I found an older picture so I have really good before and after pictures in regards to painting the inside of my tail lights bucket bright white. These are with the same LED bulbs. The After picture almost looks like brake lights, but it’s not.

Here is the Before picture…not horrible…




Here is the After picture….quite a bit better!

Just to clarify, the photo showing the white paint is the left side….BUT

I need the right side bucket or as Kev says a non-license plate bucket.

One common problem with various gear shift issues is a lack of lubrication on the shift levers at the base of the steering column. The upper lever is always engaged with the operator lever when the lever is in the normal relaxed position. When you go to shift into reverse or first by pulling the lever back the lower shift lever is selected. The issue arises because there is no lubrication provided for the upper lever and it is exposed to any condensed moisture and dirt that is on the shift tube. Water and dirt can run down the tube and get in behind the lever causing it to rust and corrode to the tube making it stick so it always tries to rotate when you select any gear. Because of the interlock mechanism in the transmission and the geometry of the two shift levers and rods second might be trying to engage before reverse because of the sticking upper lever moving its rod before the lower lever has a chance to move anything to go into reverse. If that happens reverse is then locked out because of the interlock in the trans. The two levers must be absolutely free to rotate independently on the tube so if one is selected the other stays still.

Referring to the photo, you might try some oil in the hole and particularly at the top of the upper lever. If the problem is not too bad that might be all that is needed. If the upper lever has really stuck to the shift tube it might take some penetrating fluid or in the worst case, disassembly to clean and free things. The lower lever is usually not much problem because it is more protected and can get some oil from any placed in the hole in the tube.




If oil does not help and the car has overdrive there could be a mechanical issue inside the OD unit or an electrical issue outside so OD is staying engaged. A mechanical interlock in the OD unit would then prevent reverse from being selected if OD is engaged. If no overdrive there could also be a problem with the detent and interlock block inside the transmission although problems there would probably show up in other gears too.

And you need a left side sedan bucket.

The ones with the license plate light are specific, as the coupes have the stand mount on the bottom with the license plate light hole on top.

The sedans have the mount on the side, and the hole on top.

The non license plate ones are interchangeable as you can just rotate the bucket.

I’m looking for a better right side tail light bucket for my ‘37 138CD…The bucket will be the same as a 120 touring sedan. I don’t need the stand, just the bucket.

BigKev pointed out that I need any non-license plate bucket.

Mark's notes on this car pretty much stopped shortly after the rod knock comment. I think that's when the car went into storage out at the farm and he then lost interest in the project.

If a good similar era Jag motor dropped into my lap, then that would be a no brainer as the engineering is already done.

But 10-12k for a Jag rebuild for sure isn't going to happen.

Make sure you join the Packard club! And follow the insta page plus I grew up with a 51 touring sedan 300 reach out if you have any questions

Reference the part diagrams. The fuel line probably just attaches with P clips.

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/parts ... lateNumber=103A&partslist=1948-1954

Regards The reverse gear on my manual transmission 1946 Clipper has recently stopped working , I can’t see anything disconnected on the linkage so what could be the problem ?
Don Gibson

Your local auto parts store can get you the sender. Ask for one for a 1957 Thunderbird which should be the same although you may need to make some adjustments to the float arm.