I recently picked up a Packhard Thunderbolt straight 8 engine. It appears to be complete and in good shape except it is missing the distributor. So, a couple of questions: How do I identify exactly what motor it is? The head has 327 on it which I assume is the capacity and I think it is a 9 bearing crank motor. What Packhard distributors interchange? Has anyone modified anything other than Packard distributors to run a straight 8? I’d like to put a stick behind it, what are my options for this?
A web site that probably has more info on Packards would be the Studebaker Drivers Club, here is the link to their tech page. Jack Vines is a frequent contributor on here (and pretty knowledgeable) hopefully he will see your post. Darned if I can think of his screen name on here. https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/tech-talk this is probably better...maybe you already check it out? https://www.packardclub.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=99
Yuppers, you have to go where the knowledge base for that engine is and that would be Packard restorer groups. If you are putting it in anything except a Packard body just say you are building a 'Special" if asked and you may well be planning a special for it to go in.
Pretty sure he goes by PackardV8. Memory is fuzzy here. Jack is the go to Packard and Studebaker engine build guy.
Thanks for the replies. Worked out it is a 1951 327 from a Packard Patrician. Seems like distributors for 1953-1954 models are more easily available - will they work on the earlier motors? Asking here first because the Packard forum seems very much about keeping everything exactly as built.
Is the distributor driven via gear on it or a slot/screwdriver end? We know what Rich Fox would do, he’d machine up some adapter that houses two 4 cylinder distributors and make it work. I sure miss him and his visions to make things work.
The distributors have a slot end on them. Machining something up is definitely an option if I can't find anything else that works.
this is probably out of your price range? but anyways, the Mallory number for a distributor that fits is 251, maybe you can find a less expensive one somewhere. https://www.ebay.com/itm/124106524134?
I have some Buick straight 8 stuff….will compare one of those with the pic in the eBay ad @squirrel posted and see if they are at all close. I will likely be Monday/Tuesday before I will have a reply. Ray
I think all the Packard 8's from 49-54 will interchange.....I think. I know they used to different distributors, they could either be AC Delco or Autolite. If you look on Ebay it seems like they are available. As far as transmission adaption it gets a little tougher. Packard used their own manual trans up through 54 which had a different bolt patter and front bearing locator ring diameter than most every other tranny out there. You can buy a ready made transmission adapter. They are out there. They cost about $1000. I built a transmission adapter to put a T-5 behind my 327. Here are some details about what I did; https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/straight-8-rpu-build-thread.1083302/ Bobby
The Jalopy Journal
