Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Last weekend, i was coming home from a car show and, well rather enjoying stretching the ole' 374s legs a little. Everything was fine untill i got about a mile from home. i turned onto a tight back road which necessitated a shift down to high range from converter (i was driving in H, like i always do). the downshift was fine, but upon re acceleration, the trans would not shift back into direct. I continued home as i was only 200 yards or so from my house. I parked in the driveway, let her idle for 20 seconds or so and shut it off. looking underneath, i noticed that sheed puked up a bit of tranny fluid.

As i had more pressing things to do, she stayed parked untill today. i got underneath today, and i believe the fluid came from the left (drivers side) near the top. It is coming out of a bent and battered piece of metal line screwed into a 90 degree fitting that is in turn screwed into the case.

My service manual doesnt give any CLEAR indication what should be there, but it looks like it could have been a vent.

I cleaned everything up and replaced the ounce or so of fluid that was lost. I then wen for a nice drive, during which the same problems occured. It acted fine cold, then stopped going into direct after a hot, post highway downshift. The temperature for both runs was above 80 fahrenheit.
sorry for the long post, but i have no idea about ultramatic stuff.

a long test ride this evening, with the temperature at a much more tolerable 68 showed no isuues with shifting or fluid loss.

Im starting to think the tranny cooler is plugged??

Its possible. Also make sure there are no places where the steel coolant lines have become kinked or pinched. May also be a good time to drop the tranny pan and clean out the filter screen.

that is where the vent is

Need to download BH's technical bulletin index that he so generously developed for us. Look in there for an STB or SC discussing re-lo of the T'Ultra breather to the top of the tail shaft housing. It's alot of work to do tho.

How fast were u running the car??????

I don't think the shift problem is related to the oil puking from the breather. Most likely due to a restricted oil filter. The oil filter can be removed and cleaned and reinstalled.

Go from there. Let us know.

It sounds as if the fluid is coming from breather. The earlier units had the breather on top but if this is where you suspect it came from (two V8 versions shown) then means it foamed or got very hot and thin fluid leaks past worn bushings easier which is probably why no DD..


I would also second the checking of cooler and also suggest adding an additional modern air cooled unit. It's possible something is amiss causing excess heat but simple things first.

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speed? since the speedo cable is broken i have no idea, but i got to 70 im sure, but not for long. steady cruising in the 60s and some quick accelerations once in direct.

My version of 'stretching out' may be a little less severe than some peoples.

i wish i knew who made that F'd up breather so i could give them a whoopin!

Thanks all for the great help!

My "breather" is a 90 degree pipe fitting screwed into the case where the breather should be, with a 4 inch length of mangled flare ended brake or fuel line attached.

and im definately ok with the idea of adding an extra tranny cooler! it only takes a few extra degrees to really mess things up quick.

as im remembering things...

I checked the tranny fluid several times today and noted NO foaming or burning.

If the fluid is very thin due to heat then the rear pump will not be able to create enough pressure to cause the upshift into Direct. When my friend first rebuilt my tranny in 92 he didn't notice the back neck of the rear pump had two grooves worn into it. He checked the pump rotor and it was within tolerance, so he installed it. It would shift fine for the first 10 minutes or so and as soon as the fluid warmed up and thinned out, it would not upshift because the rear pump could not maintain proper pressure. We tore the tranny apart and discovered the bad rear pump. We installed another pump and it has worked fine since then. I've never had it over 105.