Sounds like fun. I'm in Bellevue Washington, 2330 miles. That's a big road trip for a '48 Packard!

I wouldn't "restore" it. I would make it a "driver" or "survivor" class.
Follow the book on getting it running, go thru the brake system compleatly and then fix what needs fixing. A restoration involves years and $$$.
It can rapidly become a financial burden and a chore with no enjoyment.
I acquired a 1948 sedan last January that had sat for 12-15 years. I had it running the next day and have worked since then to fix other issues.
Brakes, water pump, fuel pump, overdrive unit, I'm down to getting the radio and clock working. I now trust it for a couple hundred mile trip.
I'm having fun with this car! It's a lot like "Driving Miss Daisy".

The radio in my 1948 Packard works fine until it gets hot.
When you first turn it on it goes thru its normal warm up of about 2 minutes and is fine. It has good volume and sound. After about 10 or 15 minutes the amplifier seems to overheat and quit working. It slowly loses volume until it is turned up all the way and can barely be heard. If I turn it off and wait 20-30 minutes it will repeat this cycle.
Does anyone have any experience with this? I suspect a tube or vibrator unit.

Guys, I've been out of town and away from my Packard for 3 weeks.
The overdrive unit is toast! I've located a used, serviceable unit thru
David Moe at Packard Seattle. I'm going to pick it up from him today.
I hope to have it installed and back on the road on Monday. I suspect the failure was caused by lack of lubrication.any recommendations for what to use for gear oil? I'm leaning towards a modern synthetic.
Thanks for all the replys.

I have the cases far enough apart to see that the planetary gear train has exploded. Darn. I'm guessing that the metal bits have jammed the shifting collar keeping it from sliding off.

After another day of challenges I am making progress. The output shaft is NOT stuck on the overrunning clutch. The lockout shifting collar is binding on the overdrive input shaft ( same as the transmission output shaft).
Between that and the lockout lever attached to the shifting collar the overdrive housing with the output shaft and the shifting collar won't come off. I have progressed from 3/16 of travel to 3/8ths. Tomorrow is the day!
I can feel it!

That's the procedure on the R-11. I have a R-9. I tried removing the shifter shaft you reference, it's installed from inside the case on the R-9 and only pushes in. The later manual is not very clear, it describes the R-11 procedures and then states the R-9 is "similar". Thanks for the response.
I think the overdrive shaft (output) is stuck to the transmission shaft by a broken overrunning clutch assembly. I'll keep everyone posted.

I'm a auto mechanic by trade and have read the manuals. It says it should pull right off, mine won't. I'm regrouping this afternoon and will attack it again tomorrow. The lockout collar moves and the output shaft moves front to back on the overrunning clutch assembly, it appears the lockout collar won't move rearward enough to release the overdrive planetarys. I just can't figure out why. I have it up on a hoist at my shop so I can see. If the lockout collar won't come off the planetarys the overdrive housing can't be removed.

Guys,
thanks for your replys. I am in the process of removing the tailhousing and the overdrive unit. I have removed the rear mount, driveshaft, governor, speedo cable, overdrive linkage and the bolts that hold the housing to the transmission. Problem, I can't get the housing to come off. It pulls back about a quarter inch and no further. This appears to be the limit of the lockout lever movement.
I have removed the rear flange from the output shaft with no help. Can somebody help me, PLEASE!!!
mMy cell #206-669-4775
Thanks, Bill

Update.
I took the starter switch on the carburator apart looking at it with the ball size in mind. The parts the ball works with are similar sized. I believe the ball is of correct size. The screen below is clean. I will continue to think this one over.