According to my 1976 FACTORY AC Delco book, the 55-56 Packard V8 uses 43LS (7/16" reach). R45XLS or 45XLS 3/4" reach. Note that the "R" indicates resistor plug.

It's AC which means This Is Biblical.

Someone wrote : "Autolite's site is among the easiest to use, and for my 56 Packard they recommend Autolite 66 for a non-resistor plug ...".

I can not find an AL site. HOWEVER, i went to a local CarQuest store and viewed the AL book with my own eyes and at my own hand. it said:
Plugs with a WXYZ numeric code (on the plug) then the last number (Z) is the heat range, 4 cold, 5 mid-temp, 6 HOT. The number, next but one from the last, (Y), indicates RESISTOR/SUPPRESSION. EVEN numbers are resistor/supression (-10 for non-resistor) and odd numbers are NOT resistor/supression (+10 for resistor). The first 2wo numbers (WX) indicate a plug "group family" such as thread, hex size, reach etc.
SO, the 66 is a RESISTOR plug and the 56 is a regular plug. I have seen the 56 and 66 reported as above and in reverse. This has been a major source of confusion for me.
DOES THE AL WEB SITE contradict the above info i have relayed??? I have 66 in my 56 Executive.

It's scary how much talent there is out here in cyberspace.

Brian,

You forgot the '56 Caribean All-Track. Designed for the Army generals that wanted to get to the front line in style!

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If you liked those previous pix, then you'll luv the '56 Caribbean Hardtop Limousine. This 9-passenger vehicle sports a none-of-a-kind Twin-Traction tandem rear axle with Twin-Torsion-Level-Aire suspension. With an overall length of just under 24 feet, I can honestly say that this is the longest Packard never built.

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MrPushbutton -

Nice test bench you have there.

I've been thinking of building a "training aid", as pictured in the April, 1956 issue (Vol. 30, No. 4) of the Service Counselor, with an eye to using it as a test bench.

I was inspired when I found one of those original boards in a pile of parts in the swap meet field at Fall Hershey - though it was stripped of most of its parts and the "fixture" seemed far too broken and rotten to salvage.

To only brag a tiny bit:
Every year in Saint Louis, they have a big car show. It is sponsored by the Horseless Carriage Car Club. It is called the Easter Concours d' Elegance. .. Kinda "Uppity" and all of that! It is a rather Grand way to start the car show season.
I have been several times, and I really wanted to go this year, just to be a part of it. I love looking at the "Rolls Royce"s and the Franklin's, this year there were over a dozen model T's. It is not just the same muscle cars and 1957 Chevys, and Camaros that are at every show during the year.
I was thinking that it might be a low turnout because of the below freezing temps. However I think everybody else thought the same way because it was packed!
Long story short, I won a First Place in my class! This is HUGE for me and my car. The honor, I mean, not the trophy. The First place award is an expensive mantle clock. It is only about 6 inches high and made out of a solid block of wood. Looks like an open book with an engraved brass plaque. ELEGANT!
As soon as I got there in the morning and opened my hood, people started to come up. I am sure that you all have encountered this yourselfs! One guy said "Gee, I have never seen a radiator hose like that."
Well, it looked as if it had Swallowed a grapefruit! I loosened the cap and let the pressure out and wondered how I was going to make the 30 miles or so home. I also wrapped a whole roll of electric tape (it was all I could find) around the hose. Then on the way home I swear that I could not shift into third!
So now I await a package from Max Merritt with hoses and belts!
Gee I LOVE old cars!
Dan

Kevin, you can go with R45S for short reach, with gasket, or R45XLS for long reach, with gasket. If I remember right, my '55 320 in the Pat takes the long reach, and it's the machined dome, so I'm thinking the Cast Dome heads take the short.

Frankly I'm reluctant to rely on old plug recommendations as the changes in gasoline composition, flame temperature and propogation have changed so much. So I usually take a current recommendation from one of the plug makers. Autolite's site is among the easiest to use, and for my 56 Packard they recommend Autolite 66 for a non-resistor plug (my choice). I've also used Champion RN14YC with good luck. You don't say if your upgrade of a 55 to a 56 V8 involved changing heads but I guess you know there were different plug requirements when they went from machined to cast heads (see Service Counsellors for info). If I still had the 55 heads, I'd hop onto Autolite's site and get their recommendation for 1955.

R45LS, two steps hotter.