Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

Okay guys, here’s a big time question/first of many posts about this rebuild mod of a 1950 327 with ultramatic into a 22 series 2dr which is setup to be a manual transmission.

I know that the transmission mounts are different, and I am also bringing the rear axle from the 23 series over, and probably the shaft has to be modified, but can I be easily done for the garage mechanic like me? (Side note, I was out in touch with Ross Miller via a Facebook group and he’s the one who told me I would need the tranny mounts and rear axle to make it work, and I’m grateful he even returned me call, but he mentioned making a list here, and asking for help)

The front:
So in the first two pictures I’m including here, this is the existing setup in the 22 series and realized that it’s much shorter, like by 7-8” shorter, and so what will that do to the brake pedal mounts in the front of the transmission mount is much farther back???

The rear Axle:
Short backstory.
So I’m in Portland. In 2014 I bought the 1950 custom 8 from a guy in southern Oregon (the car originally from Salt Lake). I have the seats hardened and the block checked out but then I have to move back to Minnesota where I thought life would continue for many years, so I tow the packard behind to Minnesota, where it sits for years and years. Finally, I meet a guy who has a crazy idea to take the body of the car and slap it on a 4x4 frame and give it a Cummins. (That’s still in progress) But then the question remains of what to do with the engine I put money into already and I really think I can install this 327 eventually. Well life moves on and I’m happily living back in Portland now, so I found a 2dr 22 series without an engine out here, and hauled the engine and granny BACK out west to install it, right? Right!

Wrong! I needed the mounts and and rear axle, so I flew back this last week to Minnesota and took off the leaf springs and axle, built a pallet for it and it’s being shipped out here asap. Here’s the rub: I just got under the 22 series 2dr here and noticed that theres a stabilizer bar attached to the axle that the other axle didn’t have, plus the rear from the 23 has this long, cross-axle bar. The shocks look kinda the same if I am remembering correctly but they probably have different mounting spots. Ugh, what have I gotten myself into here??

The last pics are of the rear under the 22 series. I don’t think have any pics of the 23 series axle, but it’ll be here soon.

And someone may be able to convince me to switch out the first gen auto with a 700r4, but not without a fight 🤣

Any help is greatly appreciated,
Blake

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Reading your post, I am still not sure what you are starting out with and what you are finishing with. Maybe it would be good to start there with a clear delination of both, and what you think your options are.

If the original car still has it's manual transmission, especially if it has overdrive, I might consider starting with that, just bolt the new 327 into the old tranmission. Otherwise you have to change steering columns at the very minimum, not simple nor fun. Also in this case the original axle should have the correct ratios.

It's not clear to me why you'd want to switch axles in any case.

Ross Miller, for one, is very complimentary of the Packard 3-speed+overdrive setup. It has nice gearing for the highway and good acceleration, something that cannot be said as much for the Ultramatic.

If you really want the Ultramatic, you probably want to save the manual transmission, steering column, axle, those can be sold to someone who would want to switch from Ultramatic to manual.

If the engine is truly from a 1950, the engine mounts should be the same, so it should swap in nicely, I think.

The 49 I bought was just a body and frame, no manual tranny but I can tell from the mounts and the linkage (and because I showed a picture to Ross) that it was originally a manual. I have the original steering column from the ultramatic so maybe I get manage to install that, but I understand it’s not going to be easy, or fun, ugh

And maybe I’ll just get rid of the ultramatic and find a manual somehow

Step one done, just took the manual crossmember out. Thanks Ross

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Here in lies the problem I am trying to describe in the post here and I have no idea how I’m going to remedy it… I dare not call him, but I need a major guru’s advice.

The ultramatic’s mount is not in place, below is the very similar of not the same part of a brake pedal lever from the 23 series. Custom made extra long pivot mount???

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I'm not sure I understand what you are referring to, but they made extended length throttle control shaft levers for the 55th series and it's possible you could have one. Apologies if I am off topic here...

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