Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I recently bought a 1956 Executive, with factory A/C, the issue is the electrical system
it has a Carter carburetor, auto lite generator, Delco Remy distributor and voltage regulator
I thought that they should all be Delco or Auto Lite not mixed.
where will I find the info as to what it was to start with
I need help
thanks
Charlie

The service manual. It's in the literature archive on your left.

These cars ran with mixed equipment with very few issues. I would highly suggest starting with the assumption that it worked in the past and needs a bit of TLC. Unless you have good reason to suspect otherwise.

Send some photos of the areas of concern, or add some detail. Otherwise the specifications to make sure that everything is good, are in the Electrical and Specifications sections of the manual. Just check that the part numbers on the units are the same as in the manual before you start changing adjustments. Again, it's best to assume that it was good at one point.

As far as development, the Executive was an almost overnight badge engineered creation. Within the space of a very short time the 56 Clipper Custom production was discontinued, a Packard front end, name and emblem along with a few senior trim items were bolted on the Custom chassis and body and the Executive was born.

Because of the way it was created almost all the mechanicals remained stock Clipper Custom so you can view most of the Executive as built specs in this service counselor. Look at the 5660 Clipper Custom chassis column. The Executive was designated the 5670 chassis and was right between Clipper and Packard. The distributor would have remained Autolite and since yours has the Carter carb probably the Clipper carb stayed too. There are some who believe the carb might have changed to a Rochester in keeping with the more upscale Packard thinking but I don't remember if there is written evidence of this..

I seem to recall an engineering or sales paper or two outlining some of the changes -- both proposed and actual. I can't remember where I saw it. Maybe in one of the books but it could be hidden somewhere in the literature archive. If not there then maybe posted by someone on the forum in a regular post. Perhaps someone with a better memory can recall if it was even on this website.

thank you both for the info, the archive was more helpful than I thought,
and the creation info was very helpful in making my car complete,
thanks to you both
Charlie

One thing to do is to check your engine number to see if it’s still the engine that came with it. The engine number should be the same as the VIN although on an Executive, I’m not sure if it was done that way or if the Clipper number was kept. On my 1956 Clipper Custom, the carburetor, filter and fuel pump are all Carter while all the electrical bits are Autolite (other than the voltage regulator which was an aftermarket replacement).

Quote:

Yes the engine numbers match on Executive cars. They were punched after the body and chassis were mated.

Thank you, good to know. The engine number is sometimes difficult to see and with factory A/C it would virtually impossible but rather than looking on the boss on top where it would be more or less under the compressor, check the front of the block just below the passenger side head. It should be stamped there too.