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Good comparison photo. They would have been better off staying with stainless than going to chrome. I found a set of '56 Executive bezels in my spare parts and they are big, two-piece with white striping similar to the seniors. So, three different type bezels in '56 looks like. One must ponder why they went to chrome in '56.

Craig, email on the way!

OK, I have compared the posted picture with my bezels and see that the '56s are cut much deeper at the bottom and appear to not have the recess at the top the 55s have. Obviosusly the bezels in the trunk of the car are not applicable to the car.....only took two years to determine this. But then I found a fender trim piece for one side that was too short, so not all the parts in the trunk have worked on getting the car back together. Thanks for all the help. This is a good sight to get quick help on.

I've printed the picture and will head out in a little while and compare to those I have.

The bezels I have indeed are one-piece without a backing plate. I'll take a jpeg and post this evening.

OK, thanks guys. That sure explains it. I thought sure the parts book even indciated they were the same. I am going to have to really study this because I removed one of the bezels from my '55 Clipper Super and it "almost" will go on the '56, but when I compare the bezels side by side , I cannot discern a difference. The ones on ny '55 Super as well as the ones that were in the trunk of this '56 CC are all stainless without any kind of paint or grooves or anything. I knew the seniors and juniors were different and even the Executive I think. Thanks Craig, for the offer. I am going to try and verify this afternoon or tomorrow.

OK, it indeed has been a long project on this '56 Clipper Custom, and I am trying to complete the arduous task and have run into a problem installing the headlight bezels. The bezels were in the tunk of the car when acquired. They do not seem to fit. They look identical to those on my '55 Clipper Super which do fit that car and "almost" fit this '56 CC. The parts book shows same bezel for '55 and '56 Clippers. Is that true? The Patricians have the white stripes, the Executive is also distinct. We have tried for quite some time now to get these all-stainless bezels on and they just will not configure. It's almost like the healdight bucket assembly needs to be moved up, but it has not been removed from the car ever near as we tell. Are the '55 and '56 bezels the same?

Bill, of course this particular pump mod is performed by at least a couple of folks out there and is some times referred to as the oil pump "vacuum delete" mod wherein the vacuum portion of the pump is replaced by a plate. While it may be lengthy on discussions, if you do a search on this site under Packard, you can find some detail disussions wihtin the last two years about this oil pump mod. There are those that swear by it and those that stand by the original factory type if rebuilt properly. I am sure some other folks will come on here shortly and open up this discussion again. When I inquired to PI over a year and a half ago, I believe someone told me over a hundred of the modified pumps had been sold over quite a few years, so they have been doing that modification for some time.

Here is a small database set up by a region of the SDC giving part number and source, although some of these may be "modern" part numbers and not directly cross reference to the originals. Kaiser and Hudson have similar databases set up, but Studebaker seems to be the most extensive set up with parts and parts sources of any of the orphans cars. http://www.georgiastudebaker.com/interchange.htm

More recently, these below. Both Virginia, so may be same place. Item location: Glen Allen, Virginia thehotrodgirl 1956 Packard Tail light Lenses This is a super repro of the original. These lenses are very popular for hot rods, and street rods. Customize yours with the super style of the 56 Packard tail light lenses. Fixed price buys 1 pair of lenses. Your choice of the Red or Clear. Please specify your choice of color when paying. 2 pairs are available. Please email ebay@thehotrodgirl.com

I purchased a pair each of taillight lenses and backup light lenses July last year. The guy's name is Wayne.....I forget the last name. I first saw him down at Daytona Turkey Rod Run a few years ago where I had him make me up a couple of steering wheel spinners with my own logos. 2484165062 56 PACKARD TAIL LIGHT LENSES 1 US $100.00 2484166076 56 PACKARD BACK UP LIGHT LENSES 1 US $100.00

Brian, this was back last year when they were on ebay; at that time he had a plentiful supply. Now these were for the Clipper and Executive which are different size from the senior cars. King of Dice 12 Hazelwood Dr Urbanna, Va 23175 P: (804)758-0776 F: (804)758-0791 www.kingofdice.com

Will edit for details later, but the ignition points for the '41 Packard are same as for some mid 50s Nash which I have the NAPA & CarQuest number for.

I'll have to read the thread below relative to the database and if that is doing the some thing or some of the same thing, I can go back and delete this thread. I haven't frequented the site recently other than a casual looksee because I've just been too darn busy keeping things rolling (and stopping when they need to).

I've seen a few suggestions the cross ref. index started by Keith be expanded to other years. Since the '55-56 one has gotten to be quite long, why don't we start another for other years, say, e.g., '41-'54. Since I have both a '41 and a '53 I can start out with the '41 just from what I remember. I can fill in actual part numbers later when I can get to my data books. '41 Packard OverDrive Solenoid same as '46-47 Hudson OverDrive Solenoid and both are pusher types.

This is good news since I have both Packards and a'57 Hudson. Wheel cylinders: From ebay, front wheel cylinders. The cylinder has a 1 1/8 bore and is manufactured in the USA. The cylinder fits the following applications: 1955 Hudson 35540,Wasp; 35560, 35580, Hornet 1956-1957 Hudson 35640, 35650, Wasp; 35660, 35680, 35780 Hornet 1951-1956 Packard all exc. commercial & ambulance

The bezels are the price driver. The lenses are readily available from several sources for $100/pair. No one reproduces the bezels, although a guy I bought both tail and backup lenses from last year was thinking about it, but I've heard nothing since then. Rechrome is pricey, takes many months now from any chrome shop I've used or heard about and results not always that great.

Those have been in Hemmings for quite a few months now. NO taillights are worth that kind of money.

1953 Packard Clipper Deluxe. I have one on my '53 (the car on the left side in the photo) exactly like it, rechromed about 8 years ago.

By the way, this same type generic hood pad I intalled on my '54 Kaiser in '94 and it's still hanging in there, looking nice and I have not had to reapply any adhesive. As mentioned above, the surface must be clean and oil/dirt/grease free.

Well, I use some 3M type spray adhesive.....black can, high temperature I got at Home Depot or Lowes. I didn't remove my hood. I had a spare I used to cut my pattern, then after applying the hood insulation onto the adhesive, I used some wooden props to ehlp hold it in place until it set.

OK, unless one is very picky about total originality, here is a source for a hood pad. I have already cut mine to shape for the '56 Clipper Custom hood and used the same type on my two '55 Packards; both '55 hood pads have been on over 5 years and still look fine and are holding fine. www.1aautomotive.com 1A Auto 10 Laomar Park Drive, Unit 6 Pepperell, Ma. 01463 M-Th 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM Fr 9-5:30 Sat. 10-2 PM (EST) 888-844-3393. You just order the "GENERIC" 48x65" hood insulation. $28 + $8 S&H = $36. It is grey (black on the side you spray the 3M or similar adhesive on to install). This source has an ebay # of over 64499

That is my thoughts and why, so far at least, have not worried about it on the '57 Hudson which just has the valve portion removed and a straight constant flow-thru of vacuum. I am a little "amazed" no one has ever mentioned any problems associated with this valve's material deterioration and plugging the line......that is what we thought initially and why we pulled it off and examined it.

The vacuum check valve fitting that attaches to the rear of the carburetor (with a T-fitting for the vacuum wipers) for those Packard with Treadlvacs....anyone knoiw of a source. Anyone even think about these fittings? On the Hudsons a similar fitting exists but it screws right into the manifold in front of the carburetor rather than the back of the carburetor. Pull one of those off sometime and take a looksee....on the one I examined, there is some sort of rubbery type material (the valve?) that is subect to wear. On my Hudson, the internal guts of the valve (the rubber substance and a little spring) are gone, but the Treadlvac breaks work ok. I think the only reason for the check valve is to keep from sucking brake fluid into the engine...but that can happen (been there experienced that) if the T/V diaphragm lets go. But, curious, is there a source for those check valves?

See '55-'56 cross reference thread above started by Keith Lumus and contains a whealth of data on parts for '55-56 Packards but there may be other years thrown in as well.