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If you go no sidemounts, I'm assuming you need to change the springs since the car originally had sidemounts. I haven't checked the parts book to be sure. It would seem that cars with the extra weight of sidemounts would need stiffer springs.

The stiffer side mount springs would work OK without the mounts but give a stiffer ride. Adding side mounts to the standard springs is a bigger problem

You lose the chance for mirrors on the side mount covers, but I don’t find them terribly useful

After a few metal patches, it will be blasted and epoxy primed.

Color me as a vote for no sidemounts. By 1940, I think they look dated.

Same here, especially on a coupe as they make it look front-heavy.

I’d advise keeping the side mounts and covers, just don’t carry any tires in them. During the war, you were only allowed to carry one spare because rubber was in such demand for military vehicles. A support arm was made to put in the well and secure the cover over an empty spare fender well. There might be a picture of one in the service letters during early 1940s. Someone here may know.
Now that Diamondback is making 700x16 wide whitewalls, the covers go on as they should. The problem was putting 700 covers over 750 tires. 160 coupes look great with side mounts. What’s funny is that people don’t expect that there are actually spare tires under the covers. They think they’re for looks. It’s not a pimpmobile. It’s a Packard.
I think that support piece would be a great club project moneymaker.

I answered my own question.
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/SC/SL-VOL16NO22.pdf
Also there is a thread titled sidemounts

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... ?post_id=226531&keywords=sidemounts