Re: Towing a 1951 Ultramatic
Posted by Leeedy On 2019/8/2 8:07:49
Quote:
kunzea wrote:
Can I tow my 1951 Ultramatic? Will the rear pump keep it from burning-up? I guess the front pump only turns with the motor if in neutral?
Regardless of what any manual may say (especially the old ones written where automatics and knowledge of same were in their infancy), this is an unchanging fact. And if you are dealing with an old automatic-any old automatic-you need to take all possible steps to protect that transmission. While it is possible to tow an automatic with drive wheels on the ground for very short distances (meaniing less than 5 miles at very low speeds) with no overtly noticeable damage, even then, damage can occur. And no tow truck driver today is going to slow-tow a car. These guys want to do 80 with a car dangling behind. Three months later you're wondering why the transmission has burnt fluid or worn parts.
Of course over the years, we have also discovered that towing a postwar Packard backwards (with front wheels on the ground) can also result in disaster. So this is not a solution either.
Because of the design of front steering and suspension, think of the front wheels as you might of the wheels on a shopping cart. The caster on those wheels makes them want to flip around and go in the direction of rolling. Also if a Packard has power steering, a slop can develop in the power steering (especially in the ram) that allows shimmy that again is impacted by caster. There are actual cases of Packard Club members over the years who have had cars flip or do wild things when towed like this. Cars have been totally destroyed this way. So beware!
In this modern time, the absolute best solution is to simply flat-bed the car to wherever it has to go. If you can't do that for whatever reason, then do the next best thing: unbolt and disconnect the drive shaft. Problem eliminated either way.This Post was from: https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=213905