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For the later year Packards it seems that they prefixed standard hardware part numbers with "G". I was going through the data on these and here are some highlights:

G161348 (a #4-24 X 1/2 self tapping screw) has the longest models list for one specific application. Used on the "ELECTRICAL-DOME LIGHT - DOME LIGHT ASSEMBLY" on "2276-77-80-86; 2362-65-72-82-85-92-95; 2452-62-65-72-92-95-98; 2552-62-65-72-92-95; 2650-51-52-62-65-72-92-95-97; 5450-51-52-62-65-72-92-95-97".

The largest group number so far is 30.82494313, the "HYDRAULIC SYSTEM - PLATE-PUMP BOTTOM" on the 48-54 cars. A sub-part of the 30.82494 pump.

The longest application name is G110347: "STEERING-POWER STEERING CONTROL VALVE - LUBRICATOR FITTING-CONTROL VALVE TO PITMAN ARM BALL STUD". The shortest is a 4 way tie of 4 letter words: "bulb, prop, door, stud".

The longest complete names are "G115704 RADIATOR GRILLE AND SPLASHER - MOULDING-RADIATOR FRONT FENDER FRONT SCREW 5/16-18 X 1, CENTER AND LOWER MOULDINGS TO REINFORCEMENT 2262-65-70-71-72-75-76-77-79-80-82-86-92-93-95; 2362-65-92-95" and "G145417 DOORS-FRONT DOOR WINDOW - MOULDING ASSY-WINDOW FINISHING SCREW #8 X 5/8 2452-62-65-72-92-95-98; 2552-62-65-72-92-95; 2613-33-50-51-52-62-65-72-92-95-97; 5413-33-50-51-52-62-65-72-82-85-92-95-97".

IDK, it's just curious what you find digging into stuff sometimes.

If you’re looking at the Factory Parts List, the part name is far longer than it was in the original printed book because it is a blend of both the group name and the part name. On my Packard / IMPERIAL page which uses the same data (1948-1954 only), those are shown separately and in a simulation of the printed book but here, the database has fewer columns so for it to make some sense, it was necessary to merge a couple fields which did indeed make them quite long.

I can’t speak for the G parts with any certainty but I seem to recall in going through the data while proofing it that those items were hardware that had the same part numbers for many years back so it would be my guess that it was a leftover from an earlier numbering system.

I remember in one of the articles an author said a G part stood for general and was typically a common hardware item Packard bought in bulk. The majority of the G listed parts also appear in the utility section found in most parts books as does many non G part numbers of ordinary items from earlier days. The utility section usually has all the pertinent specs so a common item could be sourced separately by a dealer if desired.

Interesting, I notice the "Utility" section in the V8 parts manual.

Not sure about the early or big senior models since they have a different manual format but I think for mass production models the 42 conventional body and the two Clipper parts books are the only ones that do not have a utility section. Most of the general items used on those models are common to earlier conventional body cars and rely on the utility section in the 35-41 manual.

Was trying to remember which article mentioned parts and the G designation. I think it was in an article explaining some of the things Packard and Studebaker were doing in an effort to consolidate their parts and service divisions. Apparently Studebaker had a more modern or resilient numbering system that could be expanded or maybe some early automation so Packard was in the process of changing their numbering system to work with Studebakers. That was the reason for the slow rollout but well in progress by 56 change to the 7 digit 648xxxx numbering system.

Nice, I noticed the 6xxxxxx numbers for most 56 parts.

Do you know if there's any type of pattern to the part number system? I assume they started at 100000 so did they just have circa 380,000 parts by the 55 model year?

I don't know much about non 50's parts.

The "G" prefix first appeared in the 1948-54 parts list and a copy is available in that list under the literature archive.
It does not appear under the Factory Parts List tab.

Been a lot of years and wish I could remember more of the specifics or where and when the article appeared. The G was not really explained as to what prompted the earlier addition just that G was general use common hardware related items not specific to a car or model.

On the parts renumbering, Studebaker was already using numbers starting with 0 and 1 but in a slightly different format with dashes separating some of the numbers. The decision was Stude would keep using up thru 5 and Packard would start 6 onward. I don't know or remember if it said if there is or was any kind of differentiation planned for the numbers after the 6.