1953 Packard Suspension Upgrade

[Packard John]

I have a 1953 Packard Patrician. It is a 127" wheelbase 4 door car that weighs 4,600 pounds, it isn't 50-50 weight distribution and it will get heavier as time goes on after adding A/C, power seats, windows, locks, etc. The car will be a driver and never see a track, but I want it to handle like a modern car. Obviously the easiest thing to do would be get a custom frame or fab in a multilink rear suspension and a Mustang II front suspension, since there are no suspension upgrade parts for Packards. For the challenge and to work within the bounds of the existing suspension I was looking to do the following and would appreciate any comments or suggestions.

The stock front suspension:
Double A -arms with coil springs and oil filled shocks inside the coils.
3/4" swaybar.
Kingpins not balljoints.
shock rate unknown but I think they are 90 LB. coils.
Tires are 820x15 bias ply 29.5" diameter and 6.25" tread width
manual steering box with hydraulic ram power steering (4.25 turns lock to lock and a huge steering wheel)


My plan:
1.25" swaybar with poly bushings
Adjustable Coilovers instead of Coils/shocks
245/55/17 tires (will be whitewalls and want to preserve 50's look)
Work on eliminating bump steer
Try for Alignment improvements: 0* Toe / 1.5* Negative Camber / 6*-7* Positive Caster
No Lowering
Kingpin disk brake spindles.
1986-92 Camaro/Firebird Power Steering Box (2.5 turn lock to lock)

The stock rear suspension:
Solid axle
Leaf Springs
Panhard bar with a shock in it
Oil filled shocks.
No sway bar

My Plan:
1" swaybar with poly bushings
245/55/17 tires (will be whitewalls and want to preserve 50's look)
Remove shock from Panhard bar and switch to poly bushings
Adjustable coilovers to act as helper springs to leaf springs if needed or just adjustable shocks.
Poly bushings in leafs.
Anti-wrap bars if needed.
No Lowering
Dana 44 axle with disc brakes.


Any comments or suggestions appreciated.