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Took the gas tank out and its at the radiator shop getting boiled out --local place will do it for $45 -- it was full of trash and old gas residue, thick, thick and nasty -- I thought this might be an issue when I opened the trunk and found three spare fuel filters -- Interesting though, under the front seat (had to fix the wire that goes across so both sides slide) I found this tag pictured below -- I guess it was for the seat but maybe for the car? crazy to imagine someone on the assembly line at Packard on March 22, 1955 writing on this tag as this beautiful new car came rolling down the line -- amazing

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Interesting find and good question. Maybe it was the seat, but also it might be one of the few early 55's that made if off the line without major problems or it could be something attached after the rework so many of them required before being able to ship.

There are some interesting reads and memos in the AQ book and the Fall of Packard Motor Co book about the early 55 production problems after the Connor move and so many of the cars requiring mild to extensive rework before shipment was possible.

I had the tank boiled out, we drilled and tapped a new fitting in where somebody at sometime had put a bung in --- leak tested it for half and hour -- no leaks, so we stuck it in -- just as it was going in it started to leak in another spot!!! -- took it out and checked the spot with my knife and it went right through -- turns out my tank is just to gone to use -------- so I'm gonna order a universal tank and replace it once and for good --- wanted an all original car cause this one was so close but heres the first part to go --

Keep us posted on what you find for a tank and if it is a good match. If something universal is found we can add to x-ref. Any 51-56 Packard tank will fit your car.

Others have tried some different options and none have apparently been totally satisfactory. Usually one with close size has the filler, gauge or outlet in a bad spot. By pictures, I think a couple of Ford tanks come close but without access to greater dimension detail can't say for sure.

will do, I think I've found one that will go but i'll keep the source and part number to myself until I make sure it works- LOL ---but as soon as I do I will let yall know with all the information I can give -- also sorry about the lack of pics in the last few posts --- my cell phone/camera was fatally wounded in a high altitude drop from my shirt pocket --- more pics will come

Joe,

I could hardly believe it when I saw your blog was already two pages long. That was quick! Great pics. You can tell a lot about how a car was treated by looking at the interior, and that looks like a fantastic original interior considering especially that the car sat a long time. Wonder if it was garaged or somehow protected from the sun. Interiors can be such a pain and expense, so I hope it checks out as good as it looks in the pics.

BTW, no problem identifying power brakes on these, the pedal will have "Easamatic" clearly molded into the rubber. That's Packard's catchy name for the Bendix "Treadle-Vac" (which sounds more like a cross between a foot-power sewing machine and a vacuum cleaner--close to truth-in-advertising for Bendix...)

The owner's manual sure looks familiar!

I took a bunch of pics today -- I still have't gotten the gas tank but I took pics of the abyss that is its future home -- then there are random pics of this and that -- not real sure I am seeing the transmission cooling lines (more familiar with Chevy i.e. upper passenger side of radiator) and thats a new one for me on the water pump,hose runs through it to the water pump, so that may be the tranny cooler?? anyway take a look at the pics and tell me your thoughts, corrections, interest, likes, opinions, and the like -- all are welcome!!

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The black flat object at the water pump is the trans cooler and the lines are between it and engine.

While there are not many failures with instances of leaks between fluid and water, be aware that the radiator hose connections are notorious for rusting through--sometimes to the extent the hose is about all holding the pipe together.

If you remove it or change hoses, be extra careful not to pull or twist on them until you see the condition. Better to slit or cut them off if you can.

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Thanks, i was interested in that, very strange way to cool the tranny LOL -- i don't plan on taking super long trips when I get i start driving her but I might have to take the advice of some others on here and replace the cooler with one on the outside of the radiator that actually cools the tranny

The first 6 months or so of original Ultra had cooler in bottom radiator tank but for whatever reason it must have had problems or leaked so was short lived. Kits were issued to move to the pump location and it stayed there. I agree that it doesn't seem to be the most efficient way to cool but Packard must not have seen it that way. Actually, when you consider many auto trans of the era had no cooling other than air passing over fins on the converter, guess it was an improvement.