re: Packards and Willys -- I can't resist putting in my two cents worth.
I have two 55 Packards, also - 400 hardtops rather than sedans. In addition, I have a 1953 Willys Aero Eagle two door hardtop with a continental spare. If you think Packard V8s are misunderstood and under appreciated, try explaining a Willys. The Aero series had a unibody, an available F-head six and were a barrel of fun. The F-head with overdrive is my favorite. In all models, all four fenders were visible from the driver's seat. The bench seats were 60 inches wide, front and rear. They were simple, reliable and a good garage mate for a Packard. My first new car was a 54 Eagle. We drove it 120,000 plus miles before giving it to a friend. Still didn't burn oil.

Some day I'll learn to post pictures and can show them off.

Bernardi

On the subject of grease, Amsoil makes an excellent one. Not cheap, but good. Another, perhaps better choice, is the grease used in the final drive of the 1985-86 BMW K100 motorcycles. On that series, the final drive compensates for a change of shaft length with a splined coupling. It transmits all the torque to the rear wheel and slides in and out over every bump. Disassembly and lubrication at 20,000 to 25,000 mile intervals is recommended. It isn't cheap, either, but it does the job. If anyone is interested, I'll look up the nomenclature for the BMW grease. It is high in Molyb.

Bernardi

I'm looking, too, particularly for the posts on replacing the Treadle Vac and installing an updated master cylinder.

Bernardi

Please enlighten me - I've looked in the Photo Archives but cannot locate your 55 Patrician pictures. How do I search for them?

Thanks,

Bernardi

Mileage update - 81 miles in past two days, 41 highway, 40 short haul. 81/7.1 = 11+ mpg. It's getting better!

Bernardi

Let's get a few more folks checking in with gas mileage. On my 55 400 w/ twinultramatic, my last tank was 9 mgp. Most of this was short distance, granted, but I'm still unhappy. The carb was rebuilt about 500 miles back. New tires properly inflated. No brakes dragging (so far as I can tell). Air conditioner was not on.

Is there a difference in mpg with an oil bath air cleaner vs paper? I'm using 15W-40 oil and type-F transmission fluid. Incidentally, since the rebuild, the TU high to direct is smooth, positive and a pleasure. Just wish I had an overdrive behind it.

Well, it didn't come through. Let's try it without the http:// and see if it will work.

pc.dupont.com/hcl/servlet/com.dpc.hcl.search.HclSearchServlet?browsePath=Domestic+Cars%2FPackard%2FPAC+1948&Operation=102&carRegion=1&carType=Packard

Bernardi

The address for the DuPont colors is much longer than appears on my first post. Here is it again, writ by hand!

http://pc.dupont.com/hcl/servlet/com.dpc.hcl.search.HclSearchServlet?browsePath=Domestic+Cars%2FPackard%2FPAC+1948&Operation=102&carRegion=1&carType=Packard

http://pc.dupont.com/hcl/servlet/com.dpc.hcl.search.HclSearchServlet?browsePath=Domestic+Cars%2FPackard%2FPAC+1948%
Operation=102&carRegion=1&carType=Packard

Hope this comes through.

Bernardi

Courtesy of my daughter, Katrina, here is a site for Packard and other auto paints. These were paints supplied by DuPont only. No other manufacturer's paints are shown.

http://pc.dupont.com/hcl/servlet/com.dpc.hcl.search.HclSearchServlet?browsePath=Domestic+Cars%2FPackard%2FPAC+1948&Operation=102&carRegion=1&carType=Packard

I don't know how to get this into the Paint X-Reference, or even if it belongs there.

Bernardi

Thanks everyone for the information. I'd been looking for a new gas cap, too, and PackardParts.org site lists them. Now I need new keys for the 55 400, or new locks and keys all round. Hope you can be as helpful on this item, too.

Bernardi