Twin Ultramatic Range?

Posted by Dave Brownell On 2013/12/6 17:00:07

Almost two months ago I bought my 1956 Esquire hardtop ( a Four Hundred that was dealer (Harry DuBois, Arlington, VA) ordered/converted to look almost like a Caribbean except for interior and the second four barrel ) from a retired dealer mechanic who had owned it for the previous 44 years. The first fortunate twist is that the seller was the son and grandson of Packard dealer mechanics (1920-1940s) who always had enough cars, stories and parts to make his life and upbringing Packard-friendly. The car was kept in good running shape, came with a trunk load of NOS parts (motto: "As long as you have a spare, you'll never need it") and still looks good. I have been very pleased with the purchase and all the things I have learned by reading these Forum posts backwards into 2006. I almost feel that I know the regular posters and their cars pretty well for having done so.

My car runs well and almost everything (except for AM Wonderbar radio and speedometer) works as it should. The engine got new bearings, timing chain/gear, rings, lifters, carb about four years/a thousand miles ago, and runs nicely and gets reasonable gas mileage. But I was told that in the 44 years, the transmission hasn't had the pan off or fluid changed because the fluid still looks and smells fine and things work. Most of my older mechanic friends agree with the don't try to fix what ain't broke theory and counsel me to wait until something serious develops before opening it up. The car came with lots of TU parts, mostly seals, clutches and a new input shaft, much of it still in dealer packaging, just to tempt me. Even a spare used pushbutton unit with un-cut wires! My only observation is that the transmission will growl/rumble if I don't back off the gas a bit after the upshift occurs in Drive. It will also happen in High range, but seems a bit smoother. Since I can be a patient driver, and there's no radio to distract my hearing, I could live with the probable glazed lock up clutch surface for a long time, or at least until something else happens Ultramatically. In the meantime, should I just plan on using High instead of Drive for pleasure motoring?

Since I also own four Corvettes, I can use another car if I want spirited driving. So far, it's a toss up as which car turns more heads, the 67 Corvette coupe or the 56 Esquire.