Different gears & adapters were available--maybe vendors still have-- & short of having speedo recalibrated to the new tire dimension probably only option. Looks like with the gap between ratios though, precision is not going to be great. Wonder how much changing by one ratio would correct.

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Mal, you guys continue to amaze me. Popping in here, there and anywhere finding people who know about & willing to work on 70 year old items off American cars--even more amazing having or finding parts for them. Its hard enough to do that over here on cars half that age unless they're Ford or Chevy--let alone Packards.

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It does look kind of out of place as pedal is same as one would have with manual brake car. Believe that is all that was ever offered--no suspended pedal or anything to match the power brakes in height. The only concession seems to be a different pad for standards when used with PB. In another thread, one poster mentioned seeing or having a standard shift & power brake car with pedal same height as brakes. It doesn't show in parts book so not sure exactly what he has.

Interesting question about wheel color. Would also be interested in what the 22nd series experts say.

According to parts manual there was only one standard wheel for 22nd series and an optional accessory deluxe wheel listed as plastic available thru 52. Various colors didn't list until 51. The fact book does says a two tone wheel for the deluxe but not what they were-unless chrome is a tone.

Looking at the pictures in gallery & sales brochures and fact book, with one exception of a maroon wheel someone has on a convertible, it appears just about all of them show what appears to be the same wheel--a light colored one.https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=2141. Is that the standard or deluxe accessory plastic wheel?

The only other steering wheel picture I readily found was in the steering section of service manual and is black--maybe commercial?

Steele has the entire gasket set for 56-8 tail lights, their item 30-0460-15-- but also not cheap. Have also seen the thin narrow foam rubber weatherstrip available from the hardware store used.

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I stand corrected but knew between the two pieces, it was effectively a small cylinder. At any rate, still nothing will bolt onto the BTV power unit.

Am also wondering if anyone had a response to someones question re failures on other model Packards. If so, I missed it. Sure would be interesting if V8's are the only ones appearing to have problems.

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I believe there were only two mfgs that ever made the type design used on BTV--Bendix and Delco.

The master "cylinder" is not a conventional type. Instead of a piston with a cup which pushes fluid ahead of it, BTV is essentially an approx 3/4" closed tube filled with fluid which a rod or "piston" pushes into. The piston almost but never actually touches the sides of cylinder. It just displaces the fluid forcing it out to the brake cylinders. The stroke is direct and long & the rod, by squeezing the fluid out, obtains a considerable mechanical advantage. The volume is made up by length of stroke. The conventional cylinder has a fairly short stroke so needs a bigger diameter for the volume. Because of the diameter, it has to have a greater mechanical advantage to start with hence the 3, 4, or 6:1 mechanical ratio provided by pedal linkages. Therein lies the issue with just bolting something on.

I believe the failure mode of the BTV is in the sealing of the tube or cylinder. There is a single lip around the rod which prevents fluid going into the vacuum portion and the valve which closes the port that supplies or replenishes fluid into cylinder is nothing but a big blob of rubber which covers a hole. That rubber valve is held in place by a spring which can fail or any loose debris in the cylinder can float & catch on the rubber and prevent a seal. No seal, no way to force pressure out to brakes. The conventional cylinder closes off the hole as soon as piston and cup move past so no way for fluid to escape. The hole and lip seal in BTV is under all the pressure developed and any leak will result in no brakes.

Diagrams aren't the best but in April 56 service counselor Vol 30 #4 there is a description of twin traction and how it works. Might answer some questions..

I personally don't disagree with you. Manual brakes are very good in Packards. Problem is that after 52, probably the majority came with the BTV so the pedal, mounting, location etc is totally different than in a manual car. There were and are not many parts cars in which to obtain the necessary items to convert. The search for something modern that will bolt into the original cramped location and keep the other components substantially unmodified and original looking is the quest now.

Other reason for keeping power is is the luxury car-luxury accessories all the bells and whistles feeling that it would be a step backward.

Here are the links to the two sites & contact info can be found there. Assume you are speaking of manual brakes. Doubt you will find a strictly "bolt in" dual cylinder but should be able to come up with something that will fit with a little work--maybe new mounting holes.

http://www.abspowerbrake.com/

http://www.mpbrakes.com/