Re: Overdrive tranny

Posted by Peter Packard On 2008/3/14 1:45:22

G'day Phil and all, As we know, there was no optional overdrive in Packard for 1938. A few ( myself included) have fitted 35 -38 floor change tops to R6 and R9 overdrives. I am not sure if your reference to a "standard 8" means the 320 Cubic inch standard eight motor. If this IS the case then the only floor change that you can fit to a 38 Super is an R6 or an R9 with the correct big input spline and one year only 1939 bell housing, much different to a Junior R6 or R9. The R11 is a side shift trans and you will need to acquire a "slick shift" from the Fifties to run a funny looking floor change. The R6 has only a solenoid, with no governor, works in reverse to a R9 and R11 and needs a bit less chassis modification to fit. The R6 has a crap crush washer in the rear of the trans so there are definitely trade offs in fitment. But the 28.7% reduction in revs gets the smile on your face every time. We got 20 MPG ( imperial gallon ) on our last long trip averaging 60 mph. Good luck Peter Toet