Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Hello, The Ultramatic trans on my 56 Executive push button trans is leaking at the tail shaft seal to the driveshaft, and leaking at the small square box at the D/S of the trans. Shift selector? The plate at the bottom someone gooped it up but it still leaks. What will happen if I remove the two screws and put on a better seal? Is there anything inside that box that might fall out?

For the square box, can you send a photo? Closest thing with 2 screws I can think of is labeled 3.314274 here:packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/parts ... PlateNumber=34C&partslist=1955-1956

If that is leaking trans fluid then you have bigger problems. The selector shaft seal must be bad. To replace it requires dropping the pan and disconnecting the various selector shaft items. So a little involved.

Tail shaft seal you will want to disconnect the driveshaft, undo the bolt, pull off the flange, pry out the old seal, and drive in the new. Pretty easy, relatively speaking. Be sure to follow the torque specs in the manual.

I also cannot think of anything like a square box on the drivers side of the transmission. There is a round can like object with two wires going to it positioned slightly above the actuator. That item is the pressure switch but UNLESS someone has changed out the stock round switch with something not stock and square then the only other squarish bit is the cover plate at the bottom of the actuator where you tighten the setscrew which holds the worm sector to the selector shaft.

If Pgh Ultra is correct and the shaft seal is leaking allowing fluid to get into the actuator, you really do not want to seal it tightly as fluid could collect and if trapped, reach a high enough level to possibly affect the contact segments and fingers. It is also possible fluid is not reaching the actuator and is in fact leaking out the small space between the case and actuator. I believe when new there was a small felt ring or washer between the two as sort of a dust seal but chances are that is long gone.

While some have disagreed with adding holes to the actuator saying the extra holes allow splashing water to get inside, S-P service actually suggested adding two small vent or drain holes to the actuator so any condensing water or leaking fluid could escape.