Re: New on the site/ might buy a 55

Posted by HH56 On 2017/10/10 8:50:30

If it is a 55 Custom (5562 or 5567 being the first 4 digits in the vehicle number on the door jamb), it will have the Torsion Level suspension but the Clipper Deluxe and Supers had conventional springs. In late 55 TL became an option on Supers but was not available until 56 on the Deluxe when TL became more the standard across the line. Unknown how many 55 Supers might have been built with the option but probably not many.

The Twin Ultramatic was unique in it's time and is still so today. If it needs work very few people understand or are willing to work on them. It does take a good mechanic who understands the operation and uniqueness to do a decent job. Someone who does not understand or know where to look for issues with how fluid is directed to various places can waste your money or do real damage. In the L.A. area Custom Auto in Santa Ana is about the best if not only place you will find.

If you have never driven an Ultramatic, the 55 has two ranges. The triangle left of D is the old style 50-54 starts and stays in high range with no shift operation. There is one transition to direct drive as the converter locks out around 20 mph depending on throttle position. Acceleration in this range is best described as leisurely. The triangle to the right of D will start in low, shift to high, and then transition into direct drive. Aside from the very few late 54 built cars with the early version of this operation, it was essentially the first year of this transmission and there was a learning curve. If the car was serviced by a dealer the issues were for the most part sorted out but if not and the mechanic didn't have access to factory bulletins it is hard to say. At any rate, it is not a race transmission so do not treat it as such nor expect it to operate like a modern automatic.

There are several Packard vendors so finding mechanical parts are generally not a huge issue but trim items can be.

Check for the usual rust areas -- rocker panels, fenders, floors etc. The metal was fairly unprotected underneath so rust can do a real job on them if the car lived in the salt belt part of its life.