Re: 51 Ultramatic

Posted by Tim Cole On 2013/1/31 21:25:06

Dear jesse:

The problem with the hole in the floor idea is that Packard put the darn thing under the gas pedal. Hydramatic put the dipstick on the passenger side.

There are two other ways to check it. There is a level plug at the rear of the trans. According to Packard the correct level is something like add one quart after reinstalling the plug.

The next method is let the car sit and the fluid should be high up on the dip stick. Like within an inch of the top of the fill tube. You can do that with your finger.

Of course the problem is getting the oil into the trans. Here is a little trick I learned up in Canada. Get a bottle and epoxy an inlet tube (short) and outlet tube (long) to the lid. Fill the bottle with transmission oil. Using plastic hose fitted to the tubes, fill the trans using a little air pressure (as in blow). Just make sure the tubes aren't too small or the fluid pressure will inhibit action.