Quote:
Jack Vines wrote:
Since the old Packard boxes were right up there with the Cad-LaSalle as the hot rodder's weapon of choice, I've always wondered why, if the Packard-built transmission was a bolt in, did S-P change to the Borg-Warner T85 for the '55-56 V8s and Golden Hawk? AFAIK, it required B-W to make a special version for them.
Also, market check here - what is the going rate for a V8 bellhousing and flywheel?
thnx, jack vines
Jack, the reason for for S-P going to the B-W transmission may have been the gear shift linkage. As you know, the Packard transmission had its shifting mechanism in the top plate. This necessitated changing directions of the linkage action so the conventional shift pattern could be used. The complicated gear shift linkage of Packard transmissions with two sets of linkages and idler arms was problematic and expensive.
My father converted a few V-8 Packards and Clippers from Twin-Ultramatic to manual shift transmissions. Most of them were done with the Packard transmissions (probably because he had them), and at least two were done with the B-W transmission. The B-W conversions were much easier jobs because of the simplified gear shift linkage. In those days one could order all the parts necessary to do a conversion from S-P.
(o {I} o)
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