Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Simpilicity. Less can be more when it comes to mechanicals, as any experienced engineer will tell you.

firedome wrote:
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<p>Then buy pretty much any other mid-50s car.</p>

<p>A 1955 Clipper is not the prettiest 1955 car made, that's for sure, although I happen to like them.</p><p>If one is going to buy a 1955-56 Packard, then T-L is one of the major features that differentiates a Packard from anything else. Otherwise, just buy a Ford or a Chevy.</p>
<p>Craig</p>

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Agreed. Or stick with the '57 and up Mopars with their half-a$$ed Torsion suspension...


The thing that makes the V8 Packard unique is the suspension. Without it, it's just another '50s car, IMHO. Also IMHO, they should have had the T/L at least as far back as '51, if not earlier. One of these days I might retrofit a T/L chassis under my '48..... The 2" difference between my '48 and a '56 Clipper won't be that hard to hide.

The T/L suspension was as simple in principal as a coil sprung car, and as reliable and trouble free, especially when compared to the air suspension monsters Cadillac made after T/L debuted.
Someone in 1955 might have thought it unproven and gone with coils and leafs, but that would be their loss. The only real problems with T/L cars beyond corrections with links is electrical, and people today are as lost on thiis as they were in '55-'56, preferring to bodge up the electrics bringing it down to their level instead of understanding what the manufacturer was doing.

Well said, John.

What blows my mind is that rebuilt and even new replacement compensator control boxes for these cars can often be had for much less than the retail price of a comparable part used with the ALC systems of many late model cars. Yet, there have been plenty of people who succesfully took the T-L control box apart on their own for cleaning and adjustment.

55th Series limit switches are available, and you've commented on how to repair the hard-to-find 56th Series limit switches. Haven't the solenoids also been sourced out to modern replacments?

It's when these T-L cars have been neglected and run without the required repairs that people get into the most trouble.

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You mean like this guy is doing? See post #22.

LMAO, sorry JT, I couldn't resist!

Apparently Packard frames/chassis has not changed all that much. There was advertised in Missouri a few years ago a 1947 Clipper body mounted on a 55 Caribbean chassis. He wanted $1500.00 for it.

Randy, that's interesting. Looking at the frame diagrams it doesn't look like it would be too easy to do.

I prefer the TL, and to me it's THE prime attraction of the 55/56s, along with the V-8 and great styling, but obviously this gentleman prefers a car without it for whatever reason, to each his own. That the non-TL car would have less issues is undeniable, no matter how technically superior TL may be, and, I was speculating, may be his reason for that particular preference.

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Thanks to everyone for your comments. It seems the jury is still out on whether there were any Custom Clippers made without the T-L suspension. I am sure we have all learned something from this exchange.

I agree the T-L system was far advanced over what other marques were offering at the time. However, now, 55 years later, the V-8 forum is full of people looking for help in trying to solve problems with their T-L systems. Problems caused by use, weather, exposure, wear, and abuse over the past one-half century. The main system seems to be superior to conventional coil and leaf spring systems, but the load leveling part is the trouble maker.

I wish to have a nice V-8 Packard without having to hassle with the load leveling. I would also prefer a car without the T-U, but I can tolerate this. The Easamatic brake system is also problem prone, but is fixable and/or can be replaced with a non-boosted brake system. The car will be lightly used so traversing railroad crossings at high speed will probably not be part of the driving experience. Thanks again for everyone's comments.

(o {I} o)

P.S. One poster made a reference to people of this generation who do not like the T-L system, or words to that effect. I don't know if my generation is the one to which he was referring, but I will celebrate my 70th birthday in February. Take care, all.