Packard info for a novice please

Posted by RichieFuller On 2014/3/15 20:36:02

Hi again, not wanting to be a pest but looking for a bit of information if you don't mind. As some of you know by my earlier post I'm new here and looking to buy my first Packard. As mentioned earlier I have Hudsons now and a Ford and Plymouth. Being an old guy I'm familiar with the transmissions and dry clutches on the Ford and Plymouth, and had to learn about the wet clutches on Hudsons. I haven't heard of the "electromagnetic" clutches that I've read about in some Packard ads for cars for sale. Are those clutches on O/D cars only? Two of my Hudsons are standard shift and have overdrive, which makes highway driving easy.
Is there a big difference between Packard rear end ratios of O/D cars vs standard cars? What I'm getting at is I want to keep the RPM'S down at highway speeds. Example, my 53 Hudson has 455:1 with O/D. Plymouth has 411:1 with O/D. My 50 Hudson has 411:1 with O/D. The Plymouth and 50 Hudson will run all day at 70-75, where the 53 won't, its comfortable at 60.
Are Packards geared in a similar fashion? I want to be able to cruise all day at 70.
I'm looking for a Packard from 48 thru 50.
Did Packard make a model with stick shift and no O/D and a rear gear ratio of about 350:1 or 370:1?
Sorry about the long post, but I want to get it right the first time. Thanks I appreciate any comments, Richie.