Hello HAMB'rs, Been awhile since I've been here. Hope all have had a great holiday. Getting ready to pull the straight 8 out of my 51 Packard Patrician 400 and put a 72 Lebaron 440/727 combo in it's place. Here is my question: Anybody have any tips, advice or need to know info that would be helpful with this swap ? My biggest concern is motor and trans mounts. I plan on getting my wiring harness from Killbillit as far as electrics go. To minimize additional electrics, the plan is to install a self contained distributer where all I need is a coil. I just wanted to get some feedback from those who have done a big motor swap. Thanks in advance for any replies, comments,good, bad or otherwise. Laters, HotRod
From what I remember from being around a couple of those during swaps the oil filter not clearing some crossmebers might be the biggest issue. It's been 50 years since I had my nose under the hood of one of those but I think there is plenty of room unless there is something that makes the width a bit narrow like ducts from the core support to vents in the firewall. I don't know that brand of wiring but I'd suggest looking into what Rebel Wire has to offer. The guys on here who have their kits speak highly of them. http://rebelwire.com/rebel-wire-products.php?cat=Wire Kits The price on the 8 circuit kit looks to be 30.00 more than the kit you are looking at but I think you will find that you more than get your money's worth in the long run as the kit you are looking at appears that it might not have the wire for the head or taillights in it.
you could allways use elephant ear mounts like mopar drag racers use you can pretty much set the engine highth (within reason) they mount where the waterpump mounts (sandwhiched between the pump and the block) they do throw the pulley alignment off but it can be over come with spacers usually when this type of mount is used they weld some angleiron to the frame and run a bolt threw them and the ears but if you dont want the rough ride from basically solid mounts use a piece of rubber belting under the angle ironand run abolt through the frame and the mount (make since?)
You'd be best served to use the factory 440 spool type mounts that were used in the mid 70's. They are the strongest and easiest to make frame mounts for.
Yeah, cannot recommend the front mount on a daily driver. As to the distributor, why spend the extra money when the stock system works so well? The wiring is quite simple and replacement pieces are available everywhere. Just put "Mopar electronic ignition wiring schematic' in your browser and you will find plenty of printable pages. Also, if you still have access to the donor, save the underhood harness for possible bits and pieces, if not, the Mopar wire harness for swaps is about $30. .
As 48Chev said, the oil filter is a common problem. The pan sump location can also be a pain, but Mopar used to offer a "truck pan" kit from Big block pickup trucks that converted the engine to a rear sump pan and external dipstick. That's what I did on the 383 in my 51 Plymouth (Camaro front stub). A VERY short oil filter did clear the crossmember, but I went with a remote kit anyway. Of course, I have no idea what the front crossmember looks like in your Packard....
with pulling a straight 8 you should have room. I had to move the firewall on my 440 powered '48 but it had a straight six. A remote filter with hydraulic line through the k-member worked for me.
I put a Pontiac 350 into a 56 Packard Clipper about 12 years ago. It fit pretty well (Pontiacs use a rear sump oil pan, so that wasn't a concern), but I did have to go with a remote oil filter. I just made my own brackets to mount the engine using stock early Firebird mounts. I also had to use a p***enger side manifold on the driver side so I had a front outlet, in order to clear the steering box/suspension (actually, maybe it was to clear the brake booster/master cylinder; I don't remember). My 56 had the Torsion-Level suspension, so it had torsion bars in the way as well. I don't know what the suspension on a 51 looks like, and my 56 came with a Packard 352 V8 rather than the straight 8. Overall, it wasn't too difficult to do, and even a few of the Packard guys didn't realize it wasn't the original Packard engine! Importsmasher
In case anybody wondered what a 1972 Imperial LeBaron looked likeI bet the straight 8 would fit under that hood no problemo http://www.cl***ycars.org/Chrysler/Chrysler.1972.Imperial.Lebaron.09.jpg
I make my own for big and small mopar since there are almost none available. I use the universal cushions from Speedway. Has worked great so far. Here are some from a current 1936 Dodge Brothers project using a +.040 360. The driver's side is offset for the steering joints and shaft.
The Jalopy Journal
