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My 1955 Packard Caribbean has a problem and I would appreciate advise on the cause and fix. The steering wheel shaft catches the transmission shift shaft. When the steering wheel is turned, gears shift. I hope that this is not a bend shaft and can be fixed with some adjustment/alignment.

Also, would like to find out a specialist on Torsion Leveling suspension in San Jose / Bay area, northern CA.

Thank you,

Val.

The steering components are forward of the shift parts and come nowhere close so unlikely to be a linkage issue. A bit more info or a good look see to find if anything might have sagged or been bent or some kind of object caught and maybe some photos would be in order. 55 models still have a long shaft running up from the steering box to the wheel but is the first year with the shift tube surrounding the steering shaft rather than being separated. One possibility might be something has broken or fallen down inside the steering column and the steering shaft as it turns is somehow catching the shift tube causing it to turn. If that were happening I would think there would be some kind of scraping or rubbing noise but if it is, to repair may require a column removal and disassembly which is not a simple job..

What kind of problems are you having with the TL? Aside from deteriorated rubber bushings most problems today are electrical issues rather than mechanical -- although if something electrical failed or shorted and the compensator ran past limits without blowing the fuse then it becomes mechanical.

Dear Forum Ambassador,

Thank you for your previous answers and all problems with TL suspension and steering were solved.

Do you know where can I get a manual how to change timing chain 1955 Caribbean? I will not attempt to do it myself and I have found a shop to do it, but I just want to be sure that there is no specifics...

Thank you for your help!

Best regards,
Valentin.

The camshaft and chain installation is covered in the engine section of the 55-56 service manual. There is a single photo in the crankshaft instructions early in the section showing a good view of the timing marks but the detailed procedure for the camshaft and chain installation is farther into the section. They described lining up the timing marks when doing the camshaft and chain but did not reproduce the photo with the good view of the marks along with that detailed information.

If you want a repro hard printed copy of the 55-56 service manual you can order one from the Packard Club online storehttps://www.packardclub.org

If you want to download the engine section (or the entire manual) for viewing on a computer or a tablet or to print out the pertinent pages yourself, here is the link so you can download the engine only section.https://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/servicemanual5556/Sect09_Engine.pdf

The entire shop manual is in the Service, Shop and Training Manual category accessed from the literature page on this site and each section can be download individually.

The parts manual, service articles and bulletins as well as much of the factory provided sales info is also accessed in their various categories from the literature page and can be freely downloaded. Some of that info is also reproduced in hard copy and available for sale at the PAC site.

Thank you, Howard!

As you have a 55 and are already going to be working in the area, it would be easy to check and see if the camshaft thrust plate was replaced with the revised version. It was probably done when the car was new but there have been a few engines found where the original continuous oil flow plate was still in. If you are not having any oil pressure issues resulting in noisy lifters or have the Olds oil pump conversion then probably OK to leave it alone but if it is the old plate then maybe something to think about replacing. I believe Jack Vines is reproducing the revised version.

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Thank you, Howard! I will check it.

One more question... In this engine, does pistons hit valves when timing chain breaks?

No. But if you had a timing chain break, that is a very rare event and further investigation is warranted.

Thank you, Howard!

Yes, I don't think its the chain. So far we took off valve cover and when cranking the engine, none of the valve lifters move. Doesn't look like its a broken camshaft, since no lifters are moving. Tomorrow we are opening the timing chain cover and see if anything got sheered...

Thank you for your help and quick response!

Val.

I expect you will find that the arm fell off of your fuel pump and caused the chain to break.