Synthetic fluid also uses the DOT 3 and DOT 4 designations so the answer is to use a standard non-synthetic fluid unless it's been converted to synthetic.

It's a nice looking Packard that I would love to have even in spite all the cosmetic things wrong. Another - and I'm not sure about this - is that the trim below the rear side windows is reversed with the left on the right and the right on the left. However, all these little things makes one wonder what else is wrong that is mechanical and/or otherwise hidden from view.

Do you have any photos from several angles of the steel lines for the oil filter that you can post? I would love to see them to be sure that my own are the proper ones.

Joe, you're right I didn't take into account the '39 type licensed holder that was used on 1940 models with the trunk rack. Packard's handles were made by a third party vendor and were often functionally the same between makes of cars that used the same vendor (differing in design but not functionality) so appears that one of those was fitted.

While you're waiting for an answer, do you or does anyone know if the trunk handle is the proper one? I'm familiar only with junior models so pardon my ignorance.

Fascinating story! Based on the photo in the article, the car is at least a 1938 due to the two-piece windshield.

I have a couple Harbor Freight rotating engine stands that had a good weight rating but they wouldn't even hold bare Cadillac V8 blocks without support underneath. For me that was expected (and they were very cheap) as I didn't buy them for the purpose but rather to cut up and use as a template for a double-ended stand for Packard engines. If and when I make one, I'll get better stands from somewhere else to make the final one.

Harbor Freight did once save me though, when in the middle of a project where the hydraulic cylinder on my engine lift gave out. I took it to a local hydraulic shop and they tried twice to fix it but were unable so I finally had to drive the thirty or forty miles to southern Bend (Oregon) where the nearest shop was and they had the replacement cylinder. I've had the lift itself for close to forty years so it wasn't made by them but fortunately had a common cylinder.

Bottom line, for somewhat better quality and usually free or very reasonable shipping even on large, heavy items, try Summit Racing.

Typically no sealer is used on exhaust manifold gaskets. If sealer is needed, then it is to patch something that should be properly fixed before too long.

Just a thought but have you tried leaving the hotbox bolts somewhat loose, then snugging the assembly to the block without gaskets to get the two parts in alignment and while that way, tightening the hotbox bolts? You don't need to torque them or even tighten all but tighten at least enough to prevent them moving when you take off the assembly to install the gaskets.

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If front and rear are the same on this year and model, is it possible that there are two secondary shoes on each side of the rear?