Company Name: Fletcher's Automotive
Company Location: Carmichael, Calif.
Categories: Transmission - Classic Car
Member name: Robert Jarecki
Vehicle Make: 1949 Packard Deluxe Eight Touring Sedan
Work Done: Yes
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $3,500

Description of Work:

Fletcher's Automotive rebuilt the leaking Ultramatic transmission and replaced the direct drive clutch in my 1949 Packard. They also did a basic tune up.

Member Comments:
The Ultramatic was an independent design by Packard with a direct drive clutch (unusual for 1949).  Fletcher's took the time to review the shop manual I provided, gather parts and consult with other transmission rebuilders in Los Angeles. They even went to the extent of tracing down the original manufacturer of one of the seals to get the right part.

With such an unusual transmission, I was told to drive the car 100 miles and bring it back to be checked. When I did, Fletcher's found a small leak from one of the seals and replaced the seal at no charge under warranty. While this is usual for newer cars, the Packard shop in Southern California I talked to said they would not guarantee work on Ultramatics.

I had been told by Packard owners that have driven my car that the tranny was one of the best performing Ultramatics they had driven. Fletcher's rebuild kept or improved that performance.