Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

The shipment arrived at my house yesterday. Stay tuned for the results of my inspections of the materials.

These are the instructions I wrote so far on installing the conduits. It looks like a lot but this is doable in an afternoon, with no real sweat or tears, IMHO.

For sedans, unscrew the 2 tiny screws at the front of the front door window frame as well as the 2 screws holding the divider piece in place on the rear window frame, on both sides. Lift out the rear dividers then remove the rest of the window frame screws and lift out the frames. The frames slot into the door metal so they are usually a little stuck. By wiggling the frame and pinching it in towards the center of the door where it hangs up, it can be easily removed and lifted off the door.

For hardtops, unscrew the tiny screw at the front of the door windowsill piece, then unscrew the rest of the screws holding it on, on both sides. Be careful to not lose the special countersink washers. Lift off the windowsill.

Press the door card in, near the door handle, to create clearance to access the door handle retainer. Insert a thin flathead screwdriver (approx. 1/8” wide blade works well) behind the door handle. Be VERY CAREFUL that the screwdriver is going between the door handle and the escutcheon, not between the escutcheon and the large trim plate (front doors) or door card itself (rear doors / Deluxe all doors). Press the release tab while pulling and wiggling the door handle to remove it. Repeat on all doors.

Remove the door card screws holding the large trim plate to the door on the front of the front doo (N/A on Deluxe), and the two screws at the rear of the rear door card. Starting at the top rear corner, use a nylon trim tool or butter knife and run the tool behind the door card until a clip is encountered, then gently pry the clip out of the hole. To prevent creasing the door card, it may be necessary to pry on both the top and 2nd clip, pulling the second clip partway out, while pulling the top clip fully out, and continuing in sequence. Unclip the rest of the door card in this manner. When the card comes off, pull the wiring connector off the back of the power window switch. Repeat on all doors.

Photograph the wiring arrangement on both the driver and passenger switch for later reference. Remove the small screw(s) holding the back cover plate onto the connector body. Lift out the wiring connectors and bend the wires so that they are reasonably straight. Unplug the window motor wires: for the yellow wire, hold the wire on the MOTOR side while gripping the connector, to separate; for the black, hold the wire on the HARNESS side while gripping the connector. If applicable, unplug the power lock wire. Repeat on all doors.

Unscrew the 3 (most) or 4 (Caribbean) screws holding on the kick panels (the trim panels on the sides of the inside of the car, under the dash). Lift off the kick panels. (For reassembly, apply DAP Weldwood Landau Top Adhesive or similar to the rear of the panel before attaching. Follow the instructions on the can; generally you should apply it, screw the piece on very soon and press around the piece to transfer some adhesive to the body, then come back after a few minutes after the adhesive becomes tacky, and press the panels into place.)

For sedans, remove the reading light switch on the B-pillar. Starting near the top, pry at the side of the trim enough to see the clips which hold it on. Use a butter knife to press on each side of the clip to see which one is the springy side. Compress the clip in this manner and gently pull the trim away from the body. Repeat for the other clips. Repeat on the other side.

Remove the clamps holding the old rubber conduit on. Remove the conduit and harness as an assembly, going through the kick panel opening (B-pillar opening for sedan rear doors). Slide off the old conduit and install the new. Repeat on all doors.

Installation is reverse of disassembly. For reference, except the final paragraph above and the disaassembly/disconnection of the wiring harness connectors, and B pilllar trim removal, the flat rate book gives 1.8h for a two door; 3.0h for a four door.