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Owen_Dyneto
Yes, I got taht data from Jack Vines.
I posted that question here and did not get a response so the next day I posted it under the 55-56 forum. I have already given the information to the machine shop.

Currently Jack and I are going back and forth in emails about needed parts. Should have all that stuff in hand sometimes in the next couple week.

After giving Henry a hard time not long ago for letting his blog fall off the first page I went and did it myself.

I've been working on the Packard off and on. The passenger side hinge post is giving me a headache. Once its done I can make a lot more progress. I am under no illusion that this project is going to be done anytime soon so just taking my time.

I bought that box of spare parts that Dallas had for sale here a couple weeks ago. There was a "Four Hundred" script inside and I needed one bad. Was worth the $50 for that and a couple other parts that were inside. I found a "The" script on Mike Borth's web site and have already contacted him about that.

The engine parts that I bought from Jack Vines will be here with Fed Ex tomorrow.

The farm takes priority in the spring and we have 700 Lavender plants in the garage floor right now waiting for the rain to stop and soil to dry up.

I still extremely busy with the farm for a couple more weeks. That's not stopping me from spending money on my Packard though.

FedEx brought me a large package from Mike Borth auto parts today. I bought a dashboard that is in much better shape than mine. It came out of a 55 Clipper. At the moment it's the best looking part on the car. He also had a "The" emblem off a 56 Patrician to go with the "Four Hundred" I got from Dallas in April. It needs a mounting pin or two soldered back on but I can get that. It also will need re-chromed but lots of my small parts do so, no surprises there.

The body cart is almost done. Only a couple more pieces to weld and once I get that hinge post rebuilt I'll move the body onto it.

I picked up a 54" Harbor Freight Lower Tool Cabinet for a good price. I had been watching that exact $389 model but even with a coupon it was still $369. I got lucky and found a local guy on one of those Facebook sale and trade pages that was selling his. I offered him $275 and since he was moving and already had it on his truck he not only accepted my offer he even delivered it to me. It's practically brand new. I was running out of room in my little Craftmans top box.

Lastly there is a picture of my newish tractor. Could have bought more car chunks but that 60 year old Massey Ferguson I bought last fall blew a head gasket or something. I needed a tractor immediately so I traded it off for a 15 year old Kubota the next day. I was desperate man.
Hopefully will get some hands on time with the Packard in about two more weeks.

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It also will need re-chromed but lots of my small parts do so, no surprises there.
Sorry to be bearer of bad news, but they need gold plated, not chromed.

Randy

That's a typo, I know its gold.
While we are on that subject. Is gold plating real gold? I have seen some websites that say 24 carets and others that make no mention of the shiny metal.

You've got a nice blue dashboard there. I have been thinking one thing for a while now. My 1955 Packard 400 has a blue dashboard and the instrument panel is silver. I've seen many pictures of different 400's and their instrument panels. Usually the panel is gold but at some cars it is silver as in mine. If i see correctly your old one was gold and this is silver? Is it just because of fading or did different colored Packards have different colored instrument panels?

The gold plating is real. I didn't believe that for years, but a plater guaranteed that what he was taking off was real gold and he plated it in gold. VERY THIN, but real.

The dash screen on the 55, was it gold, or anodized gold?

My original dash mesh is gold. As mentioned above it will need to be anodized or maybe its re-anodized.

The new dash board is from a 55 Clipper. I've not inspected it very closely yet but I think the Clippers were Silver and the 400s are Gold.
Someone with more knowledge then I will have to confirm that.

I guess I can have the wedding ring from my first marrige melted down and used to re coat something on the car...Oh wait, I think it turned my finger green and any case its now on the muddy bottom of the Ohio River.

Is there a difference in mesh pattern between juniors and seniors or was it just the color.