HH56, thanks for the info. The 54 information is so much better than the 55. Looks like a job that I have to do. I'm to old to do myself so I guess I'll have to farm it out.

Sorry, I have a correction to my post. Change power steering to read power brake master cylinder. I can get access to a lift. From what I can see, It looks like I will not be able to remove the steering gear box from the bottom unless I remove the steering wheel shaft first due to clearance from the frame. Which brings me to the question, How do I remove the steeing wheel shaft? How is it connected in the gear box?

Has anyone in this forum just replaced the steering wheel shaft. Mine is bent due to my forcing it when I converted my ultramatic to od. I was thinking I could replace the whole steering box and shaft by removing the steering wheel nut and pulling the gear box out the bottom. Upon looking at it I don't think this will work as the frame seems to be in the way. I think if I pull the box from the top, I will have to remove the power steering cylinder, the steering housing and all kinds of garbage. I just want to replace the shaft. Is there some way to get into the gear box and just disconnect the shaft, pull it out of gear box and replace it? Any insights are welcome.

My Clipper with od gets about 18 on the highway but only about 12 in city driving.
After I rebuilt my 55 Caribbeans engine about 6 years ago, I filled up the gas tank and drove it about sixty miles. About 1 mile from home, the engine died. The gas gauge didn't work but I thought it could not have possibly run out of gas. I checked everything I could think of on the side of the road with 100 degree temperatures and no tools. I called AA and had the car towed the final mile home. Sure enough, the thing was out of gas. I guess I got about three miles to the gallon. The car was running poorly, the carbs I was using were not the Caribbean carbs but old carbs I had laying around. I removed the dual carbs in favor of a single quad. It runs fine and gets much better mileage now but nothing spectacular. Probably about 14 on the highway. I did find a pair of 55 Caribbean carbs and am now going to have them rebuilt. The dual quads will remain off unless an important show is involved

Hi Ross,
Thsnks for the hints. I climbed underneath the car today and freed up and readjusted the linkage as you discribed. Took it for a short drive with no problem. I still don't trust it. The first/reverse linkage rod is not correct. I made it myself as I cannot find the real part anywhere. I will try the Studebaker sources you mentioned. I had to guess the bend angle in it and mad it out of a threaded rod.
Thanks again.

Hi Mal,
Not an achievement, more like insanity.

Hi Mr. Ozstatmen,
I will be happy to send pictures of my two 55s. A Panama and a Caribbean. I have had about 30 55 and 56 Packards since 1960. I got hooked on them while I was in the Army.
It was the only car I could afford on e-1 pay when I got out of basic training. 55 Panama. The Panama I have now is was my favorite until this rotten shifter problem. I'm getting to old for this. Maybe time to find something more relaxing like tropical fish. The picture will have to wait until I can get the car out of the garage. It's locked in first.

Hi Eric,
Thanks for the clarification as to the transmission model and od model. Now I have to find out who makes a floor shift adapter. Any ideas? Never throw old Parts away. As I mentioned, I have had several 55s with od. Two were converted to floor shifters: a 55clipper custom and a 55 Caribbean. The Caribbean now has Ultramatic and the Custom od is now in my Panama. All the parts for the conversion back to column shift were still on the Custom, so I thought.
I tossed the floor shifter. Big Mistake.

One part is missing and I fear it is the key to my lock-ups.
There is a picture of it in the Service Manual. Transmission and Overdrive section, Page 13, Figure 37. The long rod with the bend in it. There is no picture of it in the parts cataloge, but the part number seems to be 465373 and it is called ist/reverse rod . I am looking for one to purchase or one to borrow as a sample to have it made. Does anyone have a clue where I might I may beg, borrow, or steal one? I have tried all the normal channels, Kanter, merritt, chirco etc.

I would also like to purchase a shaft assembly Pt#458530 or ask if anyone would know who would be able to make one. This is the shaft in the steering column that moves the shift levers in a standard transmission car.

The transmission worked fine in the donor car with the floor shifter. I had the trans checked out before installing it in my Panama. No problems.