Re: Std 8 engine rebuild - 1929 or 1936?

Posted by Peter Packard On 2012/8/27 3:54:25

I would suggest that a 36 Trans with synchro on Second and Top, or even better still an R6 from a 39 Super, which will bolt up to the 320 motor, would be better than the 6th Series trans. The Sixth Series ( and earlier) trans are quite strong but there is a considerable amount of expertise required to achieve silent changes, particularly when performing upshifts going up a grade. My 5th Series 533 motor has had 120 thou removed from the head, is bored out 60 thou and I fitted a 4.33 diff ratio in 1977. It was rated at 85 hp (Gross ) and is probably around 90hp (Gross) now. I have considerable experience with Dynos and the motor probably produces around 40 hp at the rear wheels but cruises very well at 55 mph with a ton of trailer and antique bikes attached( being mindful of poured bearings).
My point of this meandering is that you are never going to pull serious rear wheel horsepower out of the 29 or even 36 motor. I would be concentrating on the "look' of the Speedster rather than outright performance. It is very much a Packard or Rolls Royce presence and "potential" which produces the excitement.
I have recently taken delivery of a very nice 38 Twelve with a "restored" motor and it goes exceptionally well. Except that my 38-120 with a souped up 327 could and does "blow it into the weeds" in performance terms. I would expect that a vehicle engine around Eighty years old would like a "quiet" life .....Go for the "look"
Best regards Peter Toet

Attach file:

---

  (48.92 KB)