electromatic

[Guest]

I have a 48 sedan Can anybody fill me in with the Tranmission electromatic.

Thanks ebber

[John N. Packard]

Ebber,

The electromatic transmission is a vacuum operated clutch that allows you to shift gears without manually operating the clutch. A number of manufacturers offered a similar system; probably in response to GM's introduction of Hydra-matic drive. Packard did not offer a truly automatic transmission until the Ultramatic was introduced on the 1949 Golden Anniversary models.

jnp

[Guest]

okay that sounds good now can you help me with the shift pattern?

[Guest]

The shift pattern was the then-standard "H". Picture the "H: lying flat on the floor, facing north. North-west is REVERSE. South west is LOW, North east is 2nd. South east is HIGH.

When the industry went to "column" shifts, the "H" was simply turned on its side. BEWARE - Packards had a problem with the shift mechanism at the base of the steering column - if those bushings are not in good shape..you can shift into two gears at once, destroying the transmission.

Let me correct some of the above "posts" to say that the "ElectroMatic" was NOT a transmission type, and had NOTHING to do with the car's transmission. As the above posters noted, it was simply an "add on" to a manual shift car's cluth, permitting the cluth to be operated by a combintation of "commands" from both electrical relays, and engine vacuum. Amongst the many stupid ways Packard tried to destroy its well established reputation for excellence, performance, and reliability, ElectroMatic certainly should get high marks.

Pete Hartmann

[John N. Packard]

Peter,

I believe Hudson offered a similar system in those years called "Drivemaster".

jnp