Re: new guy questions

Posted by Loyd Smith On 2008/8/16 22:40:05

Mikec wrote: "i heard once that the ultramatics had reliability issues. the source i heard it from belived that it was due to the fluid foaming up, or something along those lines. is there any truth to this?"

Packard attempted to beef up the Ultramatics for the added torque of the new V8s. It appears that they fell somewhat short of the mark. I've always suspected that the Packard engineers were taken completely by surprise by folks' growing tendency in the early fifties to subject large, luxury passenger cars to the stresses of drag racing. There are varying opinions on the Twin Ultramatics as to reliability. My own experience is that, under normal driving conditions and when cared for properly, they're satisfactory and just about as good as anything that was available at the time. You ain't gonna win any drag races with one and, if you try, you're gonna fry it. You can't tow really heavy loads with one for any length of time. Back in the day, under certain weather and useage conditions, one would occasionally overheat and puke all the fluid out the dipstick tube onto the road. Your car has a stock transmission oil cooler from the factory. Some of us who drive our cars a lot have added another in front of the radiator behind the grill. Like several other features on your car, the Twin Ultamatic developed a bad rep because it was far different from anything that the big three built (Packard was the only independent that developed their own automatic transmission) and a very lot of transmission mechanics just didn't want to learn something different.

The, "Twin," designation refers to the two driving ranges. One operates, from start to direct-drive lockup off the torque converter. The other gives you a two gear planetary start off and then locks, via the same direct drive clutch, into direct drive. I have always liked the T/Us and the older Ultramatics as well. I like the engine braking that one gets from them. That's just me.