I stopped at a junk yard today,after picking up a 51 fleetline,just to see if any"new old stuff"had come in and I found two cool oldsmobiles,pretty complete,A 52 four door with rocket,complete with dual side snorkle air cleaner,seems froze up though,and an older boat,all it says all over is "clipper"sweet front end and rear,but the motor really looks killer,and turns by hand pretty easy,again with air cleaner,so I ask how much,and if I can buy the air cleaners,he says rather sell them complete,and wants 600.for the pair of motors,I would like to know the cubes and h.p.ratings,but cant find much in my books,Is the 52 a 303?I cant find anything on the clipper as I dont know the year of that car,it says clipper on the valve covers and has a two barrel,the rocket is four barrel,and both are automatics.Any help would be appreciated.Patrick
you know,after looking up packards,I think your right,around a 55,56,how are these motors for horsepower and torque?Is it worth buying for 300.00 with a 100.00 Air cleaner?There is also a huge lincoln,but I couldnt get the hood up to check out the moter,around a 57 or so.Its funny,I asked the guy at the yard,about the clipper,and heslike I dont know,asks a customer hes tallking to"who makes a clipper"?And this guy says oldsmobile,so thats what we all think,I couldnt find packard anywhere on it!!
According to "The Ultimate American V-8 Engine Data Book 1949-1974," Packard introduced their OHV V8 in 1955, here are the ratings... 320 CID = 225 HP and 325 lb/ft torque 352 245-275 HP and 355 lb/ft torque In 1956 they made a 374 with 290-310 HP and 405 lb/ft of torque OLDS.... 1952 Olds with a 303 and 4BBL is rated at 160 HP and 283 lb/ft torque, if this is the original engine.
Oh, the book says that the Packards weren't bad motors, they just waited WAY too long to put out an OHV V-8, and that they had just merged with Studebaker the year before because of poor sales. Sounds like it was the begining of the end for Packard when these came out.
Packard speed equipment is scarce. Olds engines are a good choice, but the 303 is not a high-HP engine. Use it only if you need to build a mid-50's period perfect rod. Otherwise, look for a 324 or something. The 303's bore size is small and the heads have tiny ports.