You have a small fortune invested in clamps! Better, I guess, than having them steam-bent and probably stronger too. I'm one who likes having specialty tools and can now even do light copper, zinc and other types of plating. Even chrome!

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Can't see enough detail of that item to guess what it might be but there was nothing stock electrical in that area so there must be some aftermarket accessory added. It looks like it might be a partial chassis or a piece of something larger so someone might have thrown it in and it is just laying there. If actually mounted you might see if you can follow wires to an end point.

Only stock items in the rear seat area would have been a rear seat speaker and possibly the rear window defroster option. Both of those would have been on the package shelf and have a single wire feeding each item. On either side of the rear seat in a 400 would have been an electric window pushbutton and a cigar lighter.

Except for an on/off and maybe an optional manual level control switch mounted under the dash edge all the other level components in a 56 are under the car and on the inner fender cowl space in the engine compt

Is there some trick in getting the governor installed when the transmission is in the car? Try as I might, the threads won't engage. I even removed the rubber boot in order to give more space around it but that didn't help.

I've done that too although I used a small drift punch rather than an awl. I also laid a screw across the gap to hold it open so as to not need the extra pair of hands.

I use an awl to push the pin out enough to grab the other end with a pair of needle nose pliers. Also the awl can hold everything in place. Which is handy on reassembly.

I personally think that any nos part will be sooner or later faulty . The simply age of the materials used inside (rubber) will be prematurely dry rotten . My fix for the same issue was just bump up the static timing at the distributor a few degrees . Mine runs fine and no issues . Only it don't like to start right off when the engine is hot . But I'm good with it like that . Don't forget to plug the vacuum line too !!

Thanks EC. Much like house colors, I question who comes up with these names? Scottish Heather?? I see Salmon. My daughters see Pink. Cool color though.

Well, it didn't take me long to decide to Part her out. After a little more noising around, she's just too far gone.

For the record, I didn't really look her over too much after I realized it was the same car I had played in the front seat of at age 7, fifty years ago.

Will post what's for sale, and what I'd like to keep here soon.

Last, what's this in the pic attached? I haven't ran into any mention in the posts I've thus far read. Though I did run into something about a leveling feature?? Thanks, and Cheers.

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For the handle removal, on pre-1955 Packard handles, they are held in by a pin. There is a special tool (still available) that would help but it's not absolutely necessary and the pins are a slip fit so without the tool, simply press the escutcheon and door panel away from the handle and look in the gap about 90 degrees to the handle or crank. You'll see the pin which should easily push out. Although I've done it by myself in the past before getting the tool, without the tool it is easier with a second pair of hands.

This photo is from eBay but seems homemade and rather expeensive compared to the one I bought years ago from J.C. Whitney!

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Final pieces and clamping in progress. 22 clamps in use!

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I'm going to pull my interior so I can work on it over the winter.

The seats will be dismantled and the panels that are coming apart will be replaced, along with the foam and piping. I'm hoping to reuse the rest of the fabric, which will get cleaned and redyed. Then everything gets restitched and reassembled.

I'm hoping to be able to lighten the rust stains on the door panels some more, and then add a bit more colour back to them. Recovering the arm rests is also on the list.

Carpet is also coming out and will be cleaned, stretched and the binding replaced. This will also give me a good chance to fully clean, inspect and paint the floor boards as well.

Packard talks about upholstery tint to restore faded fabric, does anyone have any experience with this?

The headliner is in great condition, other than it has faded from grey to light brown. I'm a bit hesitant to even consider doing anything to it.

Also what are things to know when removing door panels, door handles, window cranks, etc?

I would be happy to hear any advice you have to share that will help with these projects.

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