Re: transmission ID

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2010/12/23 13:51:36

I was told that the 4 speed is more desireable as it has more gear whine which collectors like. I have no idea if this is true or not.

Well, it's a matter of taste I suppose. I love to hear the gear whine, the so-called "million dollar song" (marketing trying to capitalize on a negative as Cadillac already had synchro?) but I for one would appreciate the synchro more than the sounds. Movie makers however just love that sound! And yes, the 1st gear ratio is very low, many more recent purchasers of these car don't even realize it's a 4-speed.

I'm quite certain that the 900s and Twin Sixes got the 3-speed synchro from the get-go, and it was the same transmission that was later fitted to the Eights and DeLuxe Eights when production caught up with demand. This is my recollection from an article in an old issue of "The Packard Cormorant" on the 32 transmissions. I do have the article somewhere, I think I have nearly every issue of TPC from about 1964. My memory being a bit fuzzy, I should dig it out and reread it. Not that it's necessarily gospel.