Re: Are there production figures for 1955-1956 Packards with manual transmissions?

Posted by Mr.Pushbutton  On 2008/4/4 14:50:05

The "Ultra-Torque" kit was a PI (region?) project from a number of years ago, They still offer it. It's basically a ring cut from 1/4" aluminum plate to adapt between the Packard V-8 block and the bellhousing on the 727 Torqueflite and a collar that runs between the crank on the V-8 and the input if the 727. It only works with a certain vintage of Torqueflite, I want to say 1970-1974 (but could be totally wrong). I asked Fred Mauck about it one year at the PI booth in Hershey, he stated that they (PI, Californians, Maucks, et al) couldn't get all of the Ultramatic parts to fix their transmissions and that this mod was keeping their cars on the raod. We all know people who have rebuilt their T-Us and drive them, so it most likely boils down to personal preference or skill set. A 727 Torqueflite is a great transmission, bullet proof by 1970. They probably are more adept at making a retro-fit than hunting down parts for/paying for those parts and rebuilding an original T-U. At the time they first cooked up the "Ultra-torque" there were probably fewer parts available for the T-U then are available today, odd as that may seem.