Re: 1956 Packard Clipper

Posted by HH56 On 2019/8/6 8:59:44

On the body chrome strips there is a combination of push in spring wire clips and studs thru the metal with a nut and washer inside. If a fastener cannot be accessed from behind by taking something like a panel off then it is most likely held by a spring wire clip or in some cases a special blind fastener. There is also the distinct possibility that if the trim was removed for some reason in the past it might not have been put back on the way Packard did it so it truly is a look, feel and see thing.

The front fender piece is typically all stud and nut because the nuts are accessible from behind and the heavy pot metal requires a bit more in fastening power. The strip on the back fender can be either or maybe a combination since most of the clips can be accessed thru the trunk or door.

Most likely you will need to remove the upholstery panels because even if a strip is mostly held on by wire clips, typically there is at least one stud and nut involved to keep the trim tight against the metal in one or two spots to prevent sliding. You can gently work a pry tool under the strip and tell if there is a wire clip as there will be some give and you can slide the tool a bit side to side. When you try to pry the strip away it will generally give a bit and start to come loose. If a stud and nut then no sliding the tool under the clip and no give so if you were under a spring clip and are working your way toward a stud do not force it or you will bend the strip.

The outer door handles will need to come off to remove the belt molding on the doors. That in itself can be a project because if they have never been off typically the long clips that hold the handles have rusted to the inner sheetmetal track and can be a real pain to remove. First suggestion is penetrating oil and let it sit for a day or two before trying to remove them. Frequently they are still damaged when trying. NOS clips are nearing extinction and the repros made of metal that won't rust are expensive. The manual shows using a screwdriver against the exposed tab and just sliding them out. That works if the clip is new and non rusted but more likely the rusty tab will break off in your attempt and then you need to go inside, dose the heck out of the area with penetrating oil again, use a long screwdriver or metal bar to pound the clip out from inside the door and then find another clip. Each door handle has a specific and different clip. Once the handles are off then the rest of the strip is probably wire springs.

Belt molding that continues around and under the rear window is most likely all stud and nuts and you will need to remove the package shelf to get to them. Little short pot metal pieces here and there are typically studs welded to the strip with a nut inside the car somewhere.

The emblems and script typically have studs cast into the pot metal and pushed into barbed retainers which are set in holes in the sheetmetal or, in other spots the studs go thru holes in the sheetmetal with a Tinneman nut on the inside gripping the stud. The Tinneman nuts can usually be carefully removed with a small pointed tool lifting the barbs away from the stud but the barbed retainers pushed into holes can be another pain and refuse to release. That situation frequently resulting in the stud breaking off the emblem.