Steve -
Howard (
HH56) gave you a good start, but I'll throw my $0.02 in.
Loose Linkage I'd suggest you take a look at the exploded views in the parts book. If you don't want to download the PDFs, know that those parts book illustrations are also archived, page-by-page, in the photo gallery at:
https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/myalbum/viewcat.php?cid=70 Page through the thumbnails until you find what you're looking for, then click on it to get a full-size view.
Fluid for Easamatic Easamatic was just Packard's (marketing) name for the TreadleVac power brake unit as supplied by Bendix - a hydraulic brake system with vacuum-powered assist.
Check to see if that square-topped fill plug is directly under the steering column. If so, you may have difficulty cheking brake fluid level and topping it off, because the cover ewas installed incorrectly. It takes a little perseverance and some offset screwdrivers to remove the six screws securing it to the top of the reservoir, but you shoud be able to remove and reinstall the cover so that the plug is off to one side of the steering column and accessible.
There's an excellent description of the operation of both the vacuum and hydrualic sections of this unit in the factory service manual, which is also archived in PDF at this site.
Interior lighting In my 55-56 Patrician sedans, a sliding switch on the left center pillar turns on the light over the back seat when the doors are closed. I'd first check for a problem with that switch or if the single wire that runs to it might be shorted to ground at some point. If your car isn't equipped with that auxiliary, pillar-mounted switch, then it must be the one of the door jamb swithes.
Rotary motion of the headlamp switch controls the brightness of the backlighting for gauges and select driver controls. Rotated to full stop, it also turns on a lamp located on the underside of the top of the instrument panel - just above the radio.
Failure of the rheostat in the headlamp switch (a Delco unit IIRC) was common, and should be readily available from any Packard vendor. However, I'd recommend you first study the wiring diagram for your specific model, which can be found in the factory service manual, check the available equipment, and verify wiring hook-ups at the headlamp switch.
Sockets with claw/teeth dangling from up under the instrument panel could be either for backlighting the gauages/controls or the tell-tale oil or temp lights.
I believe a trunk light was optional equipment on your car. The factory-supplied unit on my 55-56 sedans had a self-contained mercury switch that was activated by gravity, via position of the trunk lid - not sure how the set-up for earlier cars worked.
Stop Lights I believe that the ignition key must be in the run position to feed voltage to the stoplights, but failure of the stoplight switch is not unusual after so many years.
The front pipe coming out of the end of the brake master cylinder leads to a tee fitting on top of the left frame rail; that fitting feeds both front wheel cylinders, but also contains the hydraulically-actived stoplight switch. Most cars of that period used a two-prong switch that can still be found at local parts stores.
The switch located at the bottom of the steering column is the park/neutral safety switch. It has no effect on stoplights, but may require adjustment if you encounter a problem getting the starter to crank.
Hope this provides some additional insight to get you rolling.
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