Packard Ultramatic

[Jeffry Cassel]

Stumbled upon a Packard Patrician(1956). Nice looking and very reasonably priced, but the previous owner had messed with the elecric push button shifter so that it starts in gear and only has drive and reverse. Does any one know if there is anyone who is knowledgible about these transmissions and whether or not parts are available?

[FleetMaster68]

Max Merrit in Indiana or Kanter Brothers in NJ are your better commercial choices for assistance. Your description suggests that the pushbutton control is at fault, not the transmission proper. Memory serves the teletouch unit goes to a controller EXTERNAL to the transmission, none of the electricals are internal, including the neutral safety switch that should prevent starter engagement when in gear.

[PackardV8]

Suggest you go over to the Packard site http://packardinfo.com and under the V8 section, there's a member who goes by "Mr Pushbutton." There are also several threads about maintenance and repair of the pushbuttons.

That's the good news. If the transmission works well otherwise, the pushbuttons don't require going inside.

jack vines

[drrotor]

There's a guy on 1956goldenhawk.com in the vendor's section that offers a conversion to a GM turbo 400 for Packard V8 powered cars. A very worthy conversion.

[acolds]

Go to Packard info and look up MR Pushbottom he is the man for help repairs and related matters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWB0nZG4Xd0

[packard352]

Hi Jeffry, just came across your post.

I'd recommend you contact, Pete, at Ultramatic Dynamics... it's all he does. For the sake of a telephone call and a chat, I'm sure Pete could save you a whole bunch of time.

You'll be able to see his contact information from the weblink below... good luck!

http://www.ultramaticdynamics.com/

[bezhawk]

Put a 700 R4 in it, and enjoy the heck out of it. http://www.transmissionadapters.com/