Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Hello Don

I just saw the thread you contributed to on this topic some years ago on the AACA website. This describes the factory manual raise/lower kit.

My switch does not look the same as that, but does operate the same way. It also operates independently of the Torsion Level on/off switch. I wonder whether it was added when the car was built right hand drive. Clearly done by someone who understood how the Torsion Level control system works.

Sounds like there's another (factory) version of this in your car, with a momentary raise/lower switch wired independently of the on/off switch circuit.

An alternative of course is to run to the rear of the car, do your Mr Atlas impersonation and heave it up, then run back to the cabin before it has time to lower again and turn the Torsion Level on/off switch off. Makes me tired just thinking about it.

Sounds like you potentially have a better solution with your switch.

Cheers

Brian

No, I don't have a manual switch in mine and not sure I need it. I do have a large red jeweled light on the far left next to the parking brake that I had always thought was added later but based on what Howard said maybe it belongs there!

It is kind of interesting to see how many versions or types of manual switches have been added over the years. Some installed correctly with limit switches in the circuit per the factory diagram so there can be no damage and others just any which way with hope and faith the only prevention keeping the transverse bars from wrapping around the compensator body.

The under dash emergency brake light warning lights I can remember have had a stamped bracket painted black and a little over 1" wide and maybe 1 1/2 tall with smooth and sort of rounded bent over edges maybe 1/8 wide. The metal edges were sort of straight back and not folded so far they were flat to the rear of the bracket.

For the sake of discussion here is the factory TL manual switch option.

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I installed this switch on Best Other and it always baffles spectators at the cruise