Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Hello all! I was wondering and serching both the forums here and the general internet on how to remove the badges on the 55-56 Senior tail lights. Specifically, i have a nice new set of gold "V"'s for my 55 Patrician and would like to jnstall them, hopefully without having to remove the tail light assembly? Anky help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you

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I can't think of any way to remove the "V" or the hexagon without removing the taillight assembly. I removed my 56 taillights and disassembled them to have them rechromed.

Thanks for the response Randy! I saw pictures of the rear of the tail light assembly and didnt see any screws or nuts holding the badges on from the rear so my thought was it could br removed from the front.

The emblems are most likely held on with speednuts. Packard was very fond of these two types -- the rectangular (sometimes they are circular) push on flat variety and the tubular type. If you need new ones Restoration Specialty has them for various diameter studs. No idea what size the emblems use.

If Randy says the light has to be removed it most likely has a thru hole and uses the flat type. Those can sometimes be a pain to remove but I have had good luck with a small screwdriver slipped under the tangs to bend them away to release from the stud. If they are deeply recessed and a screwdriver won't work well due to the angle, a scribe tool with a 90 degree bend also works to get under the tang and lift it away.

Tubular types are used in places where there is no rear access. Those are also a pain and there is no way I know of to pre-release the tangs on them. Fortunately, unlike the flat type, the tangs on the tubulars are generally very small and usually will give with some pressure but that is not a given.

One thing to be very careful about is prying on the emblems and trying to pull the studs out of a tight retainer without trying to release the tangs. The studs are pot metal and are delicate. Particularly if the flat type is used they won't take a lot of pulling stress without breaking off the emblem.

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After some visual recon at Hershey, I can definitely tell they are held on by speed nuts. Now my next question would be do you need to remove the bumper ends in order to remove the tail light assembly?

Depends on how the rear bumper assb is adjusted or if it has been hit in the rear. One bumper iron bolt on each side is eccentric. it brings the rear of the assembly up or down.

Try the adjustments to see if there's clearance

See shop manual

I have removed the tail-light assembly without removing the bumper. Trust me, it is easier to remove the bumper. The extra time required is minimal and it can be done by one person. Be careful removing the speed nuts so that you don't break the die-cast pins to which they are attached. Also be careful that there may be some type of fastener on one of the top screws that hold the tail-light casting in place.