Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

While torching a 1956 Packard Clipper apart, I ran into a GM Hydromatic transmission attached instead of the Ultramatic. Has anyone ever run across this before? Included are pictures of the car and installation.

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Yes,

A local transmission shop owner in Calgary adapted a 4 speed hydramatic to the 1955 Clipper that he had bought new. The car was used to tow an airstream travel trailer for many years.

I briefly owned a 1955 Clipper 2 door hardtop that had also been converted to a hydramatic by the same shop.

BDeb and 57 Detroit Built:
Can each of u give us an approximate year when the conversion was done????

There are only THREE bolts holding trans to engine????

Cool discovery! Love to know how that Clipper performed through the years.

Quote:
A couple of the trans bolt holes on the sides look like they might line up with holes in the bellhousing. Perhaps at one time there was a second half of the adapter. Were Hydramatics of that vintage air or water cooled? It looks like maybe they left the old Packard lines just sitting and vibrating.

I thought that there was a trans that bolted up to ultra, I think the 56 motors manual also states it, I think..

I had a 56 Patrician that had a 4 speed Hydra-matic. I bought it in Stockton CA in 1990 and sold in Modesto in 1997.

It already had the transmission in it when I bought it and it actually worked quite well. There was not enough room for the duel exhaust on the drivers side due to the width of the transmission and linkage so it was single exhaust.

The car was in pretty good shape when I sold it except the engine had the oil pressure problem, and needed some attention.

I wish I had not sold it and would like to buy it back if it ever turns up for sale.

That 56 clipper brings back memories,

my dad bought one for 10 dollars, from our neighbor hood, its was going to the wrecking yard, but the person knew my dad had a Packard, and said you can have it for 10 bucks, that was the going the rate at junk yards.

it had a 55 trans, which I later gave away, my dad bought a 56 exe. which was later, taken apart, I put the exe fenders and grill, on the clipper. put the clipper together as a high school project,

the clipper was in real good shape body wise, the persons grandparents owned it. interior had seat covers real clean.

but later I got a 56 400 from my dads friend, and the clipper was moved to a lot, then ,,,scrap..to pay off storage fees..the car was given to someone else and that's what I heard..

the tl worked perfect on the clipper. I don't think I even replaced the bushings. Had a two barrel carb. which I still have somewhere. not sure if the air cleaner is still around.

san diego to Disneyland,,,round trip,,just past 3/4 tank.

The 56 clipper I bought with the Hydromatic tranny was converted over in 1964. It saw road service till 1971 when the body would not pass inspection. The man I got it off of owned a auto repair shop. He said that the main reason this was done that ultramatic repair parts were almost impossible to find by then. I can,t find oil cooling lines on it so it must be air cooled or something. It in away looks to be a after market kit of some sort.