Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I decided to try to make a new glovebox. My 400 needs one and I think a color-matching one would be interesting. This is what I was able to do, though I am fighting a lot of tolerance stackup from tracing an unfolded original glovebox. But this was meant only as a practice run anyway.

Held together with speed nuts and pop rivets. Just trying different things and seeing the difficulty. Speed nuts are a lot easier.

If I ever sell these it will probably be an "assemble yourself" situation. But that is not very soon.

Any ideas for where to get some proper cardboard stock? I have thought about using particleboard, but it can't be folded without breaking, essentially.

First picture is the original.

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Someone is/was already making these but apparently not the shallower one used in factory A/C cars. As the plan is to install that into my 1956, Clipper, I could use one.

Suggetion on glove box liner make the depth a little less than OEM will be a lot easier to install and remove if the need should arise. If need to work on radio or wiper cables the glove stock box is a a pain. Just my opinion

Thanks guys, yup the length is easily customizable.

Don do you have a dimension for the depth of the factory A/C one?

No, I didn’t know they were different until you or maybe someone else here mentioned it recently.

As to material, I used the card stock you use for door panels on mine for my '37. It is very close to the original in my case. I laminated the interior material to it to match, not original as they were just black faced like the card stock, but it shows the flexibility of the medium.
In this instance, all the assembly uses staples like the original and the card stock took it very well.
Bob J.

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Thanks, where do you get such card stock? My local craft store had nothing like it.

You are right, this is not a typical stationary purchase. My local Apple Auto Glass does upholstery work so I had them order sheets for me. I am sure there is an upholstery shop by you that can either order it in or give you the name of their supplier. I think they are about 4'x4', at a cost of around $20 (CDN) each retail.
Bob J.

Out of several vendors who used to offer them on ebay I only see a couple now but I think they just have the standard boxes. Here is one of them. I believe Ron Carpenter also still makes the boxes but AFAIK, he has not offered his on ebay. No idea where you can find the thinner cardboard with the prefinished gray flock like interior in a one or two sheet quantity -- or even in bulk for that matter -- but I sure wish you luck. All my upholstery guy could provide was much thicker-- the stuff used for door panels. Since he dealt only with cars in his catalogs maybe the other stuff is available thru regular furniture upholstery shops.

When I needed and could not find the approximately 1 inch shorter box Packard provided for a car with factory AC I decided to make my own. I first tried photo framing MAT board which I bought at a combination frame and crafts shop but it also was slightly thicker than the original material and was a chipboard like stuff. Like you said, quite a project trying to get the bends to not tear. I finally abandoned that and with steam and use of a sheet metal brake and many tries I managed to finally get something mostly satisfactory using the door panel stuff. Not as much tearing but wrinkles on the inside fold was the issue with that material. Once the box was made came the flocking to duplicate the original factory finish. That was another fun project so if you can find the proper finished cardboard like the ebay vendor uses you would be so much ahead.

Because the AC takes up most of the under dash space I also decided near the end of the project to make it easier to install and remove the box. I modified one of the finished pieces so the back is removable. Once the box is unscrewed from the dash the back can be released and removed. By leaving the top unstapled but flaps still firmly held by the screws to the dash, after the back is out the sides can be collapsed inward and box folded so the smaller form can be tilted a bit to go in and out via the glovebox door opening rather than trying to maneuver a large rectangle around the radio and AC components.

For inspiration for you to do much better, here is a photo of a few of my early attempts and rejects and what looks like maybe one original box. For some reason I still have them piled in a corner of my junk room.

My local Joann Fabrics just happened to have faux suede I the clearance section which is what I used. The splotchiness is from the 3M Trim Adhesive soaking through. (Basically the same as Landau Top Adhesive.) I should have used Super 77 or something instead. Aside from that mistake it's very nice. Also I should try to dye it...

I can't really beat $56 on eBay if the quality is there. Just the cost of materials is $20+ to do it my way. I should ask him if he can make ones that aren't as deep.