What region are u located???

Kanter sells, what i believe to be from pics, a double row ROLLER chain kit for the Packard V8. Keep us updated on your timing chain issue.

Looking forward to your inspection of the OEM pump.
1. Does the pump have an open pressure relief valve port???
2. Look CLOSELY at the cylindrical dowl that inserts into the rear main and inside of the dowl to see if there is a bronze bushing.
3. I am amazed that there is no major wear at the shaft-to-pump contact area.
More details to look for later.

Feel free to call me anytime voice to voice if u need to discuss the Olds pump conversion. I'm available mostly 24/7. Packard56V8@wmconnect.com for phone number.

I dropped the oil pan to replace a leaking rear main seal today, and figured on also installing the Olds pump. Took lots of pix to compare the two pumps. By appearances, the Olds pump likely flows more oil. However, there still is nothing wrong with the OEM pump that's been in this car for at least the 135,000 miles I've owned it. I looked it over to determine if it was a PI modified pump from yester-decade or something, but it is just plain old OEM.

Also removed the center main bearing cap to see how the bottom end is holding up since I rebuilt the engine around 75,000 miles ago. The center main is a good wear indicator, since it usually starts to go first. By the way this one looks, its good for at least another 150,000 miles! Its hardly even broken in. I have used Mobil '1', 15-50 since break in, and changed it religiously every 10,000 miles.

A disappointment though is the timing chain, which has way over an inch of slack. The shop manual says change it if over 1/2", so I will add that to the list. I wish someone would design a chain tensioner, so the chain would last as long as the bottom end. I may have to look into that if nobody else has any ideas.

For the leaking rear main seal, I will replace the rope style OEM witn a modern neoprene seal that fits misc GM and Jeep V6s. I installed one in our other 56GH around 15,000 miles ago, and so far so good. I also ran into a 56GH owner at the SB meet that says he installed one in his car and he's happy with it.

Soo many projects, so little time.

Joe H

I meant 1 3/4" plug, instead of 1 1/4".

Sorry Bout That,

Joe H

HH56: Thanks for checking on this for me, could you please just clarify that the 2-1/4 is the tail pipe diameter for a 288 engine, and not the exhaust pipe diameter?

Thanks for that. My 47 Super Clipper with the 356 engine has a 1 3/4" tailpipe which I suspected was incorrect for siuch a large engine yet the muffler does look old and possibly even original. I have no overheating issues but I don't think that a 1 3/4" pipe is large enough so I will have to go shopping for a new muffler.

According to specs in service counselor Vol23 #5, the 288 & 327 eng should be 2 1/4 and the 356 should be 2 1/2. Muffler is 5 9/16 x 37 3/8 with 356 larger. 6 cylinder cars used a 2 inch. Only specific mention in parts manual for a 1 3/4 is for model 2232. Don't have a convenient reference at hand as to which car that is.

I'd like very much to know what the correct tail pipe diameter is for a 1950 (23rd series) Eight (2301, 288 ci engine). I'm pursuing a chronic overheating problem with this car and have been through EVERYTHING I can think of and am running out of ideas. Current tail pipe measures 1-3/4 diameter OD which is smaller than the 288 engine had a few years later.

Eric -

I can only hope that Randy will adopt me someday.

Seriously, I will turn 48 year this year (not quite dead, yet), and even then, I only feel as old when modern life is wearing me down (which has been a lot under the current paradigm of recent years).

Yet, I believe it was the late, great Groucho Marx who once said something along these lines: "You're only as old as the woman you feel."

Thanks Brian.

I will start a blog to share my experiences. I took the fenders off a year and a half ago to deal with some significant rust and just kept going. Certainly now know my car better than ever but I sure miss driving it!

I have added my Caribbean convertible to the registry.

Regards,
Robert.