Re: transmission - rebuild or exchange

Posted by Gary On 2013/8/20 22:50:25

Mark,
Sounds like you're talking about an Ultramatic in this case. I personally don't think retaining the original transmission is critical at all when it comes to affecting value but depending on how I was going to use the car, I might be concerned about the original engine staying with the car. I'm sure there were Packard dealerships all over the country that changed tranny's out if something serious enough happened like a casting defect or spun bushing or whatever the case may be, does it make it any less valuable today if it was changed out by a Packard dealership years ago? Besides, unless it's documented, who's to say anyway? I think there were instances where for instance there was an overstock of '51 Ultramatics at the end of the run and to use them up they installed them in the early '52 cars but did it make the '52 car less valuable because it had a '51 transmission in it? No because who would know unless there was a major change like the early '54's coming out with the standard Ultramatic and then later cars being equipped with the gear-start. I'd probably go the exchange route too considering the experience that went into the build...just my 2 cents worth.