Yes, the Exec offered an instant increase in profit per unit with very little tooling for new, unique parts (e.g. - the upper front fender spear had to be longer for the extended headlamp brow of the Senior fender).

It is only when you inspect an Exec up close that you notice subtle differences from the full Seniors - like dash knobs, idiot lights rather than gauges, painted rather than plated interior trims pieces. It didn't diminish my appreciation of the Executive model, but just shows that it lived up to its billing as an entry-leve Packard.

You'll find a specialist or two advertising in Hemmings who do this particular type of work, but I've no experience with any of them.

I didn't mean to suggest that YOUR particular Group 60 battery is from 1956 or 1966, but that that particular configuration of battery was taken out of manufacture by the major battery makers about 6 or 8 years ago.

I am looking to have a bent wood top bow, re-created from the original one. Does anyone have a source or direction they can lead me in to accomplish this ? The car is a 1939 one twenty con. coupe.

You should have no concerns using an EP gear oil in your trans and OD, I've used them for decades w/o problems in Packards of many vintages. I generally use SAE85W-140.

Yet, the Studebaker technical experts advise against it in their cars, and say either use GL-1 gear oil (not the easiest to find), or plain old SAE40 motor oil in the OD unit.

BTW: The 56th series senior gold grille screen also was a running change early in the model year. There were seniors delivered with a chromed screen.

56 Caribbean convertibles at least thru car #29 had the chrome fascia screen, #45 and up had gold anodized fascia. Can't pin it down any better than that at this point in time as it's difficult to get incontrovertible data once a car has been restored, even worse if it has changed hands once or twice.

Agree with the Clipper. Dealers also liked the Exec as it was easier to sell a ?cheap" Packard than an expensive Clipper. And it added around 500$ on the base price... I don't know if that was already discussed here but by putting a Packard script on the Clipper trunk lid during the 56th series model run they did something in the same direction. This part even was retrofitted on already delivered cars at no expense.

From the view of forward planning both probably were mistakes as they further diluted the Packard name instead of re-establishing it in the luxury class as Nance intended. But that was the least problem he faced during 1956.

BTW: The 56th series senior gold grille screen also was a running change early in the model year. There were seniors delivered with a chromed screen.

...ah yes, there IS female involvement in that side decoration on my car. It was already on the car when I bought it and now, I'm not allowed to remove it...

Jack,

Welcome,
There are two separate drain and fill locations. The main transmission section has a drain and fill plug. The rear overdrive section also drains and fills towards the rear. you will have to put the car on stands to easily get under and locate these sets of drain and fill plugs.

As for oil type, I run 90 weight Hypoid gear oil in both sections. I believe the concern with using mineral oil years ago was due to the corrosive properties attributable to the high sulfur content and other additives years ago, with little or no corrosion inhibitors. That is just an opinion; take it for what it is worth.

Good luck,
Jim

Phils38cpe thanks for the reply.
I have already read the B/W overdrive manual from cover to cover twice. I do not see any mention in regards to my question about if there is a drain plug for both the tranny and for the overdrive, or if all oil is drained just by removing the drain plug on the tranny. All documentation I have found just states, drain the oil and then fill using the fill plug until oil comes out. The B/W manual is where I found the info, that during a full drain and refill, you need to fill the overdrive first, then the tranny and then during subsequent checks, just fill the tranny. I also do not see any pictures in the manuals that actually show the locations of the drain/fill plug(s). If anyone can point me to some pics that would be awesome!

Thanks,
--51PackardJack

Quote:
G'day Jack,

to PackardInfo. Great story about your '51. Looking forward to seeing it in the Owner Registry when you get that digital pic.