Ark-La-Tex Packards: Making a transmission bearing

On the way home from the National Packard meet in Galena, Ill. this July we experienced a vibration not unlike a u-joint feel when going over 53 MPH. It would have been too easy to replace a u-joint but I checked them anyway. No such luck.
We just drove home a little slower then had Russell Chandler, local guru/President of the ArkLaTex Packard Club /Certified Master Packard Mechanic make a diagnoses, his was a transmission bearing. Remove the transmission with a little help from friend Carl Wimberly and sure enough, the from main bearing was worn. Of course all you have to do is go to the bearing shop and pick one up, right? No, the company that made it had gone out of business 35 years ago. Called around the country, could not locate one. Of course all the Packard book had was Packard bearing numbers and our local Packard dealer is out of business so the next thing to do is check with the human computer. Called Mr. Warren Bates, he had the bearing numbers from Hyatt, that didn't help much however it was educational as all conversations with him are. He stated that the rollers were the same size in diameter as a Model T rear axle bearing rollers and the same type. Mr. Ed Messenger, a local machinist and old car collector said we could make one. Nothing to it, right? Not quite. First we had to disassemble the old bearing by drilling the ends of the standoffs that kept the bearing together, this was done using a dividing head set up on a mill. After the disassembling process, we had to find the rollers. A new Model T bearing was located from another friend in Oklahoma City. After receiving the new bearing Ed had to go through the same process to disassemble it, then chuck the rollers one at a time in his lathe and with a handy-dandy tool post cutter, cut three small rollers from each Model T roller. In time he had all eleven. Then with a nice piece of steel he made new standoffs, cleaned all the parts and reassembled all to make a new bearing. After installing in the transmission, a check ride pronounced it fine. So how difficult was it really? Not bad, several days calling around the country looking for a bearing, approximately $ 25,000 worth of equipment, 60 years experience, one long weekend. However, it was fun, educational and worth it. I have been to a Packard Club meeting and participated in a wedding party, I have several club outing yet and a tour before the old car is put away for the winter, what a great hobby.