I assume this has been covered before but I'm not finding it.

My "new" '55 400 has undoubtedly had the battery connected backwards in the past by people not realizing it's a positive ground system. I repolarized the generator to correct the charging issue but find that the radio is dead. I seem to recall reading somewhere that is a common casualty of reversed polarization. If so, what specifically is damaged? Is it typically the vibrator (which is not vibrating)? The fuse is okay.

Any other damage that may have been caused?

Max Merritt had some repo clips in stock that they apparently had made some time ago. They are on their way here.

Kanter says their gaskets are made by Steele. I got mine through Max Merritt but it's the same part number.

Where would one find those retainers? I imagine they are unavailable now.

After doing some digging through old forum posts, it looks like I'm encountering a problem that others have run into with their 55-56 non-convertibles.

I have a '55 400 and the new blue tinted windscreen (the old was cracked) is 1/8" shorter and the Steele gasket is 1/8" narrower, adding up to a 1/4" gap all the way around. My car is at the installer shop and after disassembling he says he can't work with it.

Anyone have a solution? Does anyone other than Steele make a reproduction gasket?

Just what's printed on the flasher, as pictured above.

I figure it's a polarity issue. Solid state devices tend to be quite picky about such things.

For future reference, I obtained the electronic flasher with adapter and can report that it doesn't work in the '55 no matter what pinout is configured. I tried every combination.

Based on that wiring diagram the socket doesn't match either standard, so no electronic flasher will work without wires to change the pinout. I was already looking at the one that came with the adapter but if one of the standards were adhered to I could get one with adjustable rate. For that I guess I'd need to make my own adapter.

Thanks for the info.

I'm looking to replace the flasher on my '55 400 with an electronic unit, replacing the stock P273D Tung Sol mechanical flasher, but I've been unable to determine if the socket is a CF13 or CF14 type, which determines the pinout polarity. Does anyone know which socket is applicable to the positive ground system?

One thing I've encountered with my "new" '55 400 is that it's often extremely difficult to get the Ultramatic out of the park position, even on level ground. I suspect I'm not the first to run into this. Ideas?

Thanks. Fixed the typo.

I found the specs on the KYB 343149 recommended for the rear, 8.66 Stroke, 21.57 Ext, 12.91 Compression, but not the originals.

It's very possible the application charts are wrong. Some of the same sites list shocks that are supposedly applicable to the '55 400, but obviously are not.

The only '55 listed that this shock fits is the Chevy Bel Air (rear).