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Thanks,Ross.Not so seamless then,huh? ;)

Hey O_D, HH56 and others-

I thought the 356 engines were physically longer than the 288 and 327. Not the case? I was just texting back and forth today with Palanirides and he was talking about dropping the 356 into his coupe and I was advising him that I didn't believe the 356 would fit, not only because the senior Custom sheet metal cowl-forward is different, but because the engine is longer than the others. Thinking now I may have misled him. Why would the Custom sheet metal be longer if the engine physically isn't?

All three engines are the same length except for detail differences as witnessed by the fact they all take the same head gasket. The 356 is roughly 1.5" taller because of the long stroke and long rods. The nose of the car was longer on the Customs for 1)prestige and 2) weight distribution. I wouldn't be in a rush to put the 356 in a 120" wheelbase car as it is going to be seriously nose heavy.

If you want to make a Packard version of a Buick century, then get yourself a bathtub 327 and slap it in or get any 51-54 327 and install the bathtub engine front details on it.

Now if you want something really dramatic, then install your fastback body onto the Custom Eight chassis and front sheet metal.

He just dropped the price...it's about an hour and a half from me. :(

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/4960936472.html

Can't go wrong at that price!