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

I just purchased this awesome car.. 47 clipper 6. Just going through it... I noticed there is a knob under the instrument panel , directly under the speedo. At first I thought it was a manual choke, but when I traced the cable, I see that it connects to a linkage on the transmission.

I know this may be elemantary for you seasoned clipper guys.. but what does this lever/knob do???

thanks...

Paul,

It's probably the Overdrive lockout.

Agreed. Pulled out, the cable locks the overdrive (EconoDrive as Packard named it) out and prevents operation. Pushed in and at approx 20 mph it will go into OD if you let your foot off the gas for a moment. If your car is stock you should have the R9 overdrive. R11s were field installed on some cars.

It's important to know which you have because they are two different animals. Parts are different should you need anything and operation is slightly different. You can tell which you have without crawling under by looking at the firewall and finding the relay. R9 has a square black box about the size of the voltage regulator and 6 terminals going into it. R9s also have a green indicator light on the speedo between the 6 and 7 which lights when the car is ready for OD. R11s have a smaller rectangular relay box with a fuse on the side and while it looks like the indicator light is still there, the bulb for the light in the speedometer was eliminated. On R11s you judge when it is ready for OD by speed alone.

Thank you all.. I have the R9 as you described.. found the 6 terminal box and light on speedo.