Re: dual exhaust

Posted by BH On 2011/1/20 21:08:15

Though SC Vol.29, No.1 has an issue date of January, 1955, factory Trade Letters on the 55th Series show that the Dual Exhaust (DE) option for the Clipper Custom (5560) models only became effective May 12, 1955. It was never factory-installed (or even offered as an approved dealer accessory) for Deluxe or Super that year

Trade Letters on the 56th Series show that dual exhaust was expanded to the 1956 Clipper Deluxe and Super models, but ONLY if equipped with Torsion-Level suspension. Though technically optional, T-L had 100% installation on all 56th Series models EXCEPT Clipper Deluxe and Super; effective May 1, 1956, it became standard across all models.

Specifications published in SC Vol. 29, No. 13 shows smaller diameter pipes for 56th Series Clippers, which used the 352-cid V8, but the exhaust manifolds are same regardless of year or displacement.

There must be a good reason that Packard didn't offer dual exhaust on a car with conventional coil/leaf suspension - surely more than just a matter of production numbers.

Unless another member can offer actual experience in fitting a stock dual exhaust system to same car (5540), you may have to check with a local fabricator/installer.