Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

On my 1940 120 Club Coupe, I have noticed while driving in warmer weather the hood ornament seems loose. I understand the ornament mounts through a slot and there seems to be something resembling "gorilla glue" filler was underneath the base. Is there supposed to be a filler pad of something under the hood ornament to tighten it up? I know it won't fall off but I don't want it to be so loose it could damage it.

I presume you mean that the base is loose on the grille housing rather than the ornament being loose on the base. That being the case, there was a pair large rectangular plates, one flat; the other curved, with a slot that fit over the tab on the bottom of the ornament base that kept it firmly in place while allowing easy removal by loosening the hood's center strip and sliding it back. The base could then be slid rearward by a small amount, then lifted off. The curved plate acted as a spring to keep the base snug while another small cast piece at the rear keyed into a slot to retain it there. Regardless of which of the three ornaments you have, the bottom mounting is the same as shown here on this image from a eBay listing of the bail type.

You are correct about the base being loose to the connection to the car. So this block under the ornament that snugs up on the underneath side of the slot to the metal cowl of the car, is it rubber, wood, plastic?
I'm assuming it will need to be replaced.
That is definitely what is loose to the connection to the metal cowl section.

It's not a block but rather it's two pieces of steel as I said. One is flat and acts as a pressure point for the curved piece under it which acts as a spring. If you enlarge the photo I posted on something other than a phone, it will show it relatively clearly.

I found another picture from another angle to see the rounded piece on top of the flat piece. So no rubber there at all - just metal on metal?
I'll have to remove the ornament to see if all the pieces are there. Thanks for the info.

Yes, metal to metal and the plates are probably spring steel for durability.