Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

As you know, my car is a ‘37 138CD. With it being a 138, it has the 4.54 rear end. I haven’t done it yet, but I will be installing 23rd series transmission with R11 OD. Well….I won’t be installing it, I’ll be having it installed.

I happened across it as Allen (who worked on my car in Wichita) happened to have it. He also had the governor, solenoid and speedometer cable. I was able to get the rest of the needed parts from Vintage Auto Garage. I was able to get a top plate from the Dallas office so that I can keep my existing transmission complete.

Once my car is out of the shop, I’ll probably drive it through the summer and then take it back to Allen late fall to have him install the OD for me. My understanding is that you have to modify the top plate, shorten the drive shaft and slightly notch the frame…then add the wiring etc..

I know my dad says he routinely drove the car at 70mph back when he bought it the early 60s. I’ve driven it short distances at 55 to 60 with no issues. But, like you, I want to drive my car a bit. I want to take longer trips such as KC to Chicago.

I used to drive my 1040 110 at freeway speed for distances too and never any issue but I finally installed an R9 unit. Unfortunately due to changing circumstances, I never drove it again after that but I expect it would have been a major improvement.

Ken, take HH56's learned advice. Scout up a junior 1948-on R-11 overdrive. They are more plentiful than 1940-early '48 R-9s, so less expensive, and slightly simplified (1939's single year R-6 was full mechanical, not as good. Hardly suggesting it was not good, so calm down any '39 OD owners.)

Even at a sedate and dangerously slow on today's freeways 50 mph, with overdrive, you're reducing rpm, saving gas, prolonging engine life, as you surely are at 60. You'll spend a lot of time at a relaxed 65-70 with overdrive, so long as traffic not dense and you remember that good drum brakes no match for today's ABS. Drum brakes like yours will stop you as fast, just not repeatedly as quickly descending long mountain grades as discs.

I had a '40 120 non-overdrive car with your 4.09 from 1974-83. Adding overdrive made it a super car, the best road car extant. Your '37 is on a smarter 120-inch wheelbase, and tho' we're talking about mechanics and drivability, Packard won the annual Gallup Poll's Most Beautiful Car three consecutive years 1935-37, their pontoon fendered '38 losing to Buick in '38. Packard never made a better car than the One Twenty, certainly not if drivability included. Seven inches less wheelbase than 1938-on makes for a different, more sporting road car, and floor shift is wonderful, simple. Packard wisely returned to 120 inches for their 1942-47 junior Clippers. Postwar Bentley Mark VI/R-Type, R-R Silver Dawn, and 1950-56 Jaguar Mark VII saloons did well with 120-inch wb.

Don't sell yourself short. Add overdrive. You can always shift down or kick out of overdrive, but it's a real drag to run out of gears.