Leeedy, thanks for your post on 10/6 - I found it quite emotive and informative. As someone from the other side of the planet I only have a few mental pictures of the Packard plants / proving grounds etc but have a keen desire to get to the States one day and go visit these sites.

Here in Australia we have the same issue, with much of our heritage being destroyed or not cared for sufficiently well. I look back on what we have lost by way of heritage buildings etc. For example, at one stage we had the largest department store on the planet - a company called Anthony Hordern & Co. - which was enormous back in the early 1900's right through to mid-century. See Anthony Hordern background
and Photo
It took up a couple of city blocks and was famous with a motto of: "We sell EVERYTHING". And they did! Their store building was gracious and beautiful, but they eventually went bust / were bought out and in the 1970's (IIRC) the massive enterprise was demolished, leaving a huge hole that went a city block, right smack bang in the middle of the city! It was called "World Square" but re-named by the cynics as "The Hole', and not much was built thereupon for many years, it was just a big hole for maybe 20 years?

In terms of loss to the community, it possibly evokes the same feelings amongst Sydney-siders that the loss of the Packard plant evokes in you guys now.

Troy, I have sent you a PM regarding Bands.

That 288 looks very nice! It would appeal to a hot-rodder and is an alternate way of preserving at least a 288 plus (- from the look of it -) a Packard frame (chassis). Original generator / starter / carby etc used as well.

Looks like a simple sports car body has been built on what is principally Packard engine and running gear. Very neat idea and when you think of all the '51 to '54 wrecks out there half-rusted away, and with bodies in un-restorable condition, it presents an opportunity for some enterprising person to draw up a set of blueprints for a simple body "kit" to convert the remains into something like this.

We certainly missed you Mal. It was a very nice weekend, all went to plan with no hiccups although Barry didn't make it in his Twelve . . minor mechanical problem of a noisy hydraulic lifter. He came along in a modern.

Thanks Mal - very kind of you.

Here are a couple more photos of the Bathurst weekend outing. I had some computer problems last night while trying to upload more pics but now all is well.

Packards lined up in front of 'Abercrombie House' circa 1870.
[img width=350]<a href="http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Larry51_2009/media/Lees%20PPPP%20-%20Public%20Packard%20Project%20Pics/Bathurst_weekend15/DSCN0635_Topaz_LR_zpsyjzqfew3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Larry51_2009/Lees%20PPPP%20-%20Public%20Packard%20Project%20Pics/Bathurst_weekend15/DSCN0635_Topaz_LR_zpsyjzqfew3.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSCN0635_Topaz_LR_zpsyjzqfew3.jpg"/></a>[/img]

Another Packard will soon be 'on the road'
[img width=350]<a href="http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Larry51_2009/media/Lees%20PPPP%20-%20Public%20Packard%20Project%20Pics/Bathurst_weekend15/Tent_4LR0002_zpsplcry10m.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Larry51_2009/Lees%20PPPP%20-%20Public%20Packard%20Project%20Pics/Bathurst_weekend15/Tent_4LR0002_zpsplcry10m.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Tent_4LR0002_zpsplcry10m.jpg"/></a>[/img]

Abercrombie House
[img width=350]<a href="http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Larry51_2009/media/Lees%20PPPP%20-%20Public%20Packard%20Project%20Pics/Bathurst_weekend15/Tent_4LR0003_zpsjief9zwy.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Larry51_2009/Lees%20PPPP%20-%20Public%20Packard%20Project%20Pics/Bathurst_weekend15/Tent_4LR0003_zpsjief9zwy.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Tent_4LR0003_zpsjief9zwy.jpg"/></a>[/img]

Guess he was in a hurry for a beer . . .
[img width=350]<a href="http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Larry51_2009/media/Lees%20PPPP%20-%20Public%20Packard%20Project%20Pics/Bathurst_weekend15/Tent_4LR0004_zpshc7wwwqp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Larry51_2009/Lees%20PPPP%20-%20Public%20Packard%20Project%20Pics/Bathurst_weekend15/Tent_4LR0004_zpshc7wwwqp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Tent_4LR0004_zpshc7wwwqp.jpg"/></a>[/img]

Here are a couple of pics of a recent weekend outing held in our home town of Bathurst, NSW. We all enjoyed great Spring weather when about sixteen Packardians turned up in six Packards and three moderns. There could have been a couple more Packards present, but two couldn't make it due to being 'out of order' for that weekend. Our very own Mal Harris was also 'out of order' with a dose of the 'flu and we missed him (- and his car). A local Packard owner also gave us a look at his almost completed restored '39 One Twenty.

There were a couple of scenic drives through the countryside to visit small villages for lunch, and the Packards all did a great job of delivering us without any problems.

Visits included a tour of an historic mansion nearby, a speedway motorcycle museum and large formal gardens near Oberon, which are about the largest in the southern hemisphere and spectacular.

This was a repeat of a similar weekend outing held back in 2012, and I think most who attended would like to do it again in a couple of years time.

[img width=350]<a href="http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Larry51_2009/media/Lees%20PPPP%20-%20Public%20Packard%20Project%20Pics/Bathurst_weekend15/DSCN0788_zpsixbr61z4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Larry51_2009/Lees%20PPPP%20-%20Public%20Packard%20Project%20Pics/Bathurst_weekend15/DSCN0788_zpsixbr61z4.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSCN0788_zpsixbr61z4.jpg"/></a>[/img]

Thanks to all for the very useful hints etc..
I spent a few hours today looking through Service Counsellors to get an idea of what I'm facing. It doesn't look too daunting and I won't be in a hurry so can do a careful job on it. I have a press and a friend can turn some bush-pushers to the right diameter.
Noted was the dial gauge method of measuring reactor shaft end play as suggested by Ross. I think I can rig up a means of checking - and I think you were suggesting that I check existing play before I dismantle the converter?
John - I will add progress updates to my blog when I get started on Ultra work.
Troy - yes - I would appreciate measurements please, and I'll PM you for a price when I need bands. The ones I have don't show any grooves so must be well worn.
Yes, Ross: thanks for the wisdom regarding not 'fixing that which ain't broke'! However I want to rebuild my spare Ultra because getting an Ultra out and back into the car isn't too easy to do without a hoist. The experts will get my dollars for that difficult job. Once was enough. So I want to make sure whatever I put into the coupe is 100% ok and will last years. Plus fixing the one in the car will mean having it off the road for quite a long while as I get parts sent over.
The Ultra I'm driving with was sitting around on garage floors since mid-1970's so I don't know how much I can trust it. Surely friction materials would have hardened over that long period?? It's now done over 1000 miles without problems other than holding in DD until crawling speed - plus the leaks - so I feel good about that. Will be interesting to see what the insides look like when dismantle that 'worker'!

Thanks Ross for hints about tolerances. There is a lot said in the documentation about losing pressure through worn bushings etc. Current Ultra seems to do almost everything very well so I think it must have had an easy life.

OK . . . . Thanks for that helpful information. I need to get my rebuild kit from the States so I'll do the pull-down first to check what's needed.

What I need to avoid is the cost of sending worn bands etc over to the USA for reconditioning / exchange, if I don't need to. The shipping is expensive! I don't think there is any place here in Australia that sells Ultramatic parts as far as I know.

Thanks Howard. I reckon you are right about the whistle being 'not present'.

I can verify that my '51 288 shows around 10psi when idling hot (after a run) and around 30psi when revving (hot). This is via a gauge I fitted. The oil light never flickers, even at idle when hot. I use 10W - 30 and have an oil filter fitted also.