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Hello all!

I need the help of Packard experts. I have recently inherited my father's hotrod, a 1934 Chevrolet Coupe. It is entirely composed of farm finds, bits from this car, parts from that truck etc. He build it in the late 1950s and raced it actively until the mid/late 60s. It was his first car, the car my parents were married in, and the family's only car until 1975.

I have been trying to take over the maintenance of the vehicle...my father was not one for upkeep or leaving behind records. Everything on the car leaks, and from every possible spot. I'd like to patch it up, but I am struggling greatly to identify what it is made of so that I can buy the appropriate seals etc.

I believe the transmission is a Packard 3 speed unit. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find marks on the transmission, or how to tell them apart. I'm hoping you folks, being the experts, may be able to steer me in the right direction.

Any help, suggestions, information etc that you could provide would be greatly appreciated. It has traditional Chevrolet 3 speed pattern where reverse is top left, 1st is bottom left, 2nd is top right and 3rd is bottom right. This led me to believe it was some version of a Chevrolet Saginaw? I chased that lead for several weeks never knowing it wasn't a Chevrolet unit. In researching top loader 3 speeds, I stumbled upon a Packard link. I think its conclusively Packard...but that was where the trail went cold.

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Correction….“Seals”. Leaks are normal.

That is a Packard three speed, probably from a '35-'38 120. I'm stunned that it has been converted to accept the Chevy torque tube driveshaft as Packards had open drvelines. That was some serious work. I think I can see the Chevy rear housing brazed onto an adapter plate replacing the Packard rear bearing retainer.

As to seals, the trans had none at the front and a normal lip seal at the back. I'd guess that is not there anyway because of the mod.

Nice ride. Wish U luck with it and keep it going.
What's the power plant?
Lots of post war Yankee "engine"-uity back in the day.

Thank you all for your replies! I have to admit, I'm never sure what kind of reception to expect when joining a new forum...so it was nice to see things are friendly!

I have searched for information about the 1935-38 3 speed without success. Is there a specific model number associated with the transmission? I'd like to get an idea as to what the gearing was like and if there were any alternatives, but I need a place to start. To be honest, I'd really like to get more gears in it as it currently spins 5000rpm at 60mph. Given the configuration of the car, I'm not sure it is possible to do that with anything but an automatic conversion as the shifter location for most Chevrolet transmissions would move this one's location to under the seat.

I have a similar thread on a Chevrolet truck forum trying to identify the rear end. Near as I can tell, its from a 1947-1954 Chevrolet "Stovebolt" pickup truck. If I can sort that out, I may be able to bring the gearing down by swapping the rear end out.

As far as I can tell, the engine is a 283 small block with a 4 barrel, probably also from a truck. I'd imagine it too was straight from a farm and probably has no internal modifications. Dad used to drag this thing "back in the day"...supposedly running 13.2's in 1962. I have to admit, being born in 1975 and cutting my teeth on cars in the 80's, it's hard for me to wrap my head around exactly why it was made the way it was. I'd have thought you'd pull the drivetrain from a single vehicle, say a '57 Chev sedan...but those were different times.

Its funny...I left here to visit the truck forum I mentioned in my last post and the first response was someone attacking me for posting an image of the car with all the drivetrain parts. It was exactly the same post I made here, but rear axle/differential specific.

Some people...

This is a very friendly group and your car is Packard enough to suit us! We are always interested in seeing things like this and, speaking only for myself, it is far better than seeing some of the “chop jobs” of turning a perfectly good Packard into something else.

As for the transmission, it was suggested that the model is 120 and the literature section should have details about it. The rear end ratios changed quite a bit even within a model but the transmission gear ratios did not. Also, there should be a casting number somewhere on the transmission that might help narrow it down.

Thank you PackardDon! I'll check that right away.

In reading the 120 manuals, I note that it specifies SAE 160 for the transmission.

I know the trans currently has 75-90 in it (which I will remedy post haste).

This transmission really doesn't like...transitioning...between gears. It shifts and actuates like a trans should but actually getting into gear has been a frustrating problem. I know from reading the manual just now that only 2nd is synchronized. The car does NOT like going from 3rd back into 2nd...2nd to 3rd is always easy.

Could this be a function of the fluid? Is there a specific way to shift this transmission and the issues then are driver ignorance?

You don't say what type of 75-90 is in it now. Gear oils with slip additives such as would be used in a differential are detrimental in a standard shift synchronized transmission as the slip additives defeat the action of the synchronizers.

Also the heavier oils will help retard gear spin which can benefit shifting.

When in doubt you can't go wrong by using the lubricant Packard recommended.