Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

What is this??? Photo below.

Is it an overdrive?? If so is that like cruse control??
If not what is it and what does it do, I have 3 on the tree!!!

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That looks like an electromatic clutch devise. If you have a red pedal that's what it is.

The peddle is black
Here's a better pic

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There's no such a thing as a stupid question! You're working on a vehicle that's most likely older than you or your dad!

It is a vacuum operated clutch. There is a knob on the dash labeled Clutch or Electromatic to turn it on. Chances are it is not functioning and could be disconnected or parts missing. If it is all there it could probably be made workable and is quite the conversation piece. You could turn it on or off as desired so the car will work perfectly well if it is non operational as long as there is no vacuum leak.

In operation, the theory was you could start the car and almost never have to touch the clutch. The vacuum would work the clutch as needed depending on speed, throttle position and gear selected. In practice it was somewhat temperamental and relied on good adjustment and some conservative driving.

If you have an OD there will be a round knob below the dash edge just to the right of the steering column. That is pulled out to lock the overdrive out for conventional 3 speed and pushed all the way in to turn OD on and make it available when the car is going above about 20mph.

It seems to be all there, the knob is under the dash, there's a cable running from a big canister by shock to I guess the trans, and the gas peddle rod runs through it, and it has a switch with a spring on firewall, all is connected.

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I never thought of it that way...

Thanks

Ok so I cleaned the car, and the clutch peddle is red,
So is this something I should rebuild, and make work, or is it more trouble then it's worth???

It is unique and unless you completely remove all the pieces, your friends will probably ask about it -- and if it is working, maybe even be suitably impressed at what they did in days before automatic transmissions were common. IMO, it would be nice to have it working for show and tell even if operation is not perfect at first. If you get comfortable with it then make it perfect. Adjustments do have to be made carefully and properly so that is the troublesome part. And, if you choose not to use it you can always turn it off once show and tell is over so it won't hinder normal driving.

You might download the training manual and see what you think on the operation and check that everything is therepackardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/ClutchTrainingManual.pdf

The common failure items which usually got them disabled are the rubber bellows -- which is now available from Steele -- and the wire rope which is available from Kanter and maybe other vendors. One problem on getting it operational will be your conversion to 12v. There is a solenoid built into the control unit that is 6v. Nothing else could substitute so that incompatibility will have to be addressed.