Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

The striker on your door is the earlier 1951-52 version which was all metal and as Ross noted is more subject to wear than the ones with the nylon insert.

The 1956 version has a steel plate insert that covers the striker teeth and allows the narrower wheel to slip in behind it.

Also make sure you have the striker "shimmed" enough so that the maximum about of the wheel gear is engaged in the stricker. I had a door pop open on me other and looking at the wear pattern, only about 1/4" of the wheel teeth was interlocked on the striker (side to side).

Packard made different thicknesses of stricker shims to dial that in. Also I found that weather stripping can change door alignment. When I had all the weatherstripping out of the car, I needed the shims. With brand new weatherstripping in the car, I had to remove the shims. Also the latch is adjustable up-down, and in-out. The door should close and not rattle. Also it should not noticeable ride up over the latch when closed, if it does the latch is too high. If the door is hard to close, then the latch is too far in. If the door rattles, or doesn't line up with the b-pillar panel when closed, then the latch may be too far out. As I said, weatherstripping changes all of this when replaced.

the good thing about my car's original paint staying, i can see all the outlines from where things were before.

the striker plate is in the same place it was before and the door closes with little effort. it does rock in and out, but mostly because of the worn striker and lack of weather stripping. new nylon infused strikers are on their way to me now.

the gear is about 1/2 used on the striker, this is using 1 shim that came with the car when i got it. i'm going to shim it out further to use more of the gear thickness. probably just use some fiberboard to shim it out more and place this behind the metal shim that is already there.

thanks for the info Kev, I always like info from people that have been there....done that.