I have a used 1001 oil pump in my parts bin. If I can take any measurements from it that would be useful to you, please advise in detail.

A guy in the UK (Buckinghamshire) has a 55 Constellation and is having issues with his Ultramatic. He tried to have it rebuilt in the UK, but it sounds like the mechanic didn't know what he was doing. The transmission got cooked on the first test drive and now after repairing it again he has recently pulled the pan off to fix some leaks to find metal shavings in the pan.

He would like to keep the car original, rather than doing a transmission conversion, in part because if he modifies the car it will require an annual inspection.

Questions:

Does anyone know of someone in the UK that truly knows how to rebuild an Ultramatic?

Is there someone in NA that could ship him a rebuilt & tested Ultramatic for his car?

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  55 Constellation.JPG (51.83 KB)

Packard always had very robust frames and bodywork, as was expected at the price point. In fact, up until the 51 model year, it was common to use the cross of the X-beam as a single jack point in shops; here is the specific bulletin warning service shops to discontinue this practice.

Be sure to reference the literature archive as needed. Here is the service manual:https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/archive/content.php?op=&catID=10&ContentID=119

You can reference the frame section for the correct shape of your frame.

Also, your car very likely has Torsion Level suspension, so be sure to read up on that a bit or you will likely be confused as to how it should work. Perhaps some earlier owner put air shocks or some other ignorant modification in it for lack of knowledge. It's unusual, but not complicated.


Can you post a picture of the suspicious area?

Unless they are really rusty, I've not seen such a thing on any Packard.

Thanks. I hadn't yet done the dash floorboard slide check so this is super helpful.

Has anyone else had issues with putting their Clipper on jackstands and the frame rails bending?
I just went to work on mine and I noticed the rail bent around the jackstand.

Don (Packard Don) and Dave (Owen_Dyneto), thank you for your answers.

Quote:
Don, I had also toyed with the idea that the folding seats might be missing.
However, this would be unusual in several ways. At least one of the cars (but probably both) actually began its intended service as an embassy vehicle and served at the Soviet Embassy in Washington for a number of years. Photos from 1947 show the Soviet ambassador in an identical car. Especially in embassy vehicles, folding seats are required for numerous occasions (interpreters, security personnel, delegation members, guests, ...). Anyway, thank you for your hypothesis.
Dave (O_D), in order to respond to your post I first need to search for a specific photo.

I have a 37 but I suspect it is a similar assembly method. The gasket went in quite easily with the vent off.
Mine has two #10 screws/washer/nuts holding the vent to the pivot arm under the dash. (Not a great place to reach and could surely do with cage nuts instead but it is only two, thank you Packard.)
I have attached two images, they are heavily cropped from images of other subjects so are a bit grainy and small but show the two holes in the vent plate and the one bolt/nut/washer fastener under the dash after assembly.

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  Vent.JPG (33.92 KB)


  Vent fastener.JPG (116.14 KB)

I don't know about your specific car, but generally you can unfasten the "lid and scoop" from the levers under the dash and lift it out.

That’s interesting! I’ll need to remember to look at mine when I’m at the shop next month.