New Driver Questions

[Guest Rojo22]

Well I drove the 55 Constellation off the trailer Saturday, got it in the driveway, and started writing down the list of things I need to clean and repair before the car show in May. While looking through the car I noticed a few things, and have a few questions.

1. There are TWO foot switches at the drivers left foot. I surmise one of these is for the bright lights, although I have not confirmed that, but the second one has got me guessing. What is the second switch used for?

2. The gear selection indicator for the car shows a L for again I am guessing here, a low gear, and then there is a D with an arrow before the D and an arrow after the D. Both arrows are small, but I guess they indicate a selection. Any help here in determining what they mean would be appreciated.

3. There is a selection "knob" for a rear fan speed. It is a selector that can be set at low, medium and high. Wondering where this fan is?

4. Removal of the back seat. Is this like most of the seats I have removed, and has a set of holders on the front that you can liberate by pushing the bottom of the seat back?

5. Anyone had any luck in a cleaning product for leather/vinyl that is safe for WHITE??? I have a situation where the vinyl has molded a little, and I want to clean it real well and then put some protector on it. It has to be safe for WHITE though.

I appreciate any help.

[WCraigH]

1. Don't know...

2. "arrow" to right of "D", next to "L" is gear start, then upshift to torque converter. To the left is torque converter-only start. In both cases, the converter should lock up direct somewhere above 18mph, depending on load.

3. Underseat heater blower motor control. The heater is located under the P-side front bench seat.

4. Push up the front of the bottom rear seat over retainers, then slide forward and out . Unbolt bottom retaining bolts, then push the rear seat back up to clear retainers.

5. I've used Turtle Wax Emerald Series Leather cleaner and conditioner on the white leather of my 1972 Eldorado with good results, but I can't say how it would work on vinyl.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

There was another thread, within the last year, about a second foot switch, but I couldn't find it. If I remember correctly, there were many ideas about what it was for but don't think there was a definate solution. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I use 'Greased Lightning' for cleaning vinyl upholstery. It really kills the mold. It's a multipurpose cleaner that can be used many places.

[MBL]

Could the extra switch be an automatic station change for the radio. I seem to remember something like that on a Nash I had.

Tim

MBL

[Guest bkazmer]

Vinyl and leather don't necessarily "like" the same stuff. For white vinyl, a friend suggested going to a boating equipment store ( boats still use white vinyl) - there was very good cleaners.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Yes, I remember that the previous thread got several votes for it being a radio selector. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (An option for the 'Wonder-bar' radio)

[bernardi]

Speaking of radios, my Wonderbar radio does not work. Does someone have a favorite repair facility for tube type radios? The one I hoped to use has too large a back log and is accepting no new work.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Here's an old thread about cleaning upholstery:

http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/showflat....amp;amp;fpart=1

[Guest imported_Speedster]

For radio repair you could do an Internet search and find one close to you.

We do our own radio repair, so I don't have any suggestions, but here is a website of one I have seen advertise for a long time. (hope it's not the one you tryed?)

http://www.classicradio.com/

[Mr.Pushbutton]

Color coated automotive leather since the 1960's is coated with vinyl--over the leather "substrate". The vinyl is sprayed on and the grain is embossed with a drum that resembles a large wash machine wringer. This is to give uniformity to a "utility" grade of leather, with insect burrow holes and fence marks. The only exception to this is Conolly hide leather, which is really,really expensive, and is only used for six and seven figure cars. You can use vinyl cleaners with no problem. Cars like the V-8's have a very heavy coating--I would not be suprised if they were coated with vinyl, I just don't know for a fact that they are. Start with a solution of warm water and dish detergent and a soft bristled brush. Remember, you can always go more agressive later, start off mild and easy, and do a hidden area as a test.

[bernardi]

Rick L. -

Thanks. I'm in PA, so I'll try to locate a shop on the east coast. Practically all the ones I saw on Google were in California, tho. The one you mentioned looks good, so I'll check it out if nothing local appears.

[Twitch]

Yes the 2nd floor switch is for a Wonderbar radio. I had a 57 Olds 98 with it.

[Guest bkazmer]

I think you're getting at spray-dyed vs. vat dyed leather. Spray dyed is cheaper and can give a more abrasion resistance surface, but results in stiffer leather. Vinyl is not the only coating used on spray dyed leather. Connolly (now out of business) wasn't that far up market, certainly not vs Packard - they were Jaguar's supplier for many years. Bridge of Weir, some Happich, etc, also did vat dye. Quick way to check is to turn over a bit of the hide somewhere. If the back is colored like the front, it's vat dyed. If it's natural hide , it's spray dyed

[Bill Kennedy]

What is patent leather?

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Patent leather has been coated with lacquer, plastic or urethane to give one side a hard, glossy surface.

[Twitch]

Womens' shoes and some purses have historically used patent leather.....

[Bill Kennedy]

My 1955 400 has it too (trim code 85)

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Bill,

Are you saying that part of your upholstery is Patent Leather?

Which parts?

[Bill Kennedy]

Yes, the fabric is black and white and the trim is black patent leather and white leather. At first I thought it was a poor restoration but there is a fellow in the Florida Packard Club that had one of these new and said it is correct. Also, I sent the (original) sunvisors off to Kepich Exhaust to have them refurbished and he told me that they were indeed patent leather. This guy owns 7 Packards including 3 Caribbeans (one with 11,000 originalmiles on it).

See attached picture.

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

I need a clarification.

Are the following 2wo statements true?

1. Patent Leather contains NO leather.

2. NO leather is used in the production of Patent Leather.

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

So is the FLOOR MOUNTED radio selector a FACTORY (or factory design/approved)installation or is it some kind of aftermarket thing???? Is there any PACKARD documentation about the floor mounted radio selector???

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Yes, The original Patent leather, was real leather with a lacquer coating, then urethane was used over leather but in recent years they have used other plastics over leather and other materials (real or imitation patent leather).

I think it was invented in the early 1800s.

There is also a lacquer coated cloth, used extensively in older cars and in covering trunks . It's called 'Oil-cloth', since the paint has a high ratio of linseed oil added to make it flexible and to keep out water. It is also used for trim on sunvisors on many cars. It was mainly used where very thin, durable, water resistant material was needed. They no longer make it since Vinyl came out.

[55PackardGuy]

Sounds like your 400's interior is an exact match to the one my family had. Are the top of the seat-backs black patent leather, with the white trim running in a band across the upper middle of the seat backs? Then there is more black patent around the edges of the seat bottoms. This is a really classy look!

[Bill Kennedy]

That's it. Here is a picture of the front of the seats.

[Twitch]

I can't say for Packard but the Olds I had with the Wonderbar was pure factory. If the original rubber floor covering is still there it will show the cut out as a factory thing.

[Guest Rojo22]

I cannot say for sure this is a "factory" option, but all of the hardware and stuff is exactly the same as the light switch, and it sure does not look like a "bodge job". The original carpet has been replaced, but this is definitely a professional looking job. I confirmed with a radio restorer that the wonderbar that is in the car is a correct radio for that car, so it makes sense to have the foot selector in there. Now whether it is "original" factory or factory approved, the more experienced folks will have to answer that question.

Ok, here is the plan based on the information that I have received. I will be using the Greased Lightning product in the hopes that it resolves the mold mildew issue. The black parts of my interior are what I am assuming now by the pictures is a version of the patent leather. However my black leather is embossed with a pattern that resembles a paisly pattern. The color is all black, just the embossed pattern is in the shape of paisleys. I will then add some leather protectant to the white leather and some other type of protectant on the black leather. I will take some before and after pictures this weekend and post on Monday.

Thanks to ALK, The car will be sporting a set of wide white walls after this weekend as well! If I get enough cleaned up, I will post some outside pictures as well.....

Thanks again for all of the help and steering me in the right direction....

[Guest Randy Berger]

Trim code 85 has two listings.

Yours is "White Orchid Cloth and Black Patent Imitation Leather", 55th series.

The other 85 is "Black Cloth and White Genuine Leather", 56th series

YFAM, Randy Berger

[Bill Kennedy]

Mine is a 1955

[55PackardGuy]

Bill,

Thanks for the picture--does THAT bring back memories! Beautiful.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">my black leather is embossed with a pattern that resembles a paisly pattern</div></div>

I don't remember any embossing on the black patent leather--it was all smooth and very shiny in front. The leather on the top of the back seat was a bit dull, but I think that was sun damage. The interior in general had held up very well. That cloth seems to be really tough stuff, too.

Can't wait to see pictures of the outside of the car.

[Bill Kennedy]

Here is a picture of the front of the car

[Bill Kennedy]

Here is a picture of the rear of the car

[Bill Kennedy]

Well, that didn't work--trying again for the rear of the car

[WCraigH]

Nice!! OK to include it in Panther website's "Showroom"?

Craig

[Bill Kennedy]

Absolutely!! Thanks.

[Packard8]

Nice car Bill!! That color scheme goes well on the 400.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Great, Now that's a Royal-Ride, if there ever was one. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[Guest Randy Berger]

Bill, thanks for the pictures. Great ride. Give Nance credit - he was trying to bring Packard back and the 55s are the first best evidence of that.

YFAM, Randy Berger

[Twitch]

Good looking car!! I downloaded the pics and put them in my wallpaper/screensaver program in the Packard section <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[55PackardGuy]

Bill,

My friend, you have a virtual clone of a 400 that was in my family from about 1970 until the mid-80's, and which I last drove in the summer of 1975. It looks like it's in better shape, though. I would like to hear more of the history of the car, how you got it, mileage, etc. If it ever lived in Sauk Centre, MN or Detroit Lakes, MN, it would be the same car. The gentleman who bought it from us drove it "as is" from SC to Detroit Lakes. The car had been sitting outside between the last drive I took it on in '75 until it was sold--well over 5 years. It made the whole trip of 120 miles under its own power! There's a testamonial for fogging the inside of the engine with oil and having a full gas tank when you put a car in storage.

Selling point: The electric antenna still worked perfectly!

This is a great example of the Packard V8s. May you have many miles of happy motoring! Thanks for the pictures. I'm going to try to save them for wallpaper.

[Guest imported_Packards1]

Jerry Vinarcek in Ohio added a modern air conditioning system to a 56 Packard a couple of years ago. He was able to buy an off the shelf kit. He is verry fussy about not making changes that will be with the car forever. If you call him at yesterdays radio which advertises everywhere in the hobby magazines he can detail was he has and where to get it.