Re: Redline/Maximum Continuous Operating RPM - Packard 6 Cylinder Engines

Posted by Ernie Vitucci On 2016/2/24 11:05:03

Good Morning all...I would side with Owen and run in the 40 to 45 mile an hour range for pre-war cars. With our old girls, the engine is only part of the engineering. Packard engineers most likely did not plan on cars running at 50 plus speeds for any length of time. The roads and front ends were just not designed for it.

I have two old machines, a 1931 Model A and she runs quite happily at 40 in normal third gear. She has a Mitchell overdrive designed for her and in 3rd over, she will run 56 at the same engine rpms. Over that speed the whole car is not happy. There are many written comments that Ford intended 40 or so for continuous driving speed when the cars were built.

Our 1949 Packard 288 with 3 speed, over drive and radial tires will run 60 quite happily in overdrive. In regular 3rd gear, she is happy at 45. I don't think that the Packard engineers intended her to run over 60 for any sustained period of time.

Does anyone know if Packard ever provided information regarding sustained cruising speeds for their machines?

Enjoy your day and your Packard.

Ernie