Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Good morning fellow Packard Owners!
I've been reviewing the wiring diagram for 1955. I don't see any information on there on how to wire up fog lights and a spotlight from the diagram. Has anyone done it and could provide some tips? I do know that when using the fog lights the tail lights should also be operational.
Any help appreciated!
Regards,
Shawn

I don't know which spotlight you have but if it is a factory or repro of the stock V8 deluxe outside light, those went thru the dash, cowl, and fender so needed three holes drilled in a straight line and is a fairly involved install. There was a template in the kits so perhaps someone has and could post that. If the template is not available then it is a matter of luck and use of a long drill bit in getting things in alignment so the brackets fit the fender and dash contours. On most accessory items the wiring diagrams were furnished with the kits rather than being included in main diagrams. For the spotlight, wiring would be similar if not identical to the door post type spotlight mentioned next.

For the more conventional door type spotlights that were used earlier and went thru the front door area, there is a bit on installing those in the 51-4 service manual, accessory section. If the curvature and space needs of the windshield in V8s allows that type install then the details should be almost the same as given in the 51-4 version. Wiring is fairly simple with power coming directly off a breaker and available all the time.

For the fog lights, you will be most likely be using some type of under dash edge switch since there is not really a good place to add something in the dash if it has the full complement of accessories. I do not know what Packard offered for V8s but most earlier years did have an under dash edge mounted switch which inter connected with the headlight switch in order to get power from the headlight breaker and also feed back to the tail light wiring to energize them when fog lights are on. Again, the wiring instructions would be part of the kit.

Here is a photo of the V8 deluxe outside spotlight and a wiring diagram from a 22-23 series foglight install that might be helpful. Terminals and connetions shown on the 22-3 foglight and headlight switches would be very similar to those on a V8 except the fog switch location would not be in the dash.

Thank you Howard! I will definitely look these over.

Howard,
Good morning!
I have fog lights similar to these. The difference is mine are 12V and doesn't have the orange cable coming out of the back but an individual cable coming from the bottom of each. I assume, after drilling a hole in my bumper, I need to remove the nut from the bottom of each fog light to mount to the bumper. The nut is reattached to hold to the bumper. Is there anything else needed for the mounting?
Thanks for your advice.
Shawn

Fog and driving lights appear to have been a rarely bought option on 55-6 models. Didn't see any car photos in the archive that had them but did find one 56 with driving lights in one of the books.




Seeing the photo it looks as if your idea on mounting is correct and is the simplest and easiest way. Run the wires either under the bumper and car to a convenient spot near the frame where both could be spliced to a longer single wire coming from the switch or do the splice in the space behind the grille.

If I were adding lights to my car I would consider the possibility of mounting them on a couple of flat brackets just wide enough to accommodate the base post. Something like 1/8 or 3/16 flat steel from the hardware store painted black to minimize being seen. Pass the brackets outward from the space behind the grille thru the opening between grille and bumper. Extend brackets over the bumper just far enough to accommodate the distance you want light housings from the grille with enough extra to catch the full base to allow for decent engagement of the nipple and nut. To me this would be preferable to drilling holes in the bumper because you would drill in the lower splash shield behind the grill instead where the holes would be hidden. In case you or a next owner wanted to remove the lights at some point, without any holes in the bumper it would be simple and leave no visible damage. The brackets would need to have either offset bends or be mounted on spacers to match the height of the space between grill and bumper. I would also add dedicated ground wires connecting to the base mounting nipples as I would even if just using the bumper for the mount. Rust and corrosion of light mounts and their ground connections thru various metal pieces seems to be a large issue with many Packards.

Without having the lights in hand can't say if that method would even work. There is the possibility the threaded nipple, nut, and wire would be unsightly unless covered somehow which might be difficult to do. The nipple might also be too long to decently allow for using that narrow space between the grille and bumper. Anyway, just a thought.

Howard,
Good point about using brackets and not drilling into the bumper itself. I will see if I can use something like that. I've attached another picture of a 1955 Packard Patrician that has fog lights. They don't appear to be the same type as mine though. Hard to blow it up enough to see clearly. Not sure why it wasn't a popular option. They definitely are useful and nice looking.

Attach file:

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  Packard With Fog Lights.jpg (74.80 KB)

Personally I don't think they are attractive but if they can be mounted without drilling the bumper, then go for it! Remember, though, that your state's laws may require that these be wired so that they can come on only when the headlights are on. I once got a ticket in my 1940 for having fog lights on when the headlights were off here in California where I live. In fact, I was pulled over right in front of my house as I was simply turning the car around and not going anywhere!

There is a fine line between adding an extra accessory here and there for practical reasons and the car becoming garish.

I see this especially in some of the Pre-war years with added large driving lights, and fog lights, and extra bumper guards, and then a grille shield. Eventually, they start to look like this, and they have destroyed the look and lines of the car:




I really dislike those woven mesh grille guards that cover up the Packard louvered radiator grilles on pre-war models.

As Packard Don alluded to, above, In Jersey and Pa., fog and driving lights MUST be wired so that they only come on when headlights are on. PB

For the fog lights to only be on with headlights, I would modify the 22-23 series drawing slightly and add a relay. Where B on the fog light switch is shown connected directly to the headlight sw breaker to get power I would throw one of the inexpensive cube relays in that run and feed the fog lights thru the relay. You could add a separate breaker which would probably be the best way and pick up power at the headlight BAT feed terminal. If the fog light draw is only a few amps you might be able to still use the regular headlight breaker output at the output connection as was done in the 22-3 drawing. That is kind of iffy on old breakers where the capacity might have changed due to age. Use bullet connectors and make up a small 2 output pigtail to add a point where you can power the relay coil from the headlight terminal on the switch. That way the fog lights only work when relay is on at the same time as headlights and relay also keeps all the extra current of the fog lights out of an old headlight switch.

Here is a photo of the 51-6 headlight switch showing where to pick up the two places needed. Headlight terminal is obvious and the output side of the breaker is at the threaded terminal on end of brass strip. A suggested wiring for the cube type relay is provided.