Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Nice fix. But your arm is actually attached upside-down. Flip it over and re-adjust your linkage so that the column lever can't move the pawl too far, and then confirm the rest of the gear positions are correct.

Don't worry, the arm orientation annoys me as well because there is nowhere in the 55 service manual that it actually tells you how to do it. There is a step and photo, but they reused the different and incompatible 54GS (or earlier?) photo and explanation.

Top view in the factory drawing.

And that's why I post this stuff!!!!

Almost everything is guess work for me due to limited info in the manual!

I did have it the other way and could NOT get the linkage ratio to work at all....

I will test it out again since I had been attempting those adjusntments prior to the trans rebuild.

Updates to follow (unless everyone is tired of this thread by now)!

This is one of the linkages, you can thread it to adjust. It is NOT supposed to be bent in this manner (see post later showing correct shape), I will have to straighten or replace mine or adjust to compensate.

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Made a new linkage rod with the lever in correct position. Still sticks in park. I'm going to mess with the lengths on the vertical and horizontal rod adjustments now, see if I can find that no stick sweet spot. If not, I'll go back to my other system that seemed to be working.

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Why not tap in the dowel pin a bit to adjust the resting position?

Sometimes that pin gets bent also and should be replaced with a new standard one without the notch.

The root cause is your follower 450354 getting too worn out. But to replace it requires dropping the transmission.

FYI, I am getting more made, because this issue is getting very common.

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When I had the trans out, the pin did not appear bent at all. I have a do have a new one on hand if needed.

Tapping it into a better stop position would be ideal.

I would definitley be interested in an updated follower for this when they become available (since everything will be out and easily accessible during paint).

For now, I will fine-tune the linkage setup. It'll be bulletproof once I finish it!

The linkage (Steering column to idler) is supposed to be bent. It follows the floor angle. Pictures are: my 56 as installed, 55 NOS, part 465114, Joel has on e-bay, and 56 NOS, part 6480032, Joel has on e-bay.
It looks like someone tried to bend yours.

What is the failure rate of the 450354 you are seeing (number of failures and number of units you have repaired/rebuilt)?

Stats:

- Joel Ray has 1 remaining NOS but a whole bucket (apparently) of worn ones.

- Ultramatic Dynamics used to sell blocky new ones machined by hand, I think he did about 20 over the years.

- One of the Ultramatic shops has already pre-ordered 5 (I told them some time ago).

FYI, the linkage was changed between 55 and 56 to improve the leverage situation so that it was easier to shift it out of park. Doesn't matter which one you use as long as it's all one year.

For example, I'm putting a 56 trans originally in a Hash into my Clipper Deluxe. All the twin ultra transmission cases are dimensionally identical for most intents and purposes so all I have to do is have a 55 selector shaft arm to make it work as intended on my 55.

Ross Miller on the other hand is building up a 55 transmission in a 56 case for one of his personal cars, since 55 NOS parts are much more available, but also then to have the aluminum case.

Got it.

I successfully adjusted the linkages and they work killer, for now. It took some fine tuning to achieve the exact spot to not stick in park. The newly fabricated adjustable horizontal linkage made it very convenient..... 2024 patent pending....

I have more parts coming this week - power steering hoses and column shift indicator assembly.

I will also swap the trans fluid to either the B&M trick shift, or Amsoil supershift since the fluid has not been swapped after the rebuild.