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New question, old topic. The transmission shop called today and said it would be about $3,000 to get started! Then he said to keep another thousand aside if the "planets"???? needed replaced. I am a little shell shocked right now...

Here is the question, is there a place I can send my transmission to be rebuilt? That way I could just pay these folks to remove and install the Ultramatic. They really know nothing about them in the first place. I have a call in to Dynamic Ultramatics, but I think I heard that they aren't doing this anymore???

I live in south Texas, near Corpus Christi and closer would definitely be a plus. But I will ship for a deal!!

Help!!

The only place I know out here that does them anymore is Custom Auto in Santa Ana, CA. No idea on price but probably looking at every bit as much.

If i was paying that kind of cash, i'd want an ultramatic specialist to do it. Or i'd be dropping a 700r4 in. I think Ross does it? He's from MI i believe, but i may be wrong. He always knows all the details. Putting in the tranny shouldn't be done by them either if they don't know anything about them, the linkages have to be installed and adjusted just right. There's someone in CA who does them and had an ad on craigslist, but i can't find them at the moment. Anyways, i recall when i was getting prices that it was always about the $2500 mark, but that was usually all inclusive like adjustments and pressure testing, etc. Not just slapping parts in and saying good luck.

Before you contemplate swapping to a GM tranny, it's $1000 for the kit to do it and you'll need 12v because you'll be swapping to a Chevy starter too. Things to think about.


What year is your car and what type ultramatic? (Regular, gear start, twin, etc.)

I found that my local tranny guy had done a few over the years and was willing to do mine if i bought the parts including bushings from Kanter and dropped them off. $400 for a rebuild kit, $200 for relined bands, and $150 for a relined direct drive disc. Labor will probably be around $400 because i needed some machine work done. He's in Boardman (near Youngstown) Ohio and i'm sure he would work with you on shipping. If he doesn't, and he'll work on another when done with mine, then maybe i could do the shipping end for a fellow Packard enthusiast.

I would much rather have an ultramatic specialist like Ross, et al. do mine but i couldn't afford it with the rest of the project i had going, and i figured that having someone who at least knew SOMETHING about trannys doing it would be better than me. Of course, at first i was just changing some seals and gaskets too. :o) Problem is, except for this guy, no one wants to touch them or they want tons of cash.

If you can afford a specialist, do it. If not, PM me and i'll give you his name and number. He's understood or anticipated all of the advice and cautions that I've gotten from the good people helping on here, and as always known exactly what i'm talking about. He caught a few pitfalls i was going to make before i made them, so even though he doesn't do a ton of ultramatics, i have to place him above the average transmission guy. I don't expect to have any trouble with mine when i get it back to install it, save for the bent linkage that i did myself.

Also, here's some Kanter planetary prices:

Cage and shaft assembly, less gears: $398
Cage and shaft with gears, good used: $284
Cage damper, 3 per car, each: $22
Planetary ring gear assembly (good used $192) $372
Planetary ring gear bushing: $23
Planetary sun gear thrust bearing: $44
Planetary sun gear thrust washer: $25



So unless EVERYTHING was trashed, i wouldn't think you would need 1K for planetary parts, especially if you're willing to use some good used parts. As far as I've read (not experienced, just read while researching) not many people have had bad planetary parts and needed to replace. And by not many, i can't recall anyone on here doing that.

Of course i could be wrong and it could be more common, but if you don't have any reason to suspect planetary problems now then i doubt they would jump up and "surprise" you in the middle of the rebuild.


(Note: I know nothing about trannys. I'm just repasting info I've seen, heard, or read as i comprehend it. I am NOT a tranny expert or do i pretend to even really understand them. They're magic to me like an inflatable wheel would be to a caveman.)

I had Ross convert a '55 Clipper I bought, from a party who lives near him, from a Twin Ultramatic to a 3-speed manual shift because I did not know of any Ultramatic specialists in central Texas. Ross lives and works in Maryland, near Baltimore. Well, isn't everything in Maryland near Baltimore? Most pleased with his work.

(o{I}o)

If you would consider Longview, Russell Chandler has experience with Ultramatics and has the special tools, manuals and support....PM me if you need contact info.

http://www.ultramaticdynamics.com/

Never had any work done here, but I am sure some here have...

Dongle

I agree with not having someone even remove and install the transmission if they do not have experience with it. I got "burned" that way and mine was installed incorrectly, with rods rebent and a big mess.

Just an FYI, when i called ultramatic dynamics looking for prices for a clutch disc, he said he didn't have anything for the '50. I may be recalling this part wrong, but i thought he was 54 or 55 and up. Like the V8 ultras. I might be incorrect, always free to send someone a jingle.

I believe the 50 unit could be considered a work in progress--even more than the 54 gear start. Not surprising a lack of parts. Several changes in the run as you have noticed already. The very early ones even had a sand cast valve body--very rough and crude looking exterior. I am not sure how many of the valves would even interchange with each other or with the later die cast bodies. Instructions to mechanic was to change that assy as a unit.