Re: Resonators

Posted by BH On 2009/8/8 16:16:55

Parts book listings are a bit vague - perhaps because the resonator and its inlet and outlet pipes appear to have been serviced as a welded assembly.

Check the Specifications section of the 1955-56 service manual (which can be downloaded from this site), under the Engine heading. It shows that ALL 1955 and 1956 Packard and Clipper models with a dual exhaust system should have come from the factory with resonators (noted as "silencers") - EXCEPT the 5540 chassis, which was shared between the Clipper Super (5542-5547) and Deluxe (5522) bodies. The 1955 Clipper Deluxe, which was not available with Torsion-Level Suspension, only came with a single exhaust. However, the parts book illustration for single exhaust is shown for the 1956 Clipper Deluxe (5622) and WITH a resonator.

I think some additional confusion arises because somewhere along the line, as the sun set on the factory parts supply chain, tailpipes became available (likely through the aftermarket) for these cars that eliminated the resonator, saving $$$ - an alternative that vendors continue to offer to this day.

I've seen plenty of V8 Packards with those eliminators, but the resonator makes for an incredibly quiet exhaust.