QuestionI have the complete weather strip kit for my 55 Packard Clipper. The cryptic drawings that are included are pretty much worthless when there was no weather stripping on the car when I got it. For example, the master drawing 90-0126-72 shows the drivers side door, interior view. I figured out part number 30-0327-73. After that the drawing is way too vague. For example, how EXACTLY does part number 30-0326-73 "attach to lower hinge pillar"? I assume the "lower hinge pillar" is the sheet metal on the body, not the door. If so, the strip is way too wide to fit on the body of the car. It is notched at the top and that fits a rib on the top of the body shell, but the strip in no way can lay on the body at that point,unless I loosen the entire fender and slide half of the weather strip into the fender, as the hinges for the door won't let it even get close! Then the "upper door hinge pillar" strip looks like it attaches to the vent window frame. If I glue it on the frame, there is a 3" gap from the end where it looks like it should go from the end of the vent back towards the main roll up window. It looks like there should be another piece on the end of the strip to cover this part of the vent window frame. Then part # 30-0417-73 is the "upper hinge pillar" strip. I think this glues to the chrome piece for the windshield surround and then runs down as a water channel and the split end goes over the inner fender lip where the door closes. I would assume you guys have some contact with Packard folks who actually do this for a living and I need real PHOTOS of these pieces INSTALLED and HOW they fit, otherwise I have a thousand dollars worth of scrap rubber! HELP!!!
John Nicholas
AnswerIt is a shame that you do not have the old weatherstrip to use as a reference; that is invaluable in that it will have marks and holes on it that make it very clear how and where it was mounted. Is there any chance you can retrive the old stuff? Is there remaining glue where the old stuff was taken off the car body?
The part numbers you are using are not Packard part numbers. All Packard part numbers for 1955 have 6 digits, and most start with 4 - then 5 more digits. I cannot identify which parts you are talking about without the Packard part numbers.
The kit you have must have come from some aftermarket vendor, and you should address your questions to that vendor.
However, I can tell you that the hinge pillar (properly called the "A" pillar for the front door,) is the strong part of the body to which the hinges are bolted. The part of the weatherstripping that goes below the beltline on the body at the hinge pillar has to be installed before the front fenders are installed, as I recall.
Another resource you need is the parts book for the 55-56 Packards. These have excellent photographs and drawings of most parts, and will be of some help in applying the weatherstrips, although I admit the weatherstrip is not usually shown in detail. The Packard issued parts book is available in reproduction form from most every automotive literature dealer - I recommend Ed Faxon of Riverside CA, but there are many other choices.
Another approach is to find a similar car and ask to take a slew of pictures of how the weatherstrip is applied.
I'm assuming your car is a 4 door sedan, but any Packard from 1951 to 1956 with a similar body style will have basically the same weatherstrip, excepting only the front upper part of the two front doors, and the interface to the windsheild molding, as the 51-56 cars shared the same body, the only changes being trim, and for 55-56 the new wrap-around windshield corners.
So check with your fellow Packard club members to see who has a similar car, and get them to give you a hand.
Another source of information are the "Lynn Steele" and "Metro Molded Rubber Products" Packard part catalogs, which you can trackdown on Google - order a copy of each. They usually give the correct Packard part and group number (which ties in with your new parts book!) and also their number for the same part. One of those two is likely the original source of the stuff you received, regardless of who you bought it from. They are the only people making Packard specific weatherstrip, as far as I know.
Most of the weatherstrip on your car, by the way, is generic stuff from AU-Ve-CO, used on many cars, and the kit suppliers are just buying the stuff in bulk and cutting it up to length for use on a particular car. Often the stuff they supply isn't quite right, buy you can usually make it do with a little creativity and a sharp pair of scissors.
If you are within convenient driving distance to Palm Springs, CA, you are welcome to visit me and take pictures of one of my cars - I have many Packards, one of which will likely share a body style with yours. If you want to do this, post a follow up message on this service, and I'll tell you how to contact me directly.
In my case, "you guys" is just me, a retired, decrepit, cranky old guy who likes to help folks with old car problems - I have no contacts in the business or Packard world at all anymore.
Happy glueing!
Dick
