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The GearStart doesnt have transfer tubes?

Hello to all Packard friends who responded to this thread:
This is a quick update before the weekend regarding my Ultramatic (non-gear start) transmission. Apparently with the rear end raised all this week, trans. fluid has crept into the necessary passages and has primed the front pump enough to fill the torque converter and allow the transmission to work in all gears!!

A road test won't happen until next week to see if the transmission will go into direct drive. My car mechanic has to install new shocks (Kanter) and rework the front wheel cylinders prior to a road test. More to come on the direct-drive issue. Thanks to all of you for your responses. One of you was direct on target.

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David, good news. You will probably sleep better tonight.

(o{}o)

Well stated Ross. The beauty of this forum is there are so many helpful experienced people available to venture guidance and help with advise.......as in the case of Ross having had an occurrence where a transmission air locked, then coincidentally Dave's garage tried putting the car into a position that gravity moved the oil into the torque converter......(also air locked?) what are the chances of two separate people having had this rare condition and then writing about it within days of each other. Ain't this forum great.

Congratulations! Glad to hear it is working. Be sure of your brakes before you trundle out on a main road. HAVE FUN!

That sure beats another teardown.

I remember my dad telling me that, years ago, he had to pack the oil pump on some Buick engines with Vaseline to ensure a prime. However, those engines had a rotor type pump - similar to what's used in automatic transmisions.

I wonder, then, if that's something we should be doing, as part of a rebuild, with the pumps in Ultramatics?

David,

Finally found the information, my rebuild on my 55 400 was done in 1992, so it has been awhile.

Robert Campos did the work. Wilson p Johnston automatic transmissions was the shop it was located at 811 Prairie trail, Austin.

You are proably right that he and the shop are long gone.

David, Folks here are all waiting to hear how your test drive went.

(o{}o)

Glad to hear that your converter ultimately filled David but I'll bet your transmission tech was thrilled. It sounds like to me that he had enough experience and confidence in his work to know what to do about it...tilt it forward, walk away from it and let gravity do its job...your car has a lot going for it and the patina is admirable...let us know how it drives out.

I remember this guy in Austin, now that you post his name. He worked on a couple of my cars, did great work, close his shop and moved on. I have not thought of him since the 80's. WOW what a connection.