Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Quick update on my '52 300 before the questions. The front and rear suspension has been stripped and rebuilt. As has the whole brake system. The engine has been given an initial once over and is up and running relatively smoothly (although two of the freeze plugs rusted through, so they all got replaced). It still has some lifter noise, but I'm hoping MMO will take care of that - the engine has been run for less than an hour at this point after sitting idle for a long time. The car now stops and drives - and can drive out of the garage under its own power.

I'm just about to start fixing the rusted out floor pans. I've removed the front seats, which I've concluded aren't original to this car, as the bolt pattern doesn't match the original holes.

Under the front seat were the remnants of what appear to be two metal wings, coming off of the transfer tunnel. You can see them here in BigKev's picture. In my car they appear to have been cut off about 6" from the tunnel.

Seat Wings Image

I'm not sure what these are for. Are they structural to the real front seat?

Looking at the limited replacement floor panels that are available, they don't appear to include this part. Not knowing what it actually is and does, I'm not sure if I need to fabricate it or not.

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

JB

I've always through they were footrests and act as a deflector for the rear seat heater

Not footrests but they are diffusers or vents for the under-seat heater and we’re on all of the Packards of the era whether the option was ordered or not. That way the dealer could add it if needed.

Thanks for the info. That makes sense - I thought it looked like air vents. I wasn't aware there was an under seat blower.

JB

Unless things have drastically changed, sadly the sheet metal after market parts out there aren't good nor correct. Stuck making, if you're able to.
I guess there's not enough demand to improve things.