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I am in the process of restoring a 55 Patrician. I find that the rear universal joint has been badly damaged and needs to be replaced with a complete new unit. The joint looks very ordinary (unlike the front universal), does this unit cross reference with one I can order from Napa?

I think you're going to have to take the old into a store and measure it. There seems to be some variation. Another x-ref site says it's a Napa 304. I have a NOS Wesco N3012G from an original Packard dealer labeled as for 55-56 senior. It crosses to 531G. As you can see from the specs, there is a bit of inconsistency. Am not totally believing the old dealer markings however.

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G'day Chuck,

See you already have a '56 Pat in the Owner Registrypackardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/registry/View.php?ID=20
Could you include the '55 Pat in the Registry as well please?

When doing the mechanicals on my '55 Pat, I took the original to a local NAPA store and compared it to the NAPA 304. The one out of my car was a significantly larger version of the NAPA 304 and the 304 would not serve. I was about to leave town at the time and hadn't time to chase parts so telephoned Sandy Chirco at Tucson Packard, told him what I needed (a rear u-joint for a '55 Patrician) and when I returned from my business trip an identical (new, remanufactured, ??) serviceable one was waiting for me. I don't remember what it cost but it was the right one and has been functioning properly for a couple of years of daily driving. I think that the NAPA 304 is for juniors but am not certain. There's probably a cross match (from the difference in sizes between the larger one that fit and the NAPA 304, I'd tend to suspect that the cross match might be with some light truck or other) but I've never been able to find it.

There have been several times that I've had to buy two u-joints to get one that will work. Buy one with the right size cross, but the caps are too small, so I have to buy another one that's a smaller cross but has bigger caps. Put bigger caps on larger cross, and presto, you have the correct u-joint. I've done this quite a lot when it comes to older cars.

I'm not ready to put the 55 Patrician in the registry. A little background, I bought the car in Georgia about two years ago. The previous owner had purchased it 25 years before, totally disassembled it and quit. So far my partner and I have removed the body from the frame (very little rust) and put it back. We have rebuilt the engine (20 thousands over and PI rebuilt oil pump) and are slowly reassembling it. When finished I will sen pictures. Gray and white originally, it will be solid dark green when finished.

Quote:
Chuck for the background info on the '55 Patrician. With the Owner Registry "You can add your Packard to this Roster and even come back an edit it later." So it can cater to car/s as progress is made through restoration. I look forward to seeing the '55 in the Registry whenever you are ready to do so.

Chuck,
Please consider starting a Project Blog of your 55 restoration in the Forum-Project Blog section of this website. The progress can be shared. And guys are always helping out with great knowledge and comments on your questions about restoration.

Big Kev's Blog is one example of the many really great restoration blogs on PackardInfo that we have been able to watch, comment, and applaud. He started with a list of problems and has over 400 entries on there now. (see link below).

I know it sounds 'like more work' (which you have enough of) but, for all that you and your friend are doing, it is worth sharing, recording and preserving.

THIS WEBSITE IS NOT JUST ABOUT SHINY, SHOWY, FINISH JOBS.
It is all about PACKARDS!!!

Link to Project Blogs (in Forums section)

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewforum.php?forum=10

Link to Big Kev's Blog:
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... flat&order=ASC&type=&mode=0&start=0

DanL

Chuck,

Here is a thread that Big Kev moved into the Blog section for a member last December. He could do the same for you with this thread.

What ya' think?

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... 18694&topic_id=1980&#forumpost18694

DanL