Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Will a standard trans from a 53 288 bolt up to a 55 V-8? I'm thinking about using a V-8 in a hot rod I'm building and I already have the trans.

The short answer is yes. You will need the 55 V-8 manual shift transmission bell housing, flywheel, and clutch assembly. The clutch disc may need to be from a 288. There are more informed experts here who can advise you further.

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Thanks. I guess I need to see if I can find a stick shift bellhousing.

Since the old Packard boxes were right up there with the Cad-LaSalle as the hot rodder's weapon of choice, I've always wondered why, if the Packard-built transmission was a bolt in, did S-P change to the Borg-Warner T85 for the '55-56 V8s and Golden Hawk? AFAIK, it required B-W to make a special version for them.

Also, market check here - what is the going rate for a V8 bellhousing and flywheel?

thnx, jack vines

Quote:

Jack, the reason for for S-P going to the B-W transmission may have been the gear shift linkage. As you know, the Packard transmission had its shifting mechanism in the top plate. This necessitated changing directions of the linkage action so the conventional shift pattern could be used. The complicated gear shift linkage of Packard transmissions with two sets of linkages and idler arms was problematic and expensive.

My father converted a few V-8 Packards and Clippers from Twin-Ultramatic to manual shift transmissions. Most of them were done with the Packard transmissions (probably because he had them), and at least two were done with the B-W transmission. The B-W conversions were much easier jobs because of the simplified gear shift linkage. In those days one could order all the parts necessary to do a conversion from S-P.

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This FAQ could help.