Thanks for the welcome. I live in Sacramento, quit a few Packard people up here but not many drive them. I am driving my Father in Laws 39 V12 7 passenger touring this sunday to the Galt old car festival, if you look on line for it the car is behind the Stuts on the opening page. we won peoples choice last year and was told we won our class but they only give out one trophy per car. anyway its won alot of trophs and concourses. To bad my father in law cant drive anymore, but he sure likes it when I drive his big V12 or pick him up in one of my cars.
Im also working on a 69 dodge daytona(my dream car) and have a few others all running but needing little things.
I dont mind talking to anyone, but Packard people are the best.

I'd also like to welcome you to The Forum.

While not being able to comment on the world fair, have you thought about back copies of newspapers or their archives from that time which may contain info/photos? Or automotive or other magazines from that time? Maybe museums or libraries, especially in SF, may also be a another source to investigate? Just a few thoughts.

By the way, I met Ron on my US trip and I know he'd appreciate meeting and greeting another Packard owner.

Second Brian's suggestion to include your Packards in the Owner Registry.

Mal -

I haven't been online much over the past few weeks, but upon checking in this week, I was very pleased to find that the content of the user-driven Owner Registry has DOUBLED since last spring.

I agree completely with your wish to have everyone add their cars to the Registry, but there shouldn't be any flack from anyone about adding their car(s) to the Registry. Here, each member can be as open or private with it as they like.

(However, I was disappointed to see that one member appears to have come back and stripped out all the info from his entry - except for the year, series, condition, and a picture.)

The only real problem I see is that this thread, like any other, will drop off the radar as it becomes inactive, and newcomers might miss it.

Therefore, I suggest each of us try to welcome newcomers with cars similar to our own and remind them of the Registry. Of course, we don't all have to pounce on everyone who joins; I've seen that kinda of stuff run people off in other venues. One reminder should be enough.

I think the Registry will become quite popular as it continues to grow - another one of those things that will snowball.

Yes, welcome to this growing knowledgebase and online community.

You should add an entry for each of those fine Packards in the Owner Registry here, attaching those same pix and entering a few more details about each car. You can be as open or private with it as you like.

Yet, don't get me wrong. The Forum, here, is a great interactive venue, but when threads become inactive, they get pushed down the ladder as new topics come up. Though the Forum is fully-searchable, it's much easier to find (or show-off) your cars in the Owner Registry, AND you can edit your Registry entries with updated pix, status, etc. at any time.

Again, welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard Those are some beauties. Sorry I have no Worlds Fair info for you, but I did notice California license plates.
I,m in Valencia are your near? Packard owners are few and far between here.
Redron

My Granfather is giving me his 1940 180 5 passenger touring. and he said it was the show car for Packard at the San Francisco worlds fair in 39-40. it was built in late 39 and is registered as a 39 (sept 24th), it has some trim on the fenders both front and rear that is totally different than any other 180 I have ever seen. would like to know if anyone has any pictures of the car at the worlds fair or any info.
The car will never be sold, just looking for some history on it.
I also have a 41 120 business coupe and a 36 3 window business coupe that the previous owner put a 288 and R11od in, he lengethened the hood and moved the fender forward 8 inches, Looks like 110 fenders on a 120. oh well it was only 1200 bucks and it runs with new wide whites, just needs some tuning to run great like all Packards do. also have a edmunds 2x2 intake for the 288 which I plan on putting on the 36 when I get it all sorted out, nice to have an all Packard hot rod.

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George Lupfer in Carlile, PA (Lupfer transmission, rte. 422 Carlisle, PA)does a fine job rebuilding Ultramatics. He trained on them (and Dynaflows,and powerglides,and Borg Warners.........) back in the day.
He owns a fine '56 400.

Hi all, It took 5 removal/replaces on my 56 Patrician (yes with the PB auto) to sort out that the main problem was around 0.010 wear on the input shaft where the rear pump pressure goes in. The Packard Ultramatic is a very good box when it is working properly. The unfortunate thing is that most automatic gearbox repairers have no knowledge of converters which "lock-up" or of rear pumps shutting down front pumps.
The problem with any of the modern transmissions and a Packard transmission that does not change over to the rear pump and engage the converter contemporaneously (at the same time) is that the converter overheats and cooks the gearbox. The modern gearboxes get over it with very low stall and lightweight cars. With a Packard Ultra or twin-Ultra you had excellent engine braking and it runs very cool, even towing very heavy trailers. I have had a Torqueflite V8 trans ready to install since 1978, but I cannot convince myself that it is an improvement.
I have tried to second guess Packard engineering on a few occasions without success so I guess that I am either truly brainwashed or a genuine Packard Nut. Peter Toet
P.S. Get the Ultramatic box repaired/ overhauled

Hi Brian and Keith, I'm pleased to see some good info flowing and it is all appreciated. I concur that the most likely culprit was excessive swelling of either the master cylinder primary cup or a faulty residual check valve. All that I know is that the "failure to release pressure" situation has not re-occurred since I conducted a crude blow -out and replacement of the dot 5 with a dot 4 "guaranteed no seal swell" brake fluid. I did replace the primary cup, residual check valve and compensator valve with NOS items when I put the replacement booster in. The NOS items were however 50 years old so they may have been very shelf life affected.
The 56 overhaul manual Section on Brakes has the heading ESAMATIC POWER BRAKES, so I guess the Bendix family name was TREADLE-VAC.
I am hoping that all goes well with my brake system and thanks for your input, which has increased my understanding of the system. Best regards Peter Toet

Both of my 56 master cylinders have "Treadle-Vac" plainly cast into the side of the housing. I don't know what 55 has.

The "check valve" (thats what the manual calls it) at the line fitting is really NOT a valve at all but rather a pressure regulator of sorts. When the pedal is pushed down for braking effect the 'check valve' somewhat restricts or slows the application of the brakes. When the brake pedal is released it allows a quick release of the brake fluid pressure. However, there is NO direct on/off regulation of the brake fluid. Brake fluid passes freely thru the check valve in both directions at all times. Fluid just passes thru on the down stroke of the pedal a little slower.

NOTE that for lubrication of the seal there is a gallery driiled from the reservoir to the seal area. The LID (NOT the cap) of the reservoir MUST be removed to inspect or clean the gallery. The gallery is decieving because it looks like a screw hole for the lid. I've seen 2 such cylinders where the gallery became plugged. THIS gallery is WHY the vaqcuum unit sucks fluid from the cylinder if not correctly sealed during rebuild.