Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Once more I'm in need of some specialist advice from you experts. I've sustained a breakage to the component that attaches to the bottom of the trunk lock barrel of my '56 Patrician. This component provides that attaching point for the lever to the trunk (we say boot) latch. It's die-cast and doesn't look very robust (see bottom two bits in pic) and I don't know if it's repairable or replacements are available (I haven't found any info about either yet). I'm advised that this lock mechanism applies to '56 models only and I'm not sure whether it's different between seniors or juniors. Cheers, John

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It is not repairable but should not be hard to find. Senior and junior cars had the same part. What is interesting is the long rod pictured. There are 3 varieties of that rod and I had to replace mine last year. Yours has a curve in the middle. The original one on my car was straight and the one I replaced it with had two bends in it. You are right, the part you need is not too robust but it did last a half century. One more replacement should do you fine unless you are very young.

The exact same breakage happened to me a couple of years ago, and if you use the search function you should find that thread where an option was discussed for repair, but in the end it proved easier to just purchase a new adapter (the broken piece). I believe the stress that eventually causes the die-cast piece to break is from use of excessive force and over-rotating the latch mechanism when opening the trunk. My rod link happened to be straight, and I believe the juniors and seniors used the same mechanism.

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As O_D mentions, when he broke his there was a discussion on how to repair. I think it is possible to do. The way that is constructed and right at the back of lock, it should be fairly do-able to make a small plate that would fit over the end of that existing round part. 3 or 4 small screws or pins into the round piece to index it. Hold it all together with a spacer where the existing screw went and longer screw into lock cylinder. Shape it to duplicate the piece broken off. Either weld a replacement stud to the plate or use a screw and nut for stud.

I haven't tried it and replacing is undoubtedly simpler but have no idea how much the piece costs or how available.

I seem to recall the adapter was easy to find and inexpensive, may $20 or so. I did toy briefly with making a new adapter from brass. My challenge was how to get the trunk open as the latch broke with it shut and locked. I suspect if the trunk if packed full with luggage and the like it would be a real challenge but mine wasn't that full and someone suggested removing the back seat, linking about 5 or 6 feet of socket extensions together, and just unbolting the lower latch bar. Worked like a charm.

Here is a link to the thread discussing the breakage problem.

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=1410&forum=3&post_id=11893#forumpost11893

Packards1 notes that there are 3hree different rods. I only know of 2wo. But read the above post thru to see if it talks about the rods. The fix for the broken piece is ez. All that is needed is a file, dril, a piece of steel about the size of a quarter and 30 minutes of time. It's alot stronger too. Works for me. IIRC the rod lehgth contributes to the breakage but i'm not real sure of that.
There is somekind of SC or STB or maybe it was a Studebaker bulletin from after 56 that addresses the rod length.

Service Counselor Vol 29 No. 12 discussed the lock itself, removal of it and the cylinder. There was also a Service Counselor entry noting a running change of adding an adjustable lock plate to keep the latch from incorrectly rotating and centered vertically. Most cars I've seen have this running change so I suspect some dealers were fairly religious about installing them on earlier cars.

The other problem was that early version of the lock had a C-clip in the groove you see which purpose it was to hold the mechanism together. The C-clip would work loose and disengage the rod from the pin. The result was that you couldn't get into the trunk. Packard solved this by drilling a small hole thru the groove and placed a small flat washer held by a cotter pin thru the hole. Dave is right about removing the back seat and going thru the trunk with some long extensions and unbolting the U-shaped latch bar. Gary Thomas once made fun of 56 owners and their unworkable trunk locks. Mr. Thomas was correct about the early ones - a real PITA.

Thanks for the advice fellas, especially the part's name. Fortunately, if I can put it that way, my lock adapter broke while I was trying to shut the trunk and I only found out it was broken when the latch wouldn't snib. I doubt I would have thought of the through back seat method of raising the lid, and hopefully will never have to try it. I must say, the cord I now have attached to the latch and dangling out the lid lock hole works very effectively - won't keep thieves out though! I looked at the other thread and now see how a fix could be made and will have a go at something like that as '56's are very thin on the ground in Australia and it will be almost impossible to find a spare adapter. By the way, the rod uses the c-clip system and doesn't have the drilled hole. The one I will try to make up will use a split pin. It's about 4 1/8" long, centre to centre of the hole and pin. Cheers, John

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I thought so, too, but with nothing on that in the Index that I compiled, I began to wonder if I might have overlooked one.

So, I combed through my collection of original SCs and dealer STBs, plus photcopies of "Zone only" STBs - nothing. No help from the SSBs, either.

Digging a little deeper into my personal collection, I found a set of Service Bulletins from Packard's Detroit Zone. Even when I worked for Chrysler in the mid-1980s, it was not uncommon for Zone Offices to issue their own service bulletins, though they usually only reiterate what had already been published by the central office - for emphasis to the dealers. Decades earlier, Packard was no different in that regard, but I'll cut to the chase.

A watermarked scan of a Detroit Zone Bulletin that may be the "missing link" is attached below; however, note that the P/N provided is a typo - should be 6478790.

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