Re: Twin Ultramatic Problem

Posted by Michael C Wauhop On 2013/5/31 15:58:48

Hey let me put my two cents in this discussion. This is strickly my opinion and you can agree or disagree .I am the owner of a 1955 400 hardtop I bought in 2003. Since I bought it I have toasted 4 Twin Ultras. The first one to go was the one that came with the car when I bought it that was 2006-I had a automatic shop with a good rep rebuild it in Philadelphia Pa where I live for 1700. That first rebuild lasted two years. Then I sent the car to Ultramatic dynamics to have one of thier units installed-I then drove the car to the 2009 Gettysburg meet where it gave up the ghost; if any of you guys went to that meet you remember every day was god awful hot-near 100F whether this played a part in this transmissions destruction I dont know. To ultra dynamics credit they installed another one and didnt charge me for it either-that trans gave up the ghost three weeks ago. I have owned old cars for years At one time or another I have had a 1957 Pontiac Starchief and a 1965 Old convertible (which I still own). The Starchief's transmission ( a Hydramatic) was rebuilt a couple of years after I bought it and I have no doubt its still running strong somewhere (I sold it in 2001). The other car the Oldsmobile in the 25 years since I bought it I have had to do no more to its tranny that put in a couple of pan gaskets and a new filter-and believe me this car gets driven! My point I simply believe the twin ultra is UNREBUILDABLE! Years ago I was outside an tranny shop here in Pa I saw an old guy working on a late 40s mercury he seemd like he had been around so I asked him if her could rebuild a Twin-you know what he said to me: Is that the Packard transmission-I said yes-he replied oh yeah I remember those-listen bud; I HATED THOSE THINGS WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN THERE A CAN OF WORMS AND YOU COULDNT PAY ME TO WORK ON ONE NOW!! Prophetic words. So your about to ask me what to do - I found a conversion kit from a place called BENTSENS you take out that twin and use it for something more useful like a boat anchor or a planter and you get the kit and a 700r chevy overdrive auto and convert it. I spoke to one guy who had it done and he loves his 55 now and drives it everywhere!Yeah I know its no longer completely original-but whats the use of having the Twin if you cant drive it? The cost for the kit and the trans is 2600-you also have to have the driveshaft machined to fit-I am definitley going this route ( as soon as I earn the money)

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