Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

The speedometer glass in my '55 400 has cracked (broken). Any tips on how to replace it and where to get a new one?

You will need to remove the entire cluster from the dash. All of the glass is held by a retainer ring which is in turn held in the cluster by bent over tabs on the front of the cluster. Straighten the tabs to remove the retainer ring and glass from the cluster then remove the glass from the retainer.

As to finding a new piece I suspect it will be buying a cluster off a parts car if you want original. That being said, it appears the glass is an ordinary flat glass circle with a hole in the middle. If you have your old piece and it is still good enough for a pattern you can probably have one made at a glass shop.

Getting the center piece back in the new glass may take some ingenuity. There is a small pin that looks delicate and appears to be part of the cast center piece. On the end of the pin is a plastic grommet like piece which actually goes in the hole in the glass. The pin appears to be either peened over to retain the plastic or maybe the plastic was molded over the pin. At any rate the peened over part needs to be removed so the plastic can come off the pin and then replaced on the pin once the center piece is on the glass. Depending on how it comes apart glue might be needed to hold things together in the new glass.

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Thanks for all the details. Not as easy as I had hoped. I haven't removed the entire cluster before and that part looks to be a monumental task and to get everything back into place. Working on the cluster itself looks relatively easy.

If you pull the speedometer glass and find a replacement, try to find one where the central bezel is intact and you do not have to try to glue the piece in place. That “ washer” that holds it will probably break ….mine did.
I used a small dab of clear silicone to hood the thing in place.
I reassembled the speedometer and put everything back in place….and discovered the speedometer no longer worked. Pulled it all back out and discovered that the silicone protruded too far….contacted the needle.
There is not much clearance.
Maybe this tip can save you a few hours. LOL
Mike Deilinski May have the glass without buying a whole unit but not a bad idea to have the other pieces .
RJR

The center chrome piece "stud" is actually threaded and the nylon? washer on the back side that retains it spins on/off like a nut. I got mine off using some WD-40, some patience using my fingers. Broke some fingernails though, but did get it off. The gauges are tougher. Had to replace it as my original was pitted due to moisture in the car. Good old Caribbean hardtop! I took my dash completely out as I am installing a factory air system. In addition, had to have the top pad redone and bottom repainted.