Packard 6 valve question

Hi fellas, new here...but I check in once in a while to read posts, look at pics, and so forth. Well I recently picked up a '38 Packard Six. I would love to do some mild performance stuff to it...dual carb, dual exhaust, that sort of stuff. The guy I bought the car from said that he had hardened valve seats put in it...was that a no-no? I seem to remember some one mentioning that the water jacket is too close for that. Any feed back on this would be very helpful.

If my motor turns out to be junk, then I'm in the market for a new one. I'd like to stay fairly original. I'd use a Packard 8 if would fit??

thanks, mendo

ps. pics of customized Packard engines would be cool if anyone's got 'em.

 

Hard seats, properly installed, would never hurt the motor. I did hard seats along with re-build on an old late thirties Packard six a couple of years ago. It was all chromed up with dual carbs with some amazing custom castings. Was going into a restored wooden boat.

 

Packard speed parts are pretty rare but you jmight check on the Inliners forum and place an ad. www.inliners.org ,

 

The packard "8's" of this era had a longer front end, so probably would not fit in a 6 cyl engine bay (unless maybe some modifications?, but the front end is shorter for sure. (from the windshield back they are the same)

 

You would have to go to a senior series car to fit the inline 8.
The ch***is and front clip would come from the sr car and your body on rest. works just fine and makes car look more sleek. I changed my jr 120" wheelbase club sedan fastback to a 127" ch***is. Extra 7" is all in the nose with the hood being 6'3" long. Should be sick when finished. Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!

 

not sure if my last post came through...

Anyways, thanks for the responses. I took the head off and sure enough, everything is all nice and machined in there. I got this car to make into a pickup or possibly a woody (I'm a professional woodworker by trade). The '38 Packard face is strong and bold...in my opinion would make a nice looking pickup. But now that I have it home and start to get it clean up and so forth, I hate to cut it up. It's in very good condition. Perhaps some other day, some other car.

thanks again, Erik