Re: Upgrade or replacing rear end gear ratios

Posted by NeedsRestoration On 2017/12/7 17:57:01

Hi Fred:

To give you a historical perspective, I trust you are aware there were no Interstate-style highways when your car was designed - normal driving speeds were so much lower than they are these days.

There were some places where you could go fast, really fast for a while (until a slower moving car or truck held everyone up, on those typical two-lane intercity highways).

True, you wont hurt that relatively modern "lower end" design of your car's motor by driving it at a steady 50 or even faster, but I agree - with the motor screaming away at the higher speeds, it isn't pleasant. And of course it is harder on everything - generator, water pump, etc. to be worked that hard (you'd have to drive a modern car well over 100 mph to get the same effect on its drive-line).

Reflecting the higher speeds as the roads improved during the 1930's, you will find some cars having two-speed rear axles or overdrives.

Elsewhere in this site you will find people suggesting that the smaller-engine Packards do not do well with a "higher" (numerically lower) rear axle ratio - not enough torque to give satisfactory performance. That is why you will find folks suggesting overdrives.

Packard did start offering overdrives as an option, as the thirties became the 1940's, but finding all the parts to convert your car to use that option would be unlikely. And even if you could convert, the Borg - Warner overdrives, while reliable in service when properly maintained, can be a "bar" to get set up properly when you are "starting from scratch".

My initial recommendation is you accept the limits of what your car is, enjoy it for what it is. It is a piece of history - trying to adopt it into a world that was inconceivable at the time it was engineered, will be expensive.

If you MUST drive faster for long periods - yes, an overdrive would be the answer.

But you are looking at a price range of around two grand for the unit, plus who knows what to hang it in your car between your existing transmission and your rear axle housing.

I personally recommend the HONE overdrive if you want a more pleasant-driving car at speed.

On level ground you will find driving your car at speed will be so much more pleasant. With the HONE overdrive's electric switch, you can easily "drop down" to direct drive to "pull" the grades you may encounter.

Can you post some photos of your car from various angles?