Re: Looking to buy 1939 Packard Super 8

Posted by Jim On 2010/9/23 23:11:41

Hey Eric, the '39 Super isn't necessarily a latter style engine, it is very similar to the long running 320 engine family with a number of '39 only components. I think what you may have meant was it used the latter style transmission. That would be correct. The '39 Super 8 uses the large input transmission that was used for at least the next decade +

Back to your question - Is the 320 bell housing bolt pattern the same as the 385. Unfortunately, I don't know. I believe that '38 and earlier cars had an integrated transmission / bell housing and have no reason to believe the bolt circle changed between '38 and '39 320's, no reason to believe the '39 had a one year bolt circle. So, since Dave mentioned the transmissions interchanged between 320 and 385, then I would think yes, the '39 bell housing would bolt up to a 385. This would certainly open up some neat transmission options, including overdrive depending on the application. A 385 powered ???