Projects Packard 352 questions.

Hello I have a packard 352 engine and I have some questions so I can get my Packard running. Its a 55. And mated to a twin ultramatic. I got this engine with no distributor. Firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 The distributor needed is a Delco 1110854 and I have all the specs on request. The Packard is also a ground POSITIVE car.

Are any aftermarket distributors available in points or hei system? I've read on other forums of GM hei conversions/adapting with pontiac/olds distributors with the current packard distributor. But I don't have a DISTRIBUTOR.. So?

Question/concern#2.
I want to run a th400 behind the Packard v8. I've seen adapter kits for around 800. I've also been following the thread on the HAMB on making your own transmission adapters. So I want to make/blueprint my own then take that to a mom and pops metal shop to get it cut. Any advise? Adapters, plates, bellhousing cuts/swaps I can provide any info you need on the Packard to help.

Option 2 and most wanted would be a manual transmission, this is a torquey engine keep that in mind.
Thanks Alot
DONUTS & PEELOUTS.


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this is probably as good as it gets...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/172954938490?

but make sure it will fit, first.

You probably don't need to complicate your life with trying to convert it to electronic ignition. When you get it running and driving and put several thousand miles on it, you can see if the point ignition system meets your needs, or not. Then, if you decide it needs improvement, go for it.

The transmission...yeah, that is a tough one. I'm a mechanical engineer, and I would rather start with an engine that I can get a transmission for, than to design and make an adapter like that.

 

Have you tried the Packard/Stude owners people? Also the AACA site.

 

Yes I have, check out what this guy posted for the trans option. What do you think.


"I have a B-W T-10 4-speed in my Panther (originally 56 Clipper Super with T-U). This is a non-trivial conversion. You need original MT bellhousing & flywheel. I went with a RAM hydraulic clutch rather than the "Rube Goldberg" Packard parts. A Chevy 3-finger 11in clutch will bolt up. You also have to modify the T-U crossmember or find an original MT. A modified or custom driveshaft is also required. I got 2 T-10s in order to make one good one. You can modify a Summit or Hurst floor shift to make it work."

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Have you tried to find a Mickey Thompson bellhousing for a Packard V8? And a flywheel?

I wonder if there are any around? for sale?

If you do find one, it probably deserves to be in a race car

 

That's an autolite distributor for the 320v8 and I believe the 352 needed the AC Delco 1110..... I read somewhere that pre 57 Delco distributors are not being remanufactured.
Squirrel, just on a basic way of thinking. Real basic, how does this sound, somehow adapting the bellhousing on the Packard to the th400 transmission?
Is that an option?

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I could be wrong, but I think someone who has run a 352 with a Ford top loader explained how it was done once already. If I was you, I would have bought the distributor Jim found by now. The 320 and the 352 and the 374 distributor interchange. Don't over worry about the small stuff. Jim. I think the MT reference was to Manual Transmission, not Mickey Thompson. The Packard has most of the bell housing cast onto the block. Much like a '303 Olds. Packard sourced there standard transmissions from Borg Warner and used the Ford small bolt pattern. So dual pattern Ford top loader 3 and 4 speed transmissions bolt on, I found two manual transmission half bellhousings when I had mine. So I ***ume they are out there. I even told D&P where to look.

 

Here you can kind of see the cast on portion of the bellhousing. This is the part that would complicate a Turbo 400 install. Also, note the NEW Roto Faze distributor.

 

cool, thanks for the info. I didn't know they were around.... I guess the Studebaker guys are into these engines, too. a quick google finds some discussion of the various options on the Stude forums

 

There is, if you are willing, Bendtsens adapters. Be careful here.
I'd check Wilcap & maybe Novak.
There are(were) two different versions of an adapter that uses the 727 trans(iirc, available through the Packard clubs). Yea, I know, you want to use a th400. Just letting you know.
FWIW.
Marcus...

 

Lots of good info here.Just requires search and bush beating.

 

Here is another. It even says 352 if that helps. I had three Packards and they all came without the distributors. Like yours. I don't know whats going on there.https://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-55-19...J-4001B-6K/252793536197?_trkparms=aid=222007&

 

Well, I see that you didn't buy the distributor that Squirrel found for you. A dual point distributor delivered to your door for under $50. I really think you should have jumped on that.

 

I'm low on dough right now so I cant. I'm still trying to figure this whole thing out, like you said I'm over thinking it, it's because I can't afford to buy a wrong part so I'm just planning smart while learning about the Packard Engine at the same time. In the service manual it says I should run the delco and the 320 gets the autolite, but you do know more. I guess the shaft on both of the distributor MUST be identical right?

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Does having the rear of engine designed like the olds 303 with rear of the engine as it is in the picture bellow make it easier of an Engine to adapt a trans to. For the position and flat surface

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In regard to an electronic ignition, if you are going to attempt to convert the distributor to a GM HEI, you will have to switch to a negative ground. Otherwise it would require complete isolation of the circuitry.
Not to say that positive ground units don't exist, but probably as hard to find as chicken lips.
Like Squirrel and some others have stated, find the Packard Studebaker forums and do some research through people that specialize in those cars. Good luck.
Bob

 

The bad news about a cast on bellhousing on the block, is that most automatic and for sure the TH400 has a cast on bellhousing also. One is good. Two is one too many. The C4 has a bolt on bell. Some old 4 speed hydromatics also. Stick shift transmissions do not come with a cast on bell. So the Olds/Packard type of bell is fine. The hard part of putting a Ford pattern stickshift trans in your car will be the clutch pedal and linkage. Are you sure about the Autolite-Delco distributors? I was under the impression they all came with Autolite dists. At any rate the blocks are the same except for bore size. What fits one will fit them all . If you mlook at some of the pictures that I have posted for your edification, you will see the same RotoFaze dist. in a 320 and a 352. Spark plugs don't care.

 

why are these engines so clean? on my uncles 56, is no oil or grease on it. And it has a bad bearing, made me think someone did a valve job and knocked out the bearings with new compression.
Your motor is same way, or did packard build motors that did not leak?

 

Doing a valve job won't knock out the bearings with "new compression". Think about something..... when you do a proper valve job, you clean all of the carbon that has built up from the valves and combustion chambers. You grind the seats and valves .... so far everything you have done is actually LOWERING the compression. If you surface the heads just to make them nice and flat.... guess what? You MAY be back to the same compression you had when everything was all carboned up !!!

So, explain to me how the "new compression" damaged the bearings.

So many old wives' tales.... so much B.S. told by unscupulous mechanics back in the day. (and today)

I am a technician, and a mechanic. Thank you.

 

Thanks for explaining the GM HEI option, that answered my question.

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I'm just going off the book my car is a 5560 model Clipper custom constellation. And the book says 5540's Clippers with 320's get the autolite. I have been running searches for a while and you always seem to pop up. I havent yet but am curious to read any thread if have started in the past on the ponitac hei conversion and trans swaps. Ive kept everything you have written me its just i mostly have to look up everything you say because you talk to me as if I'm in the know, but in not yet. It's ok, I'll get there.

What ever happened to TurboPackman he had some interesting things he was doing and I'm wondering if he finished?


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Your right though, it is in a very clean condition. I noticed it but not really that much untill you commented. I'm busting a buick 430 down right know that look like it's been around the block.

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Thanks for the knowledge GreyBeard360

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Thanks Marcus

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Your right I need to get on the Stuedbaker forum. One more forum, lol,

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What about cutting the bellhousing?

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Some times the bellhousing is cut off of the transmission and the front pump retainer bolts are used to attach an adapter to the main body. TorqueFlite transmissions are sometimes done that way. I guess others, but I really don't deal with slush boxes.

 

OK. You made me get the book out. The AutoLite and Delco distributors were used in both 55 and 56 Packards. They are dimensionaly the same. Autolite has 14 degrees centrifugal and 13 Vacuum. Delco has 16 Cent. on some (maybe 329)55s and 12 on others and all 56 engines.12 degrees Vacuum advance. So Autolite has 27 degrees total and Delco has 24 to to 28 Total. Do you really think this will make any difference that you can feel. You will probubly end up bumping the initial advance to what ever works anyway. When you get the cash to buy a distributor, don't p*** on an Antolite because you think a Delco is the only correct part. Unless you are building for Pebble Beach.

 

Just a visual for everyone. I got this picture off the net.

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