Update on the door handles...I was able to exchange the driver's side. I sprayed it with WD40 a week before I took out the spring/retainer, and it came out pretty easily. The mechanism fits and works, and the retainer clip also fits, BUT, i noticed the profile of the handle near the button where it mates to the stainless belt mouding is not exactly the same...
Attached a pic of the handles and 'exploded view' of internal parts.
-and my machine turned door lock knobs

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I'm 33 was also introduced to packards at a young age. My grandfather worked in a coal mine in western PA and bought and sold cars on the side. -Packards were his favorite make. I still remember riding in his 53 clipper which I later inherited as a basket case rust bucket. Was a great learning tool about cars.
Since the old 53 clipper I've had:
76 dodge dart (225 slant six)
88 Chevy sprint -3cyl autocrosser!
2001 Alero (boring, but nice)
1995 Audi S6 (Turbo 5 cyl, awesome car)
1993 Mazda 323 (cheap, but reliable)
2003 Renault Clio (1.5 diesel- great fuel economy, but slow)
2009 BMW Z40 (hard to keep clean)

-The 53 Clpper I have had since 1995. I work on software for the automotive business. Instead of turning wrenches, I plug in a computer to fix things. Currently in automatic transmission control. Used to be in abs brakes/stability control and also a little bit of hybrid experience.
-Still playing with cars as much as posible
Mike

Is it possible to exchange the buttons (with lock mechanism) from front door handles with the door handles from rear doors?
I have a pair of door handles I took from a 4 door parts car and plan on taking the lock/pushbutton mechanism out. -The chrome on these door handels is a little better than what I have on my car now. Anybody know if this is possible or not possible?
Thanks forum!
Mike

Hi Gerd and gang,

Was a nice evening in Berlin talking about Packards and ZILs and of course a beer or 2. Never thought Parcardinfo would lead me to Russian car enthusiasts.
Cheers,
Mike

No
No
-stock fuel system, no electric pump.

Wow, the inspection tecnition was right about adjusting that. Thanks guys. I'll have a look in the shop manual about tension/torque specs. Hope to get to that this weekend.
The common opinion I have gotten about the hood ornament in Germany is to just take it off when I go for inspection and put it back on afterwards.
Mit Freundlichen Gr??en!
Mike

I took my 53 clipper to T?V today for the bi-yearly saftey inspection, and they told me that I have play between the pitman arm and the cross link. The technition also said that this joint is adjustable. I never heard of this joint being adjustable. Is it true, or was he thinking of old Daimlers and ZIS/ZIL?
Here is a photo of what he was talking about. You can see between the two red arrows I drew in where the grease/grime has been pushed away by the free play.
Is this a case for a new/rebuilt pitman arm? (I did all A arm bushings, tie rods a few years ago, but not pitman/idler arms)

Thanks guys!

The other bad news from T?V was they want me to remove my clipper airplane hood ornament They are worried about me spearing a pedestrian! OK, I kind of understand that. Might try and replace with a swan if I can find one. -That would just maul a pedestrian, not cut them open :-/

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In Germany there has been such an incentive since about the beginning of the year. 2500 Euro when you buy a new or 1 year old car, and scrap a car that is 9 years or older, and has been registered in your name for the last year.
The small (cheaper) car market has benifited from this, but the more luxurios marks (BMW, and Daimler) have not seen so much benefit. -There is no tie to mileage, only Emission levels.
I bought a cheap car for 700? 2 years ago, saved my money and am now buying a new car, so I like the incentive. I don't think it really causes valuable or collector cars to be taken off the street.
The used car market really takes a hit though. All the used car values took a real dive since this incentive has been implemented. People also say mechanics are hit also, since there will be less old cars to fix. Used/Cheap cars are now a dime a dozen here.
-Tobs

This started happening on my car when I went from bias ply tires to radial tires. My guess is that the wheel/tire dynamics with the radials are different than with the bias plys. That is, there is a little more acceleration and jerk caused by the different tire construction. I'm going to try bending the tabs on my hubcaps and see if it helps stop the hubcap rotation.
Do you have Radials or Bias ply tires? I'm curions.
-Mike

I like it when I drive people standing on the sidewalk, and you hear 'mumble mumble oh, Paaaackaaard' With a touch of doppler effect accenting the packard...Having the name of the car written on the side helps most people identify it.
Also good,
Q:What kind of car is that?
A: Packard.
Q: No, what kind of car, what company?
A: Packard...
In Germany almost everybody then asks how much gas it consumes.