when I get a chance.

There are 2 index sheets for 1947, one from January to June and a second from July 1 to December. Only the later one is on the website so I will send the earlier one to complete the set.

There was a bit of a mixup by Packard in 1947 in that there was no Vol. 21 No. 10 Counselor issued but there were 2 issues of Vol. 21 No. 9, one dated May 1 and another dated June 1. The June 1 issue is already on the website.

I don't know if a separate index was issued for 1948 but there was one for 1947 through 1948 which I have.

I also have all 3 of the missing issues for 1949 and the index for 1952.

Here are some photos of the drivers side pillar for a 22nd Series that I saved. It should be the same as the earlier Clipper bodies. There is a rectangular opening lower down on the pillar that could be used to fish in a small reinforcing plate. I don't think that the original sheet metal would be strong enough to support the load from a shoulder belt.

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The M6***** number would be for the original 359 cubic inch 9 main bearing engine. These engines had an aluminum cylinder head and a larger bore of 3-9/16 inches. Other 1948-54 engines used a 3-1/2 inch bore. The aluminum heads were prone to corrosion and the blocks tended to crack between the valve seats and the cylinder.

The 455139 number on the cylinder head is a casting part number that differs from the listed part number due to final machining but does indicate a cast iron head for 1953 and 1954 Clippers with 327 cubic inch engine.

The 3274 number indicates that the head is for a 327. Not sure what the 4 means. Is the 4 larger than the other 3 numbers?

The c with an L through it is the engineering symbol for centerline and probably relates to the clock dial symbol that should be next to it.

The number on the front is the casting date, Oct 26, 1953.

The number on the firewall left as looking from the front of the car is indeed the theft proof number.

The number on the block in the M3***** series is the engine number and indicates a 327 cubic inch motor from a 1954 Clipper.

Model identification and engine number data can be found on the first few pages of the 1948-54 parts book which is on the this website. Specifications for 1954 are listed in Service Counselor Volume 28 No 4 which is also on this site.

For the frozen parking brake cable, try soaking the complete jacketed section with PB Blaster and flexing back and forth by hand to help break the inner cable free. You mentioned using a bumper jack so I am assuming that was with the cable installed in the car with the outer jacket held by the brake backing plates and frame brackets. If you can get it to break loose then working the jacket back and forth on the cable with more penetrating oil should gradually get it working properly.
Good luck!

My father was born in Brussels and came to Canada as a very young child but I still have relatives there and usually spend a few days there anytime I am in Europe. The aviation wing of the military museum is always worth a visit as they have a number of rare early aircraft in addition to the more modern ones. I was there last fall and toured the Autoworld exhibit which was new since my previous trip. As others have noted it is very nicely done with the cars arranged in chronological order.