bit of a mouthfull but just picked this car up, wanted some input on what you guys have experienced working on these cars. theres no motor or ****** so i plan on doing some sort of big block in it. im not car racist so just about anything will do for me haha. would like some input thanks guys!
I really like those old Packards........nice score. You certainly can use a big block if you like as the original engines were very large and heavy, although they ranged in size (displacement) IIRC from under 300 to a max of 352. The cars are fairly heavy so a good torque producer would be best. How about a Caddy 472 or 500? Ray
Yeah as do i, practically stole it from the guy! he had to get rid of it so i scored. yeah caddy big block is ideal for me. since they look alot like the original motors. same air cleaner on it would be cool. just finding one for a good price is my concern.
That thing is sweet, man!!! I love that body style of Packard... I was gonna put a 472 in my Clipper, before i found another I8 for a decent price. I found my Cad motor in a wrecking yard for 300 bucks with the ******. One of those grandma left her car to her tweaker grandson who let it get towed kind of deals. It was a pretty cherry '68 coupe.... They're out there for sure. There's a caddy in the wreckers where I live at least every few months.
I think packards are great, and totally understated. Go for it. One Q? are those tails stock or caddy? they sure look like caddy items.
Looks like some previous owner added a '56 400 or Patrician lower grille in the bumper - stock '55s just had an open slot there. Have you considered going Mopar under the hood? Reason being many Fifties Packards have had Torqueflites retrofitted to replace the troublesome Ultramatic, and you can get adaptors for installing them; so maybe you can swap in the whole setup. Good luck!
You can fit just about any engine in it they weigh about 3600 pounds if you check the Packard web site, one problem with the Packard is the master cylinder is under the steering column and hard to get to. But they ride great. good luck and nice find.
cool car. i would put some packardtail light on it, that car demands a big motor in it,i would do some grill/head light work on it-but thats me..
Packards make great customs. Packard was rival with Cadillac and Lincoln. In the 1930s and 1940s Packards where popular with gangsters and Hollywood actors.
That's a great catch. I'm going to buck the tide and suggest big block Chevy. Any 396 to 502 Chevy will have plenty of power in stock form, and they resemble the Packard V8 in appearance. If you hit up a late model truck as a donor there may even be an overdrive automatic to swap in.
Congratulations on the find! Love the Packards, my Dad was a Packard man. Just let all the emblems drop off. Replace the stainless molding around the windshield. I like the grill and headlights, leave em'. Take the teeth out of the lower valance, and Slam It to the ground! There moto was "Ask The Man Who Owns One" ...
I was building one a few years back then had to sell to pay my ex.... I love clippers would be my first pick again for a custom, I would tri-tone it!!!!
Those are the stock taillights for '54 and some '55s, I have one in my swap meet parts stash I can't seem to ever get anyone excited with. I presume this was an auto trans car? There were manuals out there, and the setup is worth a few bucks. They used more or less the same trans as Ford (a Borg Warner 3-speed), so it wouldn't be hard to put one back in there. I think a big 440 Mopar, GM 455 or Caddy 472 is going to be the best bang for your buck to move this car around.
got one my self. My consto has the torsion level suspension that is cool cause like air bags you can raise or lower the car electrically. If your going with the stock electric double check polarity as mine is a positive ground 12v. All works great except tunes which had to be wired straight to the battery with diode to protect it. Also the taillights are stock 55. I extended the rear fenders on mine 18" and put 56 taillights with a conti kit tucked in the back. F'n sick! Have fun as there are still alot of parts for these available. PM me if you need something and I can probably hook you up. happy building
You should have room for anything you want to put in there. In 1955 and 56 Packard had the biggest V8s in the industry, 320, 352 and 374 cu in. They were a big heavy motor. One warning, the Bendix Treadlevac brake booster is an accident waiting to happen. When they fail they fail instantly without warning and you have NO brakes at all. Restorers have run into this on fully restored cars with nearly new brakes. Then they ran into something else. Even restorers replace them with a more modern setup. They go to great lengths to put a new booster where the old one went, under the steering mast. If it was mine I would just put in a swinging pedal and mount the booster and master cylinder on the firewall like everyone else. The rest of the car is strong and trouble free. Most mechanical parts are still available.
Yup! Only senior packards for '55 had the "Packard" tail lamps that everyone uses in Kustoms' the clippers use these, in '56 they all (clippers and senior cars) used the famous tail lamps.
Go ahead, don't be ascared...this is going to be an awesome build! Yeah, the brake system is a bit funky, but, you were going to replace all of that anyways, Right? ...
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