Register now to get rid of these ads!

Projects Thoughts on 55/57 Packards

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Donuts & Peelouts, Oct 2, 2017.

  1. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,198

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    Why's that Rich?

    Sent from my SM-J727T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    els likes this.
  2. bobss396
    Joined: Aug 27, 2008
    Posts: 18,687

    bobss396
    Member

    They were prone to electrical issues from what I recall. Also something with the transmission, which I learned later that the Ultramatic was actually ok.
     
    els and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  3. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,198

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    Thanks for answering my question.

    Sent from my SM-J727T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    els likes this.
  4. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,198

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    I'm going tomorrow to take a look at the 55 Clipper with some money. Hopefully the car is structurally sound, if so it looks like I'll be taking her home.

    Sent from my SM-J727T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    els likes this.
  5. I saw one of those mid-'50s Packard V8s in a Jeep station wagon that a guy here used to have. That thing looked bone stock and surprised a lot of people. Whoever did the swap did a nice job. The car looked like it was born that way.
     
    els likes this.
  6. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,198

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    David Gersic, els and egads like this.
  7. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    The Packard engine is a very large and heavy engine for it's displacement. I had a 392 Chrysler in my car before the Packard. The Packard was a lot heaver it seemed.
     
    els likes this.
  8. I owned one 34 years ago. Big heavy car. To me they resemble a mercury. I gave a $100 patched the busted block with JB weld. I never liked it. Sold it to a guy at Possum Grape Ark. Told him about the busted block. He had a place called Vintage Auto salvage. Why a boat themed car? To be honest Ive never seen one being driven. Certainly never seen one winning drag races. Someone mentioned flipping vehicles. If you want to flip old vehicles forget cars. Old trucks are the easiest and fastest to sell. Need to do a interior in a old truck? A quart of paint & a seat cover. Rubber floor mat and cardboard glovebox and sun visors. That will put a interior in a 60 thru 66 chevy truck. No messing about with a uposterly shop. and they sell very easily. No need to put a different engine in it. Or paint it. The new buyer will want his choice not yours.
     
    els and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  9. I think the engine was 327 cubes.
     
    els likes this.
  10. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    The first AMC V8 engines came in 327 as well as 250 I think displacements. The Packard V8 which was also installed in AMC cars, came in 320-352-and 374 cid. The 374 was the largest engine installed in an automobile in 1956. The engine I had in my Vega was .060 over bore for 363 cid. img66.JPG
     
  11. egads
    Joined: Aug 23, 2011
    Posts: 1,431

    egads
    Member

    Packard did not have a 327 V8. 327 was a straight 8. 54 was the last year of the straight 8.
     
    dan c, els and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  12. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    If you decide to rebuild your engine. Many 352s have been overbored .125 to 4.125 and use 374 pistons. The valve seats can be ground to use 374 valves. So you will have a 374 for no more money than a good rebuilt 352.
     
    els and egads like this.
  13. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,198

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    From your experience, what if any transmissions will bolt up?

    Seems like I'll be neededing a custom adapter?

    A th400 or a strong stick shift?


    Sent from my SM-J727T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    els likes this.
  14. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    I used a Ford top loader four speed. It is a near bolt on. First you need to find a bellhousing and flywheel for a stick shift Packard. V8packard on here might be your best bet on that. I know he bought my stock and has a lot before I came along. I don't know about an automatic. Maybe Jack can help you.
     
    Donuts & Peelouts and els like this.
  15. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,198

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    Thank you. Should I be looking for the 28 or 31 output spline.

    Sent from my SM-J727T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    els likes this.
  16. dan c
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,640

    dan c
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    great looking cars. never new there was a 374. comments about low interest brought to mind a fella i knew who bought a beautiful 6-year-old edsel 2-door hardtop for $85. all it needed was a water pump!
     
    els and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  17. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,198

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    Wow 85$, that's what's so cool about these low interest cars, they can be bought for so cheap. It was a Chevy or a Ford lb up so much in the price, plus every time you drive around everybody's going to call it a Chevy anyways.

    Sent from my SM-J727T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    els likes this.
  18. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    I never looked at the splines on my output before. I know axles come in 28 and 31 spline. My four speed appears to have a 28 spline output. I don't think it will make a big difference to you.
     
    Donuts & Peelouts and els like this.
  19. bobss396
    Joined: Aug 27, 2008
    Posts: 18,687

    bobss396
    Member

    I saw a local '56 Clipper last week, done with a 350/350 combo. Seemed to run well.
     
    egads, Donuts & Peelouts and els like this.
  20. Bird man
    Joined: Dec 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,022

    Bird man
    Member
    from Milwaukee

    "I have offered mine for sale for 6 or 7 grand (depending on what mood I'm in) and had virtually no interest."
    Yes, pretty much "sale proof". Come spring, this one may need to go reserve free?
     

    Attached Files:

  21. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,198

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    A 350 sounds good just to get it moving.
    That's a nice Ride Birdman.

    Sent from my SM-J727T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  22. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,198

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

  23.  
    Donuts & Peelouts and Ned Ludd like this.
  24. Ned Ludd
    Joined: May 15, 2009
    Posts: 5,478

    Ned Ludd
    Member

    I think the suspension requiring an unfamiliar way of thinking, as I said in the other thread, is perhaps part of it. That and the fact that the self-levelling jack was electric.

    That video above doesn't even mention one of the biggest advantages of the system, i.e. that it allows the lateral load transfer distribution to be tuned without any of the forces involved getting translated into torque on the frame. That means that the car doesn't require a body that's nearly as torsionally rigid as the typical car of the era, never mind anything since - or it wouldn't have if they hadn't gone and put anti-roll bars on it. Perhaps that's why there are sometimes door/latch alignment issues: early body development might not have taken into account the torques induced by the anti-roll bars.
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  25. Bird man
    Joined: Dec 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,022

    Bird man
    Member
    from Milwaukee

    Only a front anti-roll bar and it's just a gesture- just enough to keep the door handles from scraping the pavement :)
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.