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Greetings,

This past weekend I just bought a 1936 Packard 120 8 cylinder. The owner that I bought it from had it sitting in a climate controlled garage since 2012I am in the process of getting it running again. When I was sitting in the car messing around with the gear selector I noticed that I can only go into reverse in first gear on it. I cannot get second or third gear to engage. My question is is this because the gears are not synchronized and I have to be moving in order to get it to go on the second and third gear? Or should I be able to shift through all the gears with the car not in motion? You guys are going to see a lot of me around these parts I appreciate everyone's input and discussion.

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Your transmission is a synchronized (2nd and 3rd speeds) unit. Typically you might be able to move the cane into all positions though whether or not would depend on the position that the gear teeth happened to come to rest at.

G'day Usmc1936,
to PackardInfo and, I invite you to include your '36 120B Sedan in the Packard Owner's Registry.

Thank you for the reply. I'm hoping that's what it is and not something wrong with the transmission.

Hi USMC1936,

Welcome to Packard Info! Nice car you have acquired - you should have fun getting everything sorted and working properly. I speak from experience when I say this site is a 'miracle resource' when it comes to instruction, info and advice. Re your tranny, a quick look at the linkage underneath might be telling. I was astounded at the amount of wear in the transmission and clutch linkage on my '39 Six. I probably shouldn't have been, taking into account that the car is 80+ years old and it was probably all original kit, but given what I found, it was a wonder the thing even shifted. Some of the linkage components can still be found, others repaired and some you may end up making, but it can all be rectified. The nice part about it all is that once you get it back to normal function, with proper care and maintenance, you will probably never have to do it again! FWIW, I just completed an engine overhaul/R&R and had the transmission rebuilt while it was out. Parts and labour came in at just under $300. Good luck. Chris

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Are you missing a 0 or two in that total amount or was that the amount just to fix the linkage?

No, Howard, I bought the bearings, seals and syncro rings in a kit from Kanters for $155 and took the tranny to a local transmission guy here who specialized in older units and he redid it for $140. $295 all-in. Does that sound too cheap?? LOL THAT would be a first for me!!!! Chris (the linkage I did myself, basically just for the cost of some bushing stock and some steel rod stock Maybe $15/$20??)

Must be those Canadian dollars. I think you would be hard pressed to get a decent mechanic to lift the trans onto a workbench and remove the cover for that amount in Calif -- at least not one that works in a full shop. Might be able to find an oldtimer that does it in his garage but still don't think many would be that lucky.

Howard - Canada has to be good for SOMETHING!! We're at the back of the line for most things, so to get props for competitive pricing on a tranny rebuild might not sound like much to some, but we'll take it!! LOL FWIW, it WAS an actual shop with a licensed mechanic who 'came up through the ranks' as a transmission specialist and then branched out into full-line service, so transmissions are certainly his comfort zone. (plus it didn't hurt that he had a '38 Dodge all restored and he liked my Packard!!) Chris

I sure wouldn't pay 3000 dollars to have a 3 speed transmission rebuilt. 300 sounds about right to me.