Hello Jazz, Sorry to hear about your engine and gearbox woes. Your 385 Patrician engine is a very reliable unit but it needs the Olds oil pump conversion big time. I have a 56 Patrician, which has been converted to RHD ( using Ford Fairlane Parts with some adaptation). I did not have any lifter noise ( My vehicle has 52,000 miles from original), but the Olds pump conversion lifted the oil pressure when hot but I ended up with a slight oil leak from the rear main. I converted my Generator to a 4WD alternator with vacuum pump to run the Packard vacuum wipers and used a fraction of the vacuum to pick up the rear main leakage into a catch can in the engine bay. The Twin Ultramatic is a good unit but relied on tight rotating component bush clearances rather than seals to maintain system pressure. The gearbox and can be quite fragile when shifted from Low to High and vice versa at high revs or high load conditions. Packard Ultramatic repair kits were last available in Australia until around 1978 (Vatco in Victoria). I bought half a dozen kits so the last fifty or so that they had probably went into the bin. I am the Technical Officer for the Packard Automobile Club of Australia. You should give me a call on 0408697105 we can have a chat. I would not recommend any Transmission shops to do your Twin Ultramatic as they are fine on the box but generally don't appreciate that the converter has a number of balanced entities within (apart from the converter as a whole ). The converter has to be carefully marked on disassembly and reassembled as such. I would recommend that you import a reconditioned box and converter from the US. It will not be cheap but you shall be more satisfied than fitting a SBC etc. Peter Toet

Attach file:

---

  1956 Packard Patrician RHD.jpg (102.56 KB)

Excellent photos and interesting as the enclosed limousine appears to have beaded edge tyres whilst the tourer has detachable rims. No spare on either vehicle. They would both be Right Hand Drive steering as well. Peter T

Hello Mal, really enjoying them....
Peter T

Hello Mal, really enjoying them....
Peter T

Love your work Mal....Harvey is such a great bloke...he is dead honest "straight up and down" the equivalent of a WYSIWG Computer in that What You See Is What You Get. Peter T

Hello all, I have a PB Twin Ultra and Low and D no longer actuate. I am seeking some advice before I put it on the hoist. It still selects H and the other positions fine and has always been a very positive selection to L and D previously. The 56 Patrician has done 52,000 miles and the PB on the Steering Column has not been changed, but I replaced the trans a few years ago and Land D were always strong and positive. I have checked the terminal block from the Push Button control at the back of the dash and the terminal block is secure. I assume that selecting L or D should step the motor to the L position on the side of the box. The box should shift from L to the H position when the governed speed is reached to change from D to H, even though the PB will still be in the D position. I am looking for my next step. Should I remove the side plate from the step motor and check voltage from the PB control. Has anyone had this issue and what should I do next please? Peter T

Attach file:

---

  1956 Packard Patrician RHD - Copy.jpg (102.56 KB)

Hi acute, I believe that you have highlighted cylinder 5 above the piston....look one over to the right and enhance....there appears to be severe erosion. I would not be reusing that cylinder head. I have never seen another one like that. Peter Toet

As an interesting segway, in about March 1985, I was asked by a Member of the Packard Automobile Club of Australia to assist in the conversion of his 1948 2292 from a manual to an ultramatic. I advised that his crank rear probably had to be machined to take the Ultramatic converter snout. I arranged for this to be done in Melbourne and this was done with the engine fully assembled. A few months later I get a call from him is a very remote part of Australia (and I mean 150 miles of nothing each way... Google Nullabor Plain )on the Nullabor Plain to advise that he has gone in for a checkup because he noticed an oil leak. The mechanic told him that there was a bolt thread protruding from his sump... wat do I do? I ascertained that the firm doing the work had dropped the distributor retaining bolt into the sump and a kind counterweight had punched it through the sump pan not much later. I advised him to put a washer and nut on the bolt , tighten and proceed. It apparently went well after that.

I agree with Mal, I installed a 54 327 bored out to 340 and run a Holley 600 and Packard R6 OD into my 1938 Richards 1601 ( 120). I literally tore all of the spot welds from the axle tube doing a "rabbit" getaway ( diff rotates and separates the drive train). There should be plenty of good serviceable going 327's in the big pond that is the US. In OZ and NZ we have a very small pond with not too many Packards. The $700 Packard 327 on offer should do the trick. Peter T

Attach file:

---

  1938 Packard 120 031 - Copy.jpg (174.51 KB)

I have a lot of bikes with magnetos and IMHO they are not as reliable as coil ignition, particularly if left for long periods. Magnetos appear to be particularly susceptible to high points resistance. I would not recommend a magneto over the original Packard coil system. My 1934 P11 Phantom Rolls-Royce has both systems and I have had trouble with the magneto due to points Peter T