Re: Vacation Car - 56 Patrician

Posted by HH56 On 2023/10/12 10:46:32

BigKev is correct. H means high range and was the Ultramatic range used for most years. It did skip being used in the late 54 Gear Start Ultramatic and 55 Twin Ultra but resumed again in the 56 TU. In the 54 GS Ultra there was a D and a dot or in 55, D with triangles on either side to denote the two drive positions.

For the 56 Twin Ultramatic they eliminated use of dots or triangles so selecting H means the trans works exactly as the older 49 thru mid 54 models. It starts and stays in high range for all speeds with only the direct drive clutch coming in at the point speed and the throttle position dictates.

For 56, D or drive is the automatic shifting range. This dual function of original operation or the new shifting action is the reason for a name of Gear Start in 54 or Twin Ultramatic in 55-6. In this range the transmission starts in low gear, automatically shifts into high range and then into direct drive. This is all controlled by speed and throttle position and unlike the original models, no action is needed by the driver to manually make the shifts.

L still means low range and trans starts and stays in low with only the direct drive clutch coming in, again determined mostly by throttle position.