Re: door handle removal, 55 Packard
I was having difficulty getting drivers side handle off with barely any room between metal portion of door panel and the handle trim. As some suggested, and as the right door handle proved their point, in a sharp turn the passenger door handle would fall off LOL.
The specific tool was purchased for a pittance but the clearance was problematic. The "tape the door area" solution didn't seem plausable given the tendency of tape to tear under the sharp edges of the trim tool.
Solution:
I cut a section of a gallon milk jug from the flat area and shaped it to match the trim tool. The Plastic (actually Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene or UHMWP) is almost bullet proof and friction free (think teflon sheet). {Plastic was nested with the tool and both slipped under the handle trim. With much effort the tool found its target and a minute later handle was in my lap. I now store that trim tool and UHMWP sheet in the drawer with all trim removal tools. Good luck....worth a try!!

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As the earlier post, Fastenal (yes the fastening people) will do whats known as a third party delivery. Pretty reasonable and fairly easy to work with. I shipped a transmission for my 2126 from SC to IL. Have sent other items that were fairly cumbersome with no issues. Might give them a try.

Geez....I could have written this myself that is, until last week. Same car, 55 400. owned it for 8 months continuing to have brakes redone all around, power steering redone with treadle vac unit, hoses and all misc parts. Suspension was gone over with virtually every component replaced including bushings and body rubber suspension pads. Everytime it came back from the shop and off the lift, the front end was, as you say, jacked up to the point of embarrassment. It stayed that way for a while and then, magic, it was back as normal a few days later. BAck to shop....rinse....repeat. My car had been switched to negative ground sometime 10-12 years ago and then parked for 10+ years.
Last week, I had to put weight on the front bumper to walk from one side of the (crowded)shop to the other. about to step off the far side and "what was that noise". Front end started to respond to the TLS. Went to the back bumper, sat on that...bingo, 10 secs later, rear end comes up. It now always sits level
Part of my unresolved issues to work thru was the battery wasn't taking a deep charge while driving. Not sure who suggested it but I seem to remember Howard suggesting either bad generator, or voltage regulator had never been repolarized. I followed the suggestion, repolarized and noticed battery was taking a charge while driving and holding the charge for several weeks. Then this past week, TLS started working. Frankly..I have no clue but my story resembles yours until last week. Happy new year...

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Howard,
You have helped me out many times on my 2126 and more recently on my 55 400.
I had my 2126 clock reburbished and converted to quartz last spring.
Instrument Services
4075 Steele Drive
Machesney Park IL
815 316 2921
Best of luck
custo eight

A new tank fixed the vexing fuel issues on my 55 400. So much crud in the fuel that couldn't get flushed out. Fuel sending unit also was an issue.....float was missing LOL....
Everything working properly finally.

Thanks again Howard and all the help along the way with my 55 400 and this 2126. A great source of the obscure information rapidly disappearing I'm afraid...

Thank you, between your post and Howards below, I think I have a bad solenoid. I'll try to get it replaced this week along with a coil and a coil>distributer wire.
new points and condenser, volage regulator and OD relay. narrowing it down.

Still working on starting circuit for 2126.
Temporarily removed the carburetor starting switch from circuit and wired a push button switch to energize the starter solenoid. Starter was at shop for checkout and bendix was proven. with push button switch connected to solenoid and hot lead and all grounds connected, couldnt get spark out of coil which had been replaced earlier. After about an hour of trying to find spark, the starter stopped responding to the push button switch. Nothing....
arced from the small terminal on hot side of solenoid directly to the hot battery lead terminal on starter by passing the push button switch entirely. got a spark there but no response from starter. The harness sent from Narraganset Wire (five years ago) shows a fuse from solenoid wiring to voltage regulator but I cannot find that fuse anywhere. Any suggestions as to:
bad starter solenoid? (recent development)
bad fuse in circuit somewhere?
any other tests to run to troubleshoot.
We tried with ignition on and with ignition off.
Signed"Sleepless in Seatle"...actually SC.

When I replaced the wiring harness on my 2126, I did not remove the back courtesy light/cigar lighter circuits. Those were abandoned and capped off. As suggested above, routing under carpet and front seat, then under the stainless steel door sill, I managed to fish the "blind spots" that Howard mentioned and wired all courtesy lights in parallel front to back. In that power lead, managed to fish additional power to the reading lights that operate thru a slide switch between quarter window and ashtray. All courtesy lights come on when any door is opened. I did add an additional fuse box fed from the head light switch which gives easy access for body lights, clock, dash compartment light, radio and heater fan circuits each with a proper sized fuse. It is mounted directly below the back side of radio/ash tray area. So far...it all works great.

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Howard.
Again, thank you. I believe that is the reference I was looking for. Really just trying to sort out the basic ignition wiring and generator charging circuits. For now, we will eliminate/decommission the caruretor switch as that has caused some issues on car wanting to restart after it is running. Likely in the OD relay wiring which we hope to correct when new relay comes in. But need to have the engine starting consistently to be able to make the adjustments to timing etc to run consistently. Has only run for 30-45 secon intervals since major overhaul. Looking to get past that. Cheers