Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Hey let me put my two cents in this discussion. This is strickly my opinion and you can agree or disagree .I am the owner of a 1955 400 hardtop I bought in 2003. Since I bought it I have toasted 4 Twin Ultras. The first one to go was the one that came with the car when I bought it that was 2006-I had a automatic shop with a good rep rebuild it in Philadelphia Pa where I live for 1700. That first rebuild lasted two years. Then I sent the car to Ultramatic dynamics to have one of thier units installed-I then drove the car to the 2009 Gettysburg meet where it gave up the ghost; if any of you guys went to that meet you remember every day was god awful hot-near 100F whether this played a part in this transmissions destruction I dont know. To ultra dynamics credit they installed another one and didnt charge me for it either-that trans gave up the ghost three weeks ago. I have owned old cars for years At one time or another I have had a 1957 Pontiac Starchief and a 1965 Old convertible (which I still own). The Starchief's transmission ( a Hydramatic) was rebuilt a couple of years after I bought it and I have no doubt its still running strong somewhere (I sold it in 2001). The other car the Oldsmobile in the 25 years since I bought it I have had to do no more to its tranny that put in a couple of pan gaskets and a new filter-and believe me this car gets driven! My point I simply believe the twin ultra is UNREBUILDABLE! Years ago I was outside an tranny shop here in Pa I saw an old guy working on a late 40s mercury he seemd like he had been around so I asked him if her could rebuild a Twin-you know what he said to me: Is that the Packard transmission-I said yes-he replied oh yeah I remember those-listen bud; I HATED THOSE THINGS WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN THERE A CAN OF WORMS AND YOU COULDNT PAY ME TO WORK ON ONE NOW!! Prophetic words. So your about to ask me what to do - I found a conversion kit from a place called BENTSENS you take out that twin and use it for something more useful like a boat anchor or a planter and you get the kit and a 700r chevy overdrive auto and convert it. I spoke to one guy who had it done and he loves his 55 now and drives it everywhere!Yeah I know its no longer completely original-but whats the use of having the Twin if you cant drive it? The cost for the kit and the trans is 2600-you also have to have the driveshaft machined to fit-I am definitley going this route ( as soon as I earn the money)

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i don't blame you myself. i rebuilt my TU, no idea if it works right or how long it will last. hopefully forever. who knows. if i was in your shoes i'd do the same thing.

One thing is for sure, your effort to retain the T'Ultra has been more than commendable in ANY circle of car owners.

I'm sure the 700R4 will be much to your liking especialy with the Overdrive. Keep us posted on your progess. Maybe start a dedicted blog in this website for the conversion.

However, keep in mind that the success u had with the GM products or F or MoPar products in the past was due to their widespread popularity and very hign production numbers. Which means alot of parts and service providers competeing for bussiness. So results with the high production cars will be excellent.

LOW production cars, such as Packard and many others become something more of a Research and Development project than anything that mite resemble standard procedure.

Your have a beautiful Packard based on the above picture. Anyone would be proud to own it.

Keep us posted.

I also realize that all u really want is a trans that will work and probably not the least bit interested in any forensics of the T'Ultra. If u were in the middle Tn area i's be more than willing tospend a day or two to tear it apart and analyze. Maybe someone in your area will.

Forensics is the key to these issues.

HEED THIS WARNING:
Thoroughly Check your trans cooler lines and cooler(s) to be sure that they are not plugged up or compromised in someway. OTherwise u'll just burn up 700R4 too.

OH sorry that car is not mine-thats the car with the BENDTSEN conversion-here is mine

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