https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/packards-last-hurrah-the-1955-v8 Read this interesting article. Anyone have pictures or stories about Packard V8's in the racing and hot rod world?
That’s a shame. But it looks like those Siamesed ports was a downfall to the design. You’d of thought the ford flathead would have been a good lesson to learn. Damn powerful though.
Ignore the 430 part.https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/430-and-352-packard-speed-equipment.689719/
Many First design over head valve V8s used Sameases center exhaust ports Cadillac, Olds , Studebaker and Rambler
I had one in a '55 Super Panama and I used the Jack Vines Oldsmobile oil pump conversion setup in it and it made all the difference in the world. Was a pretty fresh engine that clicked and chattered and once the pump swap was done it never made another sound. I don't have any "back in the day" hotrod Packard engine stories but if someone stumbles across this article and has a clicky/chattery Packard V8, the Olds pump conversion is the way to go. There was a Packard V8 equipped Hudson Hornet at a local auction recently, was a neat thing to see. I know a few Studebakers used them too. In those small cars, they must have really flew.
I read somewhere that GM (Chevrolet) looked very closely at the Packard V8 for purchase for its “new” big block but passed.
I think that was the intention. But from what I've seen online (yes, I know. . .) the Packard V8 engine supply deal fell through. I think most, if not all of the "Packard-Bakers" used the 289 Studebaker V8 and they may have all been supercharged. For a couple years in the mid 50's however, the up-market Nash Ambassador could be optioned with the Packard designed and built V8 and Ultramatic transmission.
IIRC, Hudson used the 320, & did it's own-brand valve covers(maybe Nash too???). Most every co using the Packard mill got the 320, Stude got the 352, & Packard kept the 374, & the dual-quads. Same physical size, so they were swapped when they could be found. The real killer-problem was the oil pump bottom plate, that was also used as a vacuum pump. Miserable thing leaked, & caused the death of a lot of Packard mills. The few engines w/o the vac-wiper option didn't have trouble. Then there was the Ultra-Matic; great behind a straight8, very short-lifed behind the v8, expensive to fix, so when they died real early-like(low mileage) car got parked. 3spOD equipped didn't have trans problems. It turns out that the chrys long cross-rams adapted fairly easily. Wild package. New, the bores could be bored out ~ .250" . Think it was HOTROD that did a very good indepth dissection/discussion of the mill, it was designed/built well, good chambers n ports. No, not like the LS or Type3 hemi, but very good for the time. These things put out serious torque(Packards were Heavy, & the mills aren't rpm screamers... ). & did I mention they are heavy? ;D . There was at least 1 guy running a bored-out/stroker 374(I think 450 cubes) w/a front mounted blower in the late 50's, in a scotty-fenn sorta chassis. Was a feature in a "small(maybe)" mag. Do not remember which one. Marcus...
FWIW, the Ansen Speed Shop GMC supercharged Packard V8 was the first digger to top 150 MPH. Another FWIW, for those applications with the space, carrying capacity and budge, they make great street engines. BTW, most Hamburgers fawn and drool over the early hemi, but the Packard V8 was the largest displacement, most powerful V8 available in 1956. jack vines
The Northwest had a couple notable Packard specialist in the 50's and 60's, starting with Everett Hatch's 55 Packard Clipper that ran 96 MPH, and was featured in Hot Rod. Another guy that worked at the dealership that sold and serviced Everett's car, was Wayne Trowbridge, he built a 450 incher for this Altered Roadster. I asked Wayne, where he got an injector for it. he said "easy, I used a B-Mopar unit, and only had to slot some holes "!
Thank you for all the info. It's said that Lou Senter was planning a line of speed equipment for the Packard V8 but the market never materialized.
Packard was the biggest but not the most powerful. The Chrysler 354 CID FirePower Dual quad Hemi put out a whopping 355 HP in 1956.
There's a good article in Hot Rod magazine in 1956 about building a stroked/bored 374 to 440 (I think) to run at Bonneville in a Golden Hawk.
The Jalopy Journal
