Re: 1940 Packard 180=converting to overdrive

Posted by Packard Don On 2020/10/15 2:14:18

I converted my 1940 110 to overdrive which I can't image is much different in the basic concept to a senior model.

It required, of course, finding, rebuilding and installing the overdrive transmission and its added supports, cable, wiring, relays, kick-down switch and all the obvious stuff but it also meant shortening the drive shaft and replacing the rear end with the proper ratio for use with overdrive. This latter isn't absolutely necessary but it will make adding it a bit better for highway driving as the non-overdrive rear end was something of a compromise for keeping the RPMs somewhat reasonable at speed but sacrificed the power from a stop. On a junior it made a big difference but maybe not so much on a senior!

This was at least forty-five years ago and cost several thousand dollars but would cost far, far more now especially due to the fact that parts that were difficult to find then will be much harder to locate now!