Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

I was able to figure it out and I had bookmarked that page on your blog. I just couldn't find those beveled tank washers, but I wasn't looking for an entire kit either. I found them in the kit for a kohler.

everything went together fine after that and I put some locking nuts on the back side just for extra measure.

thanks for the help guys!

I also had to get a radiator hose at autozone with a long length of straight hose to cut an new bottom hose for the Packard. the one in the Max kit was too short. now all is perfect.

radiator cradle...done.

mixed up a small batch of clear for the taillights and got those knocked out as well. thanks Ross.

I'm also glad the NOS trim went to me and that I had something of value to trade for it. my old trim was wasted bad...super smashed.

Attach file:

---

  (126.37 KB)


  (69.58 KB)


  (42.07 KB)


  (28.92 KB)


  (52.74 KB)


  (74.28 KB)

Wow that lens looks brand new!

yeah I can't thank Ross enough for suggesting I clear coat them. they have runs in them, but oh well, I'm no pro.

I contacted Steele today because I noticed they don't have a seal for the reverse lights or the brakes lights to the car.

I have 1 good brand new looking reverse light seal, kind of a thread impregnated foam type seal and 1 good enough smashed and used brake light housing to body seal. I'm going to be sending those to them for R&D. the minute I mentioned 55 Packard the lady was begging me to send in my examples. Hopefully this will be good and they will start producing those two parts. I'll keep everyone updated on this as it progresses.

I was just going to use RTV....so I guess i'll hold off and see what Steele can make.

just playing around in the garage. used clear RTV to seal the lens to the housing. mounted new reflectors and used new stainless hardware.

I used a flashlight to light up the brake lights. I'm sure the normal bulb wont be nearly that bright.

Attach file:

---

  (76.55 KB)


  (101.81 KB)


  (92.01 KB)


  (39.61 KB)


  (46.64 KB)


  (25.54 KB)


  (26.33 KB)

I'll be taking off 2.5 weeks for Christmas and I'll be a busy beaver I hope.

Wish me luck on putting in that rear window (BigKev's blog will help) and I plan on making a firewall pad out of something from Lowe's/Homedepot I'm sure.

recently my Dart wouldn't stay running and it acted like it was missing really bad. tried everything....coil, resistor, carb cleaning, etc.....came down to it and it was the condenser....small little bastard part that can leave you on the side of the road. just mentioning this because some of you run points in the Packard still and not many think about a condenser hosing everything. took me 2 days to think about it.

just a pic of the $50000000 rubber I bought from Steele....i'll be sending in my pieces for R&D this weekend. I'm sure they can figure out how to make new ones and it will benefit us all in the 54/55 crowd. the one that kills me is the 30 dollar hand brake grommet....mine is decent but cracking. surprised they make a repo of this part. its so small....and 30 bucks....good grief.

Attach file:

---

  (37.20 KB)

I believe I made my own tail light gaskets from by using thick gasket sheet that I bought from the local autoparts store. The ones on my car pretty much fell apart when I removed them.

Taillight and reverse light seals are easy to make given the right material, I just thought it would be helpful to some if Steele had a repo version and my reverse light seal is perfect and my brake came off in one piece. I just noticed they didn't offer it for the 55 Packard and thought it would be nice if I contributed to the hobby by sending mine in for them to r&d. .

Hi

"Sore-thumbs" look good lit up! Would it be much of a job to add a cluster of LED toward the front inside the red lens to act as side-marker lights? As a matter of safety for night driving, might be worthwhile....considering the traffic these days.

Steve

As a habit I drive with my lights on with my old cars so it's not a problem. Good idea for those that don't though.

fitted the roof emblems last night as my steele rubber came in 3 days early. God I love the holiday shipping season...they go so much faster. UPS guys roll around in golf carts in my neighborhood till late hours and on weekends. USPS delivering boxes on Sundays....its great.


my main question is the trunk seal. I test fitted it and my question is about the bends in the corners. do I leave it like pictured....do I cut it at 45 degrees and fit it together like you would a piece of house trim? I can't remember how my old stuff came off. it seems to fit and seal fine as is, but I have to admit it seems like it would look nicer cut at a 45 degree and filled out to the edge of the channel.

thoughts?

Attach file:

---

  (92.25 KB)


  (42.49 KB)