This was discussed some years ago, here, in another thread:

Packard V8 supercharged engine

Also, a previous member, Turbopackman, made his own bracket to mount a McCulloch/Paxton supercharger to a 56 Patrician. Though the rest of the car was not restored, it was nonetheless drivable. The car ultimately wound up in the hands of the Packard museum in Dayton, but may have been cut up for parts.

After repeated clashes with another member, Turbopackman left the site and shifted his focus to Studebaker. He later fell off the radar completely.

Silver lettering? You must be thinking of Chevy V8.

Follow the scheme outlined by HH56 for painted valve covers.

However, if the base metal is in good enough shape and you can afford to get them chrome plated, the Packard lettering was left chrome for 55, but painted red for 56.

Late friend and member, Randy Berger had individually-boxed, NOS
chrome covers - one with red script, the other plain, but same P/N.

I have an NOS 56 Clipper front fender that has that same "strut".

Many years ago, I saw an NOS 56 Senior front fender for sale at Hershey with same feature, and I was told it had to be cut out for the Senior lamp.

It makes sense that the 55 Senior would be same.

Looks like an alignment shim used with later vehicles. Appears to be of relatively recent origin (shiny metal).

Perhaps they didn't know about the upper outer eccentric, didn't have proper wrench, or just didn't want to be bothered with it.

Maybe they had an alignment issue the eccentric couldn't solve.

Found a piece of round steel wire formed into a "U" shape used as shim on LCA of one of my Pats. Removed it and didn't seem to affect handling, but never drove it much. Hoping to get back on the cars if I ever get the estate wrapped up.

Math is simple, but the guy is too obstinant to check the figures he's using. Bore is 3-1/2 diameter.

Sooner or later the chickens will come home to roost.

Al -

This is a three-part affair.

- a black, plastic terminal BODY, P/N 472088 (Gr. 30.38774)

- a corresponding, flat, phenolic COVER, P/N 472089 (Gr. 30.38775)

- a couple of (wafer/truss head phillips?) SCREWs to hold them together, P/N 472096 (Gr. 30.38775)

Sorry, no pix.

Also, Randy and I had some exchange, privately, about two different designs for the terminal body and (cover?), yet under same P/N. I cannot recall the details, however. I believe Randy had these in his private stock at one time, but they may have gone to another car.

I've been at this long enough to know that, but they're not showing them for 55-56 on their website.

Classic2Current Fabrication does business on eBay as classicparts4u.

I had high hopes for sheet metal when they first appeared, but there doesn't seem to be much for the V8 cars these days.

I've heard the common complaints about fitment with floor pan repair pieces, but nothing a little nip-tuck couldn't handle.

I can make my own fender bottom repairs here at home. What's really needed is repair for headlamp brow area.

Also no quarter panel repair for my Seniors. Dog leg section is really needed for my Patricians, but if BigKev learned how to make his own for his 54, I'll give that a try for my 56s, too.

Their rocker panels for 2-door cars don't look right to me.

So, I haven't done business with them, but I've only ever owned V8 Packards.

As my father purchased an Executive, brand-new in 56 (though long since gone), no, I didn't intend to imply it is a Junior.

However, the fact is it rides on the same chassis and with the same powertrain as a Clipper Custom - including wheels and tires.

The basic body shell is shared with the Clipper. The front fenders, grille and hood ornament obviously come from the Senior, but with relocated trim mounting holes, for the upper moulding spears, which are unique to the Exec.

Even the interior trim is shared with the Clipper Custom, but uses the Senior instrument panel screen and ornaments.

While the Executive is something of an in-betweener, the ornamentation is that meant for a Senior.

IIRC, the line up for the proposed 57s even shows the Exec as a Senior, albeit without ribbed side trim.

As a newborn, I came home from the hospital in my father's Executive, and even have fond memories of riding in that car, later. I would have gladly forgone ownership of my Caribbean, if only my father would have saved his Exec.

The Executive is my favorite Packard of all time.

About 35 years ago, I was working with an engineer who helped develop the Goodrich Comp T/A, and he helped me with the math and measurements needed to come up with proper metric replacements for the original 55-56 tires.

The best fit we came up with for the 8.00-15 used on the Senior cars was 235/75-15. For the 7.60-15 used on Juniors (Clippers and Executive), 225/75-15.

While I once owned a 55 Patrician, I sold that car before even getting close to tire replacement.

Yet, I can personally attest to the 235/75-15, which I installed on my 56 Caribbean H/T back in the 1990s. There was no rubbing problem. However, because of their wider profile, I had to let a little air out of the rear tires to fit between the drum and wheel opening during installation - then air back up. While this could prove to be an inconvenience for road service, I've not run up against that issue.

Next purchase, I'm considering Coker's 800R15 WWW radials (with bias-ply looks), even though my friend, the late Randy Berger, frequently aired his bad experience with earlier Coker tires.