Classic/Antique Car Repair: 55 Packard Windshield Gasket, windshield glass, packards

Question
QUESTION: I have heard rumors that a "Tri 5" Chevy gasket will fit a 55 Clipper Constellation.  Do you know if this is factual or do you know of any other cross reference for the Clipper glass gaskets?
Thanks in advance,
John

ANSWER: As an owner and restorer of 55 and 56 Packards and Clippers for over 30 years, I'd be amazed if this turns out to be true and somehow in all the years of working on these exact cars, I never heard about it!  I know there is a strong resemblance to the Chevy windshield shape, but I think if it were that easy to get a new windshield gasket, I'd know about it.

The only source I know of for those gaskets is Steele Rubber - go to www.steelerubber.com and page through their on-line catalog if you need to buy one.

Off the subject, but I still have my 55 Constellation that I drove as a daily driver from 1975 to 1982 - the only one known with factory stick/OD transmission that I have heard of.  These are great cars!

FYI, all the non-convertible 55-56 Packards and Clippers used the same windshield glass (other than you could get clear, tinted, or shaded and tinted).

Dick


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dick,
Thanks for the quick reply.  I just remembered that it may have been a Tri 5 rear window gasket that fit the front of the Clipper, or vice versa.  I guess I really need to get hold of a Chevy gasket and try it.
John

Answer
I looked up the numbers in the Steele Rubber catalog.  The windshield gasket for the 55-57 Chevy with brightwork trim around the windshield is their number 60-266-50
 
For the 55-56 Packards it is 30-270-50 (and costs almost 5X the price)!

As for the Chevy back window gasket, that has a totally different number also.  

Just judging from the appearance of the cars, I'd say the windshield shapes are very similar, but as I said, I'd be amazed if they are close enough to share gaskets.  For one thing, the bodies for Packard were designed to be made on Briggs tooling (although Packard did buy the tooling from Briggs for the 55-56 model year cars).   All GM standard bodies were made in house on their own tooling, so it is very unlikly that the flanges that hold the gasket would turn out to be identical, even if the glass was very close.

Good luck to you, whatever you find out - I'll be interested in the result.

Dick