How 'bout a Packard motor for your hot rod?

They look a bit like a Rat motor from the top. A m***ive appearance, with the iron to back it up. Wonder what the wall thickness is on a Packard V8? Must be hellacious.

If you can't get a trans, bellhousing and clutch from a '56 Golden Hawk, is there another way to get a manual trans behind this motor? Betting most of the Packard ones will be Ultramatic.

 

I had a friend who restored a '56 packard years ago and rebuilt the 352 V-8 for a whole lot less than $4000, he used Kanter and their kits are reputed to be very goosd and still cost under $1500. Check it out:

Packard 1955-56 V8 322, 352, 374BMDOverhaul gasket set$150.00BMDPiston (8) $69.00eaBMDRing set$66.00Piston pin bushing$12.00pr.BMDMain bearing set $156.00BMDRod bearing (8) $13.00eaConnecting RodBMDCam bearing set$87.00Timing chain$55.00Cam gearCrank gear BMD3 pc. chain & gear set$125.00Cam shaft - Exchange only $193 .00Push rod $22.00Rocker arm - Exchange or add deposit $25.00$17.00Rocker shaft - Exchange or add deposit of $50.00$55.00Rocker arm ***embly - Exchange or add deposit of $100 .00$195.00BMDValve lifter (16)$11.00DIntake (8) or exhaust (8) valve -standard size valve stem$20.00eaIntake or exhaust valve -oversize valve steminquireMDValve spring (16)$6.50eaOil pump - Exchange only Oil pump kitFuel pumpWater pumpMotor mountTrans mountBBasic Engine overhaul kit.
Includes all parts with B.$1095.00MMaster Engine overhaul kit.
Includes all parts with M.$1145.00DDeluxe overhaul kit.
Includes all parts with D$1365.00

 

I've heard the wall thickness is such that a Packard V8 can be bored to 500 inches.
Mine is a three speed OD, the bellhousing is separate, I don't know anything about the auto but it probably ****s just as much as the others from the era, The Borg Warner 3 speed is tough, but very few came with sticks.

 

If its a Ultramatic, its suppose to be pretty good once you get the thing built up right. http://www.ultramaticdynamics.com has all the stuff to rebuild the Packard ******. Just finished mine.

jon

 

buddy of mine had a 374" Packard V8 with factory 2x4 in a 39 Chev coupe back in high school - that thing would lay rubber till you ran out of room - beautiful engines

dj

 

man, you want something different - use a late 40's packard straight eight at 356 cubic inches. will pull a house off its foundation. i saw one at a show and leaned into the hood to check it out - it ran so smooth that i didn't know it was running until i noticed the fan spinning!
they will throw rods if overrevved frequently though.
i'd put one in my rod if i could find somebody to trade for my little girly-man 4.3 chevy v-6. don't even ask what rod [my 57 chevy pickup]
i'd put a straight 8 packard or straight six hudson in tomorrow if i could get one!
just for the cool!

 

wow.. i was just drinking a beer and thinking about my straight 8... i got one that isnt seized , head was loosened though... just pulled it and put it away for now... its a 288 i believe... Kanter auto parts is the BEST place for packard parts. if i dont use it... i'll put it up for sale or trade... complete motor and trans (trans isnt seized either) always thought it would look sweet in my 46 chev rat truck...

 

I was the "old guy" that came up with the idea for the Oldsmobile pump. As for the dual carb Caribbean intakes, I have a source for aluminum ones at $900 each, if anyone's interested.

BTW, I'm 31....