Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1947 Packard R9 Trans, max merrit, current catalog

Question
Hi Dick.I'm rebuilding the trans in my Dad's 47 Packard.It's an R9 O.D.trans.I'm looking for the 3 ball bearings in the 1st/2nd mainshaft assy.Tried Kanter,Max Merrit,Etc.Can you tell me where I can get them?They don't have a # on them.They have (14) 3/8" dia. balls

Answer
That mainshaft assembly was only spared as a complete assembly - I don't know if you can replace just the bearings, I've never tried to do that.  The part number for the whole assembly is 354954 if the car is a junior car (282 Cu In  5 main bearing 8 cylinder engine) and 354956 if the car is a senior car (356 Cu In 9 main bearing 8 cylinder engine).  

 If you have the bearings off the shaft, you might have some luck just taking the old ones to a bearing house and ask them to match them up with something in stock.

If you asked the Packard parts dealers for just the bearings, that might be why they didn't respond to you.  You need to specify what group number and part number you are looking for, so they can search their stock - and the only part number you can use is the the one for the whole assembly.  Use the Group number of 3.235 to get them in the right place in their inventory list.  I have their catalog for 48-54 cars here and for the junior cars, they show that they have them for 48 and up but not for R9 overdrives (they have them for R11s -  Mid 48 was when the switch to R11 was made).

I don't have their current catalog for 47s and older, but it is the same group number 3.235 and the above part number (depending on which car you have) is what you want - I suggest you call them again and see if they can help you.  It will be expensive, though - they get around $600 plus 150 core charge for the mainshafts.

If you can't find the parts, you may have to reuse the old bearings, the only other solution is convert it to an R11 - (a much better overdrive, by the way!).

Dick