But they had pretty well "returned to the earth".I did however drag this home.It is a 1952 Packard "thunderbolt" straight 8.I got the engine,clutch,pressure plate,flywheel,bellhousing,3 speed OD trans and all the other parts that arent in this picture for about what a cheap rebuild kit for a 350 costs.I also found out that the PO had removed the running,functioning powertrain and installed a 350\350---I didnt quite know what to say,so being polite I said nothing.I like the SBC\350 turbo well,have used both many times but in that car it just seems to me to be ,well- lese majeste I suppose. I think I posted last week in an answer that I would really like to have one of the straight eight flatheads,didnt care whose-----.I pulled the head, really clean,head came off easily,no ridge at all?? I dont know what I will do with this thing,clean it up,do whatever it needs and get it running certainly.I have had kind of a half formed idea for years about something that resembles a 30s two man Indy car.I saw and heard the Studebaker indy car many years ago and never quite recovered.Well,its 3rd project back.I may not live long enough to build the car,but I WILL build and run the engine. I will post more pics tomorrow when I get all the pieces more organized. This thing is heavy! It is a 288ci version,I would have liked a 327 or 359 but what the hey-----
I sold a '54 Packard Patrician a couple of years ago with the 359 and aluminum head. I had almost nothing in it and got the engine running with a little TLC and a prayer. The water neck was leaking and it smoked, but that thing sounded so cool. The preservationist side of my brain kicked in and I didn't have any place to store it, but I should have kept that engine. The research I did showed it was the most powerful stock engine built in 1954 - something like 225 HP. Anyway, I've long wanted to do something similar to what you are talking about with the big racing/touring roadster. Something like a 3/4 Blastolene special. To that end, I do have a 263 Buick straight eight with a dynaflow that might make it into something like that. Good luck getting it going and have fun. Ain't this old **** neat!
Shivasdad what is \was the "Blastolene special"? It is a wonderful name.Jalopy joker that very thing had occurred to me too.I reckon Ford figured it was pretty safe by 1964----
I think the Blastolene Special he mentioned is the one that Jay Leno has. It is an absolute huge roadster with Semi truck axles and a big WWII tank engine. It is all polished Aluminum and chrome and looks like a quadruple sized old Indy car.
Exactly what they said. It's big and raucous and wonderful. I haven't seen it in person but I'm sure it's on you tube or Leno's Garage. Post up here whatever you do with the Packard engine.
My neighbor says he's going to put one of his extra Packard eights in a C Allis Calmers. I work on my straight eight project every chance I get, which is about one day a year. This is a 324 cu in Chrysler.
Whatever that Packard ends up in, at least you saved it from probably returning to the Earth like the A parts you looked at! Nice score!
Here is the rest of the pile.I took the starter apart today and cleaned it up. I had to make 1 new bushing,other than that it appears workable.I also started on the distributor.It is in excellent shape and really just needs cleaning up.The carb I got with it appears to be a fresh rebuild.I will likely pull the pan to clean it and check the bearings and grind the valves before I try and start the engine.
I pulled the pan today.It had a pretty impressive dent in the sump and I will need to fix that.I was amazed at how clean the engine is internally! No sludge,just oil and no evidence of damage.The oil pick up screen is clear and free of debris.I will likely pull a cap tomorrow and see how the bearings look.I reckon I had better pull the damper and timing cover to see how much is left of the timing chain too .
That should be a 5 main 327 engine. Reliable as the sunrise and not too shabby in the HP dept. Edmunds dual carb manifolds are a coveted speed part, complete with carbs I've seen prices close to $2K and "sold" rather quickly. The overdrive trans has considerable value as well. Not all Packard models got it. That trans will also take a "cane" shift from an earlier model (38 I think?). If you like torque you found a good one. Have fun...
It is a 5 main 288,same bore as the 327 but a shorter stroke.3 1\2 x 3 3\4 " the 327 was 3 1\2x 4 1\4".I wish it was a 327! I didnt know any speed equipment had ever been made for these,thanks for the information.It looks like I could fabricate a tubular multi carb intake and header arrangement without too much difficulty .My intent is to get the engine cleaned up and repaired as needed and running on a stand.After that I can figure out what to do with it.
I thought that odd too.I pulled a couple of bearing caps today.The bearings appear new.I also pulled the damper and front cover,timing chain isnt bad but I think I will replace it anyhow.Odd that someone would replace pistons,rod and main bearings etc and not do the timing chain.Then again you could pull the pan on those cars without pulling the engine so this may have been an "in frame" rebuild.
Pulled the valves out today.I had one broken guide and 4 valves I will need to replace.Not too bad.I will get some pics tomorrow when I cut the seats .
I got the 4 really stuck valves out today.I will have to replace them and their guides.The rest look OK.I cleaned the ports and seats today with a die grinder and small wire brush. Got a lot of the trash out of there.I had a couple of seats that had some considerable corrosion,couldnt tell if they would clean up without sinking them or not.I picked one of the worst and cut it just to see.I dont know if anyone is interested or not,but I took pictures of the procedure.Started by cleaning the valve on the wire wheel.Then it went to the refacer . It came out well,face cleaned up quickly and valve still has plenty of margin.
Sorry,had a momentary attack of dumb*** and forgot to load some of the pics.This is the seat cutter set up in the seat.This type is called a "neway" cutter (brand name) uses little carbide bits .I have a set of the old Sioux seat grinders but like these better.Here I am cutting the base angle(45 degrees in this case).Next I applied some dry erase marker to the valve face and tried the valve in the seat to see where the valve to face contact is.Note that the blacking came off the face closer to the valve margin than to the center of the face.In this application I want a contact patch that is centered on the face and about .060-.090" wide.I used a 31 degree outside relief cutter to lower and narrow the seat to face contact.(Looks just like cutting the seat,just a different angle cutter) and this is the result.Note the blacking has come off around the center of the valve face.Check the snazzy "packard" script on the valve head. Last thing I am ready to lap the valve using 220 grit "Clover" abrasive compound.I tried 4 times and could not get a decent picture of the lap line around the valve face ,sorry about that.I just couldnt get the camera to show it.Now I know the seats will save I can go on about cleaning and repairing this engine.
Here's a You-Tube link for you. Check out the dash plaque! Sorry I don't know how to put it up direct! Packard inline 8 powered hot rod.
Tony there is a rodent car type feller in this area that has some sort of old truck cab thing with a big Packard straight eight in it.
steinauge, Go look up the Youtube video, it shows this thing running with a straight eight Packard engine. Awesome!!! He also has a HAMB tag on his dash-somebody on here must know him. I don't know how to load the video. I'm a little soft on Packard straight eights. I had the baby one (283 cube I think), in a '53 Clipper back in about '72. SSSMMMOOOTTTHHH!
here's another one, "Packard straight eight hot rod" the same car. I had forgotten, it's Supercharged!!!! and yes a "Rodent" for sure but a way cool powerplant none the less!
Tony I found the video,thanks. The engine you had in your 53 would be the 288,same as this one.I would not call the car in the video any sort of rodent.It is a NICE ride! The one that lives around here emphatically and deliberately is.I am afraid to stand too close to it for fear of tet****.
HAHAHA! Ya I saw the one in the videos a while back! Love that engine! You are right I looked back and found 288 cubes. Watch out if you ever get the pistons out. They have an arrow that points "Front" ! I really like the Idea of a straight 8 Packard engine in a fenderless light Hot Rod. Also, you already have the stick and OD ! KILLER set-up!
I am still plugging away on this engine.I have the block pretty well clean and have pulled the pistons,cleaned the bores and put them back in.Bearings and rings looked new.Should be ready for paint soon.
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