Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Let me begin with an apology for not posting sooner, but I haven't yet solved my problem. I haven't had much time to work on my car [56 Caribb.h/t] as my wife just had major surgery [lobe of her lung removed]. The good news is all went well and she is recovering great.

My problem which I posted about probably a month ago. I replaced the shift rod seal on my Ultramatic, which was working fine except for the leaky seal. I removed the pan and took the shift rod out to check its condition, and installed the new seal - no leaks. However, the car now stayed in low gear, even with the "high" button pushed, no matter how much adjusting I did on the actuator. I installed a spare actuator with the same result. Then I removed the actuator and tied it out of the way, leaving wiring attached, and installed the arm from a 56 with regular column shifter on the shifter shaft. Then I crawled under the car and set it manually in the different gears, and all gears worked as they should. My conclusion was that I must have put something together wrong on reinstalling the shift shaft. Off came the pan again. I believe I put the arm that connects the shaft arm to the plunger that goes into the trans for the different detents on wrong. It can be installed with the slight L-shaped section facing up or down. Can't tell from the manual which way is correct.

I'm wondering if someone would post a close up of the shaft and connecting rod in the correct position. Hopefully someone has a transmission pan off that has things together properly. I could install it the opposite way and put it all back together, but I'd rather be sure before going to all that work. Thanks.

What I THINK you are asking about is the orientation of 3.577886, link. This is shown (blurrily) in the part plates:packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/parts ... &PlateNumber=36&cat=15#resultanchor

This can really only go one way as if it's backwards, you will never go into reverse. That's why the "kink" is there to begin with. This shows the orientation as it is in the car. Mentally flip it upside down if you have the transmission upside down on the bench.

However, I'm not sure why you would end up stuck in Low, instead of High or Drive. Have you driven the car with the column shifter? Often, if all the sudden it refuses to shift out of Low, it means the flyweight on the low speed governor has detached.

Just to be clear, the drawing shows the transmission in park as the trans is sitting mounted in the car. When in park and neutral the control valve will be in the exact same location except in neutral the link and lever joint will be positioned somewhat more downward along the drawn in arc showing the travel. When going from neutral into high and then thru the ranges to reverse the control valve will be pulled out one notch or detent at each position. When in reverse the L shaped stop that goes under the lever nut but is not shown in the drawing will be near or touching the case. That stop is to prevent the shaft and lever from rotating too far and control valve being pulled out of the bore in the valve body.

When installing the electric actuator both it and the transmission should be in reverse range so the setscrew on the actuator worm sector can be accessed.