Projects Thoughts on 55/57 Packards

Clipper's to be exact. Any thoughts on the torsion bar suspension that was upgraded in 55 then complained about in 56? Online I also read "door rattle and poor worknanship".
Thanks

Your 2cents are very welcomed.

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I have one, I like it, it's a very nice riding car, and powerful compared to other bone stock mid 50's cars. I did have door latch issues, I had to source some strikers from a couple of junkyard cars to get the doors to open and close properly, although that can be said about most of the 50's cars I've owned, the die cast strikers get mushroomed out over time, pretty common.

My car has the Jack Vines/Melling oil pump conversion and it's a must-have on a Packard engine, otherwise they have lifter tick issues. Mine did, and after the pump swap, it's never ticked again, runs very smooth. Well worth the money and time spent. I was able to swap it out without pulling the engine out of the car. Was still kinda tricky, even on a hoist, but we got it done.

Another thing I'll say is, they're not very sought-after or popular, unless they're the Carribean convertibles. I have offered mine for sale for 6 or 7 grand (depending on what mood I'm in) and had virtually no interest. Not sure if there are any other 2 door hardtop V8 50's cars you could buy fully roadworthy for that price. I think people are scared of them, worried they wouldn't be able to get service parts, which isn't really true but folks don't know.

If the price is right and you plan to keep it, they can be really nice cars. I just wouldn't pay too much, or expect it to be a money making flip type car. Also, 2 door hardtops are really cheap, as are drivers, I don't think I'd even bother with a 4 door or a non-runner unless the price was insane cheap.

Here's mine. I know there's a couple other ones owned by HAMB members as well.

 

I should add, I was also told you can rig the torsion bar motors up to a power antenna switch to raise and lower it at will, I am hoping to try that with my car if I end up keeping it, would be fun.

 

From an aesthetic perspective....they look more interesting than the earlier 50s Packards. But that two tone scheme they had...ugh.

 

Thanks alot Squablow. Your 55 is real nice, I like your color choices and informative info. Do you know if engine swap (say a sbc) would include notching the frame. Or any info on how the trans tunnel fairs in size?

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I know. Only a few color schemes go with that pattern. But a custom paint job/pattern can hide those lines. Option 2, all one color. Option 3, take off the trim from the door and utilize the strait trim left on the car to have more of strait line appearance.

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I like Option 3. They are nice cars....and since they're relatively cheap, you can do what you want with it.

 

Hi. In 55 a friend of mine bought one new and he could raise & lower it with a switch. Not sure if it came with the switch or not. It was a total brute at the drag strips and he kicked ass with it. I remember he would intimidate the other drivers at the line raising the rear up a bunch just before the lights came on. It was fast.
Jimmie

 

Not real sure on the engine swap. I know the engine compartment is cavernous to accomodate the monster Packard engine and Ultramatic transmission, I doubt there would be space issues, and seeing as I was able to unbolt the oil pan from the engine without pulling the motor out of the car, I have a hard time believing there would be crossmember clearance issues, any rear sump oil pan should fit in there with space to spare. I highly doubt it would be an issue.

I personally like the two tone paint scheme, although the '54 Carribean models used only a set of trim similar to the rear stainless paint dividers and they look nice like that, I could see shaving the lower front pieces and doing a '54 Carribean style two tone job. Here's a '54 Carribean for comparison.

 

Radical Kustom. My thoughts...

 

What's wrong with the Packard engine?

 

After reading more on the Packard Engine I can't find a thing wrong with them. I was asking to early I guess.

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Torsion bar suspension give you a nice comfortable ride, and the ability to adjust your ride height by simply adjusting the bars

 

The torsion bars on a Packard aren't adjustable like a Mopar front suspension, they can be adjusted but it's not as easy as backing off a bolt like the Chrysler version.

 

Or these? You do know that a Ford top loader is a near bolt on to lose the Ultramatic?

 

had a packard motored studebaker with 3 spd od car was pretty fast. uncle loved packards and had a couple 56 if i remember right.

 

V8Packard (Jack Vines) is on the HAMB and knows what there is to know about Packards. And he can sell you anything you need to build motors like the pictures.

 

Thanks Everyone

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Them make a real purdy motor now, don't they? I suspicion that the engineers at Packard never visualized their engines being decked out quite like the ones posted here.

 

They're nice cars. My uncle had one around 1966, people would get sick of the problems they had and sell them cheap. Get fed up I guess. He had a Caribbean.

 

Back in the day a friends parents had a 55 Packard with an auto leveling system. We used stand on the back bumper to give it a rake.

 

A few pics from the internets. Because you guys piqued my interest.

 

that's gotta be fun to find parts for

 

Here's an old commercial.


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What kind of problems?

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"Squawblow" - 6-7K for that? I wish I was 10 years younger. I'm a '50's guy and don't see the problem with the two-tone paint. (I also like '56 Oldsmobiles).

 

paint on this one is a little different then the others shown, not to bad.
And yes there is not much interest in them. Advertised this one at best offer and not one call on it.

 

That's a 56. Very nice

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hate the cars, LOVE the engines. I'd love to put a fuelie packard in a 40 ford some day.

 

Be prepared to add a few leaves to the front spring.