Things could be worse. Your previous owner could be a mob hitman whose car was stolen from him who wants to take revenge on whoever now has the car. You do have a nice car
Ken

With all that spaghetti of wires in there, all of them having old insulation on them of questionable durability, it was hard for me to get in there with an ordinary wrench. My father got one of these screwdrivers with replaceable bits, put in a connector between the screwdriver body and the wrench bit (in my case I believe it was a 9/32)and that gave me enough reach to get in there without bending the wires very much. Enough extensions on your socket wrench might help. Still, you are right, it is a PITA (and back as well!)
Ken

Just a thought. I have not tried it myself but it seems like some of the steering wheel repair kits they sell might work if your plastic handle is in very bad shape. Best of luck!
Ken

Pulfer and Williams has the data plate. Click on Packard and it is there.
Ken

I am a boomer a couple of years under 60. The main reason I became interested in Packards is that it was the car my parents had when I was growing up. My parents always kept a car for a long time, in the case of their 1953 Packard Clipper, from 1953 to 1962, so I had a chance to remember it. As a seven year old I thought it was terrible that my parents would sell it, like selling a member of the family. The plastic Packard coat of arms on the front grille had come off and my Dad let me keep it as a remembrance. I still have it. Also, I am generally interested in cars, old cars particularly, history and antiques.
Ken

I think it also helps to remember that the car was built back in the day of full-service gasoline stations. Back then service station attendants would not only pump your gas, but check your oil, your radiator fluid, any fluid reservoirs, steering brakes, etc., hoses, belts, and clean your windows, all as part of routine service at the gasoline fill up. Maybe there are still some full-service gasoline stations left, but I do not know of any near me. The Service Station back then would put your car on a lift to change your oil and grease your grease fittings, so while under there, it wasn't that difficult to check the transmission fluid too. (How many grease fittings does your modern car have? Mine has none. )
Ken

Kev,
Sorry to hear of your loss. Have lost both of my parents, just lost my Dad about a month ago, so think I have some idea what you are going through. Remember the good memories you have of her and that will help.
Ken

If I may be permitted a slight divergence from Packards, I have been interested in plans to reintroduce a modern King Midget, not produced since the late 60's. Maybe some of us remember those King Midget ads in 40's 50's and 60's magazines, in my case, Popular Mechanics. As a youngster, I thought it would be neat to have one but never got one. I wish them luck! Midget Motors
Ken

What a great story! Best of luck with the restoration!
My Dad had a 53 Packard Clipper too. That is one of the reasons I bought mine. But mine is not his car. Although it is very similar.
Ken

Speaking of adding the transmission fluid inside the passenger compartment through the transmission hump hole, if yours is like my 53, you have in the hole first steel mesh looking like part of a kitchen potscrubber steel wool pad (minus the soap, of course), and then underneath that a circular mesh filter placed in the hole. First remove the steel mesh. Then remove the circular mesh filter from the hole using a tweezer. If you remove them both, transmission fluid will go in a lot faster. My experience with my car. Hope that helps!
Ken

Edit: Don't forget to put both back in after you are done adding fluid.