Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I am a new owner of a 1955 Packard Patrician. The car sits with the front very low and the back end at a "normal" height. After looking the car over, I see 3 wires from the front end of the compensator motor (suspension) & a bracket without anything attached. I have read several links from the forum regarding this but still need a good picture. Would someone be willing to give me some direction & place a picture of your compensator motor area here for me to view? Any help is greatly appreciated!

G'day Laura55,
to PackardInfo, but sorry I can't help with your query although I'm sure someone who can will be along soon.

However I invite you to include your '55 Patrician in the Packard Owner's Registry.

Here are some photos Stewart took of his 55 setup. Not clear from your post if you just have a bracket with no electrical components attached or if you have all the components on the bracket but disconnected wires.

If you will confirm exactly what you have and if needed then we can provide some more suggestions. The control switch is a black box bolted to the frame and located a short distance away from the compensator. It will also have 3 wires going to it but the terminal placement will be different depending on if it is the original 55 or was upgraded with a later switch.

Attach file:

---

  (117.08 KB)


  (263.49 KB)


  (59.57 KB)


  (32.62 KB)

Thank you Ozstatman. I will register.

And, thank you HH56. Per your pictures, I am missing the control switch as seen in the first picture. In the second picture, there is a turnbuckle that is not attached to anything. I am unsure about it.

Attach file:

---

  (11.68 KB)


  (10.41 KB)

The turnbuckle and rod attaches between the main bar and a lever on the switch and provides the mechaniocal link so the switch knows when the car is out of level.

There is a NOS 56 switch on ebay now which was the later version and was a factory retrofit to 55s but you will need to change the wire terminals on your car to hook it up. Not hard to do and having the wires in a weather proof enclosure does help longevity. Maybe not as important on 55s because everything else electrical is exposed but there were corrosion problems with the 55 switch terminals in wet climates. In 56 almost all the TL electrical was moved or better protected.

Kanter and Max Merritt will have the switch in a reworked version which has the time delay working on modern solid state electronics instead of the original heated bimetal strip. Kanter doesn't have a website to view the item but here is Max Merritt's offering of an original 55 version which will drop right in. He doesn't mention exchange or a core charge but there may be one so without an old switch to send in his or Kanters may not be feasible.

Mike Dulinski in Minnesota (218 721-4631) or Gerry at Packards Southwest gerry@packardssouthwest.com may have used which would most likely be serviceable as is. As with all used and particularly electric items, anything approaching 70 years old may at the least need the contacts cleaned before putting in service and at the worst it might not work.

Thank you so much. I have no idea how many other questions I will have, but you have been a great help!

for including your '55 Patrician Touring Sedan in the Packard Owner's Registry.