Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Finally had time to put her up on the lift. Drained out the transmission fluid, now dark and dirty (maybe flushing out all the Lucas oil I put in) but you could see more shavings, put in trick shifter original this time and will drive a bit this weekend. The shifting patterns have changed again. Before the drain would only shift into second in High drive, after the change would only shift in Low drive. Either range the shift into second is often hard. The transmission now glides into reverse and with the new rearview mirror and see where I'm going. Plan to drive a bit and drain the fluid again as the flushes seem to help. Maybe she needs an antibiotic.

Just wondering what you are calling second? In the left triangle should be one "shift" which is not really a shift in sense of changing gears but just going into direct drive locking out the converter. In the right triangle should be one actual shift from low to high and then the direct drive. The direct drive can groan or buzz when engaging but don't remember it as harsh. Here is a tech bulletin with approx speeds all this should happen.https://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/STB/55T-6.pdf Has the throttle linkage adjustment been checked? That pretty much determines when and how hard shifts are.