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My 1954 Cavalier has a lovely carpet job by those who restored her/him about ten years ago and my question relates to a possibility trap door to allow checking the Ultramatic transmission fluid.

The front carpet doesn't appear to come out or peel back easily so I haven't messed with it. I can feel anything that would lead me to think there is a check hole or a plug or a cover.

I can't fit under and hate putting it up on jacks and nobody in Phoenix will put it on a lift unless they get to collect a service.

Maybe one of you who has seen a naked floor can tell me what to expect and about where.

My car has quite thick carpet pad and boots over the gas and brake pedal.

Jim

The large access plate went away with the 51's.

For 51-54, there is no opening other than the small hole on top of tunnel directly over the breather. That can be accessed by putting the seat all the way back and then folding the carpet up from the rear. It will be about 3 inches give or take in front of the seat edge directly in the tunnel center. You should be able to feel where the padding is cut and just the carpet covers the access plate. The trans can have fluid added from there but that's about all.

The dipstick is still only reached from below. Some have tried to add an opening but the location of the dipstick in relation to the tunnel side & corner by accelerator bottom mount seems to cause issues with some attempts. The hole needs to be large enough to get your hand in a ways to maneuver and have a removable cover. Carpet pull back would still be an issue because the accelerator may have to remove to access the area unless the carpet is modified.

Jim, I feel your pain. It's incomprehensible to me how the best engineers in Detroit could put something so critical to transmission life and performance way up there where it is practically inaccessible.

ATF is very thin, and even if you were able to peel the carpet back or otherwise get to the dip stick thru the interior, the chances of one drop of that very thin, very red ATF never dripping on that nice, new, expensive carpets is near zero.

Invest in ramps, they're good to have anyways.

It's incomprehensible to me how the best engineers in Detroit could put something so critical to transmission life and performance way up there where it is practically inaccessible.

Yes, it's inconvenient now with how many of use these cars, but remember that when these were new cars Packard called for an oil change and grease job every 1000 miles which for many drivers who drove the average of 12,000 miles a year meant that once a month it was up on a lift for service. Under those conditions the dipstick location wasn't really an issue.

Actually, I think the reason they started the remote dipstick (read underhood) was because it reduced warranty costs.

Today they have a new way to reduce warranty costs - they don't pay them.

One time I handled a brand new truck (19,000 miles) and the complaint was a driveline noise in the back. Nothing on the road test. That notwithstanding I put the thing on the lift and removed the driveshaft. One of the U-joints was never greased from the factory. So in go two U-joints. Mind you these aren't Packard U-joints. These are a royal bxtch that have to be cut out with a torch.

The amount they listed for this job was less than for a 1941 Packard and the manufacturer never paid. Then they got pissed off when I quit.

"Yes, it's inconvenient now with how many of use these cars, but remember that when these were new cars Packard called for an oil change and grease job every 1000 miles which for many drivers who drove the average of 12,000 miles a year meant that once a month it was up on a lift for service. Under those conditions the dipstick location wasn't really an issue".

Using that logic, they could have screwed the whole hood down making it impossible for anyone but the dealer to enter the engine compartment. Poor engineering...

Bobby, I agree with O_D on this one, and he makes a good point. Packard servicing and maintenance procedures and methods were contemporary for the times. It was just done differently in those days. Sometimes it is hard to see why things were done the way they were 50+ years ago.

(o[]o)

I think it also helps to remember that the car was built back in the day of full-service gasoline stations. Back then service station attendants would not only pump your gas, but check your oil, your radiator fluid, any fluid reservoirs, steering brakes, etc., hoses, belts, and clean your windows, all as part of routine service at the gasoline fill up. Maybe there are still some full-service gasoline stations left, but I do not know of any near me. The Service Station back then would put your car on a lift to change your oil and grease your grease fittings, so while under there, it wasn't that difficult to check the transmission fluid too. (How many grease fittings does your modern car have? Mine has none. )
Ken

I've heard that many '51 through '54 Packards were "modified" like my '54 Convertible is (see attached photos.) This was on the car when I bought it seven years ago. The floor was rather crudely cut out, but it works. There is even enough room to use a funnel to add fluid. Something like this may be hiding under your carpet.

The floor carpeting is a kit I bought from Kanter. The carpeting over the upper part of the hump was left open on the left side. It just slips under the carpet edging that runs just beside the gas pedal area. This makes it easy to access the trap door. Hopefully, your carpeting is similarly constructed.

Now if only there was an easy way to access the non-Easamatic brake master cylinder...

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That is one of the more functional opening attempts I have seen -- particularly the hinged cover. Think most can get a general idea of the location and carpet mods but any dimensions you can share & changes you would make for those that might be interested in trying it for themselves?