Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Need oil pan gasket for 1956 twin ultramatic , modern materials.

What's with the "modern materials"? Cork does the job just fine. I'm sure Kanter has them, so does Max, so does Ultramatic Dynamics.

No matter the gasket material use a straight edge to make sure sheet metal around the bolt holes in the pan are not deformed. If you find any not flush flatten or even depress the metal a bit on the gasket side so any raised hole doesn't prevent the gasket from having a good seal.

Yes, that's why I said that. My friend Lester Harris has some but they are over 60 years old and sitting in a hot warehouse where they are crumbly. Some things I do not want NOS along with gaskets that come in contact with oils and the gasoline we have today.

The pan gaskets you'll get today from any of the major Packard vendors will be fresh manufacture.

That's what I wanted to hear! Thanks!

Best gasket...makes fiber gasket..

Also the Ultramatic shift quadrant is not lining up correctly, as you can't tell what gear you are in.

When you have the pan off verify the manual valve operating lever is securely fastened to the shaft. While you are there also make sure the pin that connects the valve link to the lever is intact and secure in the holes at both ends. The threads in the pot meta lever strip and let the setscrew loosen so the lever and rear stop rotate on the shaft. There should be almost no play at the end of the outside lever as it rotates the shaft. Detents should be firm and again absolutely no slop one gear to the next. If you find a problem tighten the setscrew and nut as best you can but also drill the lever and shaft and install a 1/8" roll pin. Even if the lever is tight now it may be a good preventative measure to drill and pin anyway. The loosened setscrew is a known issue that will probably happen eventually.

If that part is good check the linkage for loose and worn pivots. Don't know if Hudson used the same lever and rod arrangement as Packard but there should be a bellcrank assy that converts the vertical rod movement from the shift column to the horizontal rod going to trans. On Packards there are some rubber bushings that can deteriorate along with loose mounting brackets which can let the bellcrank assy move resulting in lost motion.

If linkage is good then it is a matter of finding the adjustment from the shift tube inside column to whatever indicates on the Hudson dash. On Packards there is a rubber cover on the bottom of dash below the steering column which covers an assy that holds and works the indicator needle. That was a source of indicator error in Packards if the holding clamp became loose and allowed the needle assy to move.

Does it still shift ok when you shift gears? Just the indicator is off?

I have that happen in my '54. In my case, there was a little hold down screw in the column under the indicator that had to loosen up and it was slipping causing the indicator not to move in sync with the shifter lever.

But I will let other more familiar with the V8 steering column comment further.