Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Need to replace the headlight bulbs. Any idea as to which ones will work for replacements? Can't read the info on the base of the bulb. Need the small one at the bottom and the dual filament one at the top.

Also, can't find the overall length of the car.

Thanks a bunch!

526 owner's manual indicates 21 candlepower dual filament bulbs for Depress Beam headlamps. Typical bulb numbers would 1110, 1114 or 1118; perhaps the parts list would tell you which, but they are commonly found bulbs. Wish I could help more but perhaps others can give better info. For some bulb data of the era see:


packardclub.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3309

Remember too that Packard switched from parabeam to depress beam in the middle of the 5th series. Depending on when your car was made, it could have either. E.g., my early 526 built in '27 (despite my username) has parabeams.

Regarding finding the overall length of the car, I haven't been able to find any overall dimensions anywhere on prewar Packards either. It looks like they just didn't publish dimensions; perhaps different body styles have different lengths. I've found that factory-bodied Packards (at least in the 7th and 10th series) are 72 inches wide at the running boards. To arrive at an overall length you can measure the distance from the center of the front hub forward to the edge of the front bumper, the center of the rear hub to the edge of the rear bumper, total these figures and add in the published wheelbase dimension. Thus my 1002 Eight seven passenger sedan with a 136 inch wheelbase has an overall length of 199 inches, or 16 feet 7 inches. That's the only way I know of to get this information.

Just wish I could find headlights for my 1928 526!

[quote]
Don Shields wrote:
Regarding finding the overall length of the car, I haven't been able to find any overall dimensions anywhere on prewar Packards either. It looks like they just didn't publish dimensions



Don,

I found my 37 - 115C's dimentions on <http://www.classiccardatabase.com/>, however I'm not sure if they list the information for other years and models.

Bob

rrhorton, try Richard at White Glove (608-780-8229). In fact, it looks like he has a pair on ePay right now...<br /><br />http://www.ebay.com/itm/Drum-Lights-Packard-/221775683126?hash=item33a2dc5e36&vxp=mtr<br /><br />If that doesn't work, you could always have Brass Auto make you a pair (www.brassauto.com). Both solutions are very expensive, but what in this hobby isn't?

Went to NAPA and they have the 6V bulb that should fit. Had to wait for it to come from the warehouse (one day) and will post final results once it's in.

Gangster,
Thanks for letting me know about that website. I hopscotched through the 1930's Packards and found that the database begins to list overall lengths with the 1937 model year. For earlier models they just give the wheelbase. It's a great site though and I'm glad I've been made aware of it.

Got the bulbs and they work, although I don't think they are as bright as the other one. They'll do because I don't drive the cars much at night anyway.

Also, measured the car, 15' 8" bumper to bumper.