Dragster Packard Transmission

See and hear alot about the Lasalles and was reading in my CR catalog about them converting the Chevy 4 bolt side cover boxes ,,,has anyone ever run or seen a Packard trans set up in a 50's 60 Dragster ?

 

btt

 

I gave seen a Packard trans with a Legit aftermarket adapter behind a 6-Carbed 331 Chrysler Hemi in an Old '34 Ford Drag race car.

It was almost as common as the LaSalle & Buick conversions.

Very Cool Piece of Traditional Drag History, Id run it if i found a complete set up.

 

I can trade some stuff for a 36 with the top shift,,that why I was asking it has a really short ( non existent ) tail shaft so I thought would be just right.

 

i have a little later packard trans with side shift and an adaptor to the larger nailhead family, its got a really short tailshaft too, im gonna run her soonish in a build ive been planning for a while.

JEFF

 

Packards were strong and used a lot, but not as much as the Cad_Lasalle. It was strong, just not as plentiful.

 

Would a 40's one be any stronger than a 36 or back then were they all kinda built good?

 

I have the 37 Packard 3 speed, floorshift trans. I have heard, it can be combined with the later side shift o/d Packard trans, to make a floor shift o/d They were a strong close ratio open drive trans. They solved the trans munching, of chevy and GMC 6,s. I think they were the same all the way to the last standard shift Packards.

 

Packard three speeds were the same basic design from '36-'54. The early '50s versions had a more modern looking tailstock (similar to a '55-'57 Chevy trans).

 

Also, if you want a floor shift, '36-'38 is the era to stick to. While the floor shift top will bolt to the later side shift main cases, the forks don't line up with the sliders, and modifications are in order to make the hybrid work. The design of the shift arm placement on the '39-'54 boxes make the use of a floor shift conversion difficult at best.

 

i ran a 38 packard trans in my "wild hare" 50 olds coupe behind a tiny 394+ motor.it didn't break. jim 1961 memories.aaaahhh. sweet!

 

I just heard about a 39' Packard box that was behind a factory 427 race motor. The setup was in a 34 that wasn't raced real hard but I am guessing with that 427 it did get it's share of abuse. The box is still around waiting for a Ardun flathead to replace the 427. -Drew

 

Was this an extended bell 331? If so do you happen to know who made the adapter, may be trying to connect the two in the near future. Thanks for your help.

 

They were used occasionally as an alternative to the Cad/LaSalle box, that even in the fifties was getting scarce and hard to find.

The Packard was just a strong if not stronger. Its main drawback was that new parts were very expensive from the Packard dealer but that was not much of a worry when there were lots of them in junkyards.

 

The 37 in my avatar still has its trans in it if someone is looking for one. Condition unknown.

 

I have a file somewhere that explains in detail what has to be done to use the 37 floor shift on a later Packard tranny with or without the OD. I could dig it up and scan it if anyone needs it.

 

Sure could use it! Please scan and post it of you can. I have one going behind a extended bell 331.
Many thanks.

 

Here is that file on the conversion process using the 37 top plate on a later tranny with OD FWIW.

 

Thanks for the "how-to" article.

One day I will have me an overdrive, so I can do this

 

Yes, great tech, i think this can be used when putting a top shift plate onto a later 3speed packard too, which is what i have and will be doing, this is a much easier way of doing, i was going to cut the arms from my late top plate and attatch them to my early top plate.

JEFF

 

Jeff,

Are you putting the top shift onto an overdrive or a non-overdrive trans?

As you're aware, the article goes into adapting this trans into a torque tube equipped car, as the 35-38 trans are open tailshaft, and just require a slip yolk at the front of the driveshaft, if the car is equipped with an open tailshaft rear end.

 

Yep, ill be putting it on a non-overdrive trans, i want the open drive as i have a 50 olds rear, ill be using a driveshaft with a slip joint in it.

Ive basically had all this planned out for a few years, i just need to get to putting it all together, i have an injected 364 nailhead with a trans dapt adaptor and the packard trans will go behind that, and i have a thompson magnesium 3rd member for my 50 olds rear too.

jeff

 

I'm a little confused Jeff.

You say you're adapting the early top to a later box, and using a slip joint in the driveshaft.
, yet you have pictured an early gearbox, which has all the features you require.

Mark

 

just swap the later side shifter top plate for the earlier top plate w/shifter handle....I'm running a 1948 Packard 327 cubic inch straight eight in my 50 Ford F1 pickup rat truck....not a belly button engine at all !!!

 

now THATS why I love this place! Good stuff guys! Was just thinking about the Packard trans a couple nights ago.

 

I have a couple of 37 Packard transmissions, both complete with towers and swan shifters. Also a Hildebrandt flathead/Packard trans adaptor. Send a PM if interested.

 

Heres what I was looking at the other night.

 

I found this last night while looking for the article above. Looks to be a simple adapter plate that mates the Ford top plate with the Packard trans, there are shifter fork mods as well, but considering that '35/'38 Packard top plates are probably getting pretty thin on the ground, this looks like a good alternative. Anyone ever try this?

 

George, there is a better pic somewhere on hamb, showing a bit more of the forks in a side view, I think.

But they must have sold the modified forks with the kit? Because $60 back then was way to much for that plate, gasket, and flathead screws. It had to have forks that either were manufactured by them or modded forks from other cars.

my best bet is that they did make their own forks for each style of trans, and that would explain the very high price.

 

Yes, I noticed the price too, in 1960 dollars that was SERIOUS money. The caption says "modified forks", but you could be right. If anyone knows where to find the pic, post a link to the thread. I'll try to do a couple searches and see if I can find it.