'56 Patrician...Just back
Posted by Fran56 On 2012/11/3 17:05:19
I just got my '56 Patrician back from the interior shop last weekend. This ends my 8 year pilgrimage into restoration-land. As with any restoration, it had its ups and downs - 2 steps forward, 1 step back. I imagine that most, if not all, of us are familiar with the drill. Now that the bulk of the process seems to be in the rear view mirror I am really happy with the finished product.
I made the decision to invest in a whole new interior, after a family of rodents took up residence in the front seat pieces while they were in storage during the body/paint process. This invasion allowed me some flexibility in what I would do as the original interior (trim # 61 - Light and dark grey cloth) had been "tampered with" over the years so it wasn't as if I was painting over the Mona Lisa. I thought that I might like something a little livelier.
When Randy Berger found his Maltese Grey and Tangier Red '56 Patrician a couple of years ago, I was really impressed with the interior in that car. Packard really came through with a stunning combination. That car provided a roadmap for the direction I took with the interior on my car. I chose a less orangey Red leather and matched the light color seat faces that were on Randy's car with a light grey leather that was on the armrests of my original interior. The dark grey leather was matched with the color of the original dark grey cloth. I had bought a new dark grey carpet set from Dwight Heinmuller which fit in perfectly. The headliner is non-perforated vinyl (or as an old ad for a portable phonograph once said - "Python-like fabri-Koid") that matches the red leather. I couldn't be happier with either the choice of color or materials. Thank you Randy for buying that Patrician!
In the time left before snow starts to fly in Connecticut, I am getting as much road time in to determine what has gone wrong in 8 years of just sitting. So far so good. I addressed the BTV with a Ross Miller rebuild and I seem to be able to stop on a dime and get $.06 change. Fuel tank had been emptied when it went into the body shop 8 years ago, so no dreaded "goo" and all vital fluids have been replaced. I hope the weather holds out for the next 4 weeks at least. This car really likes, and needs to be driven.
I do have 2 questions.
1. The body shop appears to have lost the VI (data) plate that was originally on the driver's door post. I see that Pulfer and Williams has one listed in their catalog for 51 - 56, but the picture in the catalog didn't look like the plate on the '56 Patrician. Has anyone purchased one of these for a '56 (or a '55 for that matter) and did it look like an original '55 or '56. If not, is there anyone else who could provide a correct looking data plate?
2. At some time in the past before I owned the car, the rear end gear set was replaced from a factory ratio of 3.54 to a ratio of 2.87. Someone looking for economy. They did not replace the speedometer pinion in the transmission, so the speedometer is off. The parts book lists both a PINION AND SHAFT ASSY - SPEED (Group 3.685) and an ADAPTER - SPEED PINION (Group 3.686). Do I need both of the pieces in the above groups to get the speedometer to register correctly, and since both Kanter and Max Merritt do not have either of these in stock, anyone know of a source?
Thanks for letting me ramble, but there are few of my immediate friends and family who understand what getting a Packard back to drive after so many years, and trials, means. I felt you folks might understand. And thanks to all the great folks with incredible Packard knowledge that contribute to this fantastic oasis.
Fran
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I made the decision to invest in a whole new interior, after a family of rodents took up residence in the front seat pieces while they were in storage during the body/paint process. This invasion allowed me some flexibility in what I would do as the original interior (trim # 61 - Light and dark grey cloth) had been "tampered with" over the years so it wasn't as if I was painting over the Mona Lisa. I thought that I might like something a little livelier.
When Randy Berger found his Maltese Grey and Tangier Red '56 Patrician a couple of years ago, I was really impressed with the interior in that car. Packard really came through with a stunning combination. That car provided a roadmap for the direction I took with the interior on my car. I chose a less orangey Red leather and matched the light color seat faces that were on Randy's car with a light grey leather that was on the armrests of my original interior. The dark grey leather was matched with the color of the original dark grey cloth. I had bought a new dark grey carpet set from Dwight Heinmuller which fit in perfectly. The headliner is non-perforated vinyl (or as an old ad for a portable phonograph once said - "Python-like fabri-Koid") that matches the red leather. I couldn't be happier with either the choice of color or materials. Thank you Randy for buying that Patrician!
In the time left before snow starts to fly in Connecticut, I am getting as much road time in to determine what has gone wrong in 8 years of just sitting. So far so good. I addressed the BTV with a Ross Miller rebuild and I seem to be able to stop on a dime and get $.06 change. Fuel tank had been emptied when it went into the body shop 8 years ago, so no dreaded "goo" and all vital fluids have been replaced. I hope the weather holds out for the next 4 weeks at least. This car really likes, and needs to be driven.
I do have 2 questions.
1. The body shop appears to have lost the VI (data) plate that was originally on the driver's door post. I see that Pulfer and Williams has one listed in their catalog for 51 - 56, but the picture in the catalog didn't look like the plate on the '56 Patrician. Has anyone purchased one of these for a '56 (or a '55 for that matter) and did it look like an original '55 or '56. If not, is there anyone else who could provide a correct looking data plate?
2. At some time in the past before I owned the car, the rear end gear set was replaced from a factory ratio of 3.54 to a ratio of 2.87. Someone looking for economy. They did not replace the speedometer pinion in the transmission, so the speedometer is off. The parts book lists both a PINION AND SHAFT ASSY - SPEED (Group 3.685) and an ADAPTER - SPEED PINION (Group 3.686). Do I need both of the pieces in the above groups to get the speedometer to register correctly, and since both Kanter and Max Merritt do not have either of these in stock, anyone know of a source?
Thanks for letting me ramble, but there are few of my immediate friends and family who understand what getting a Packard back to drive after so many years, and trials, means. I felt you folks might understand. And thanks to all the great folks with incredible Packard knowledge that contribute to this fantastic oasis.
Fran
Attach file:
(30.14 KB)
(46.27 KB)
(36.62 KB)
(31.27 KB)
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