Re: Driving comparisons between the Packard Six and 120.
Posted by Peter Packard On 2012/6/28 3:17:50
g'day all, I have two Packard Sixes on the road. A 533 ( 1927 production with a 304 7 Passenger body and a 1938 with a Richards sedan body. Both Six engines are "minus two cylinder" versions of the 384 and 327 eight engines respectively. My 533 had a 4.69 diff which I changed out to 4.38 in 1976. It cruises well and reasonably stress free at around 50 - 55 mph( 2,300 rpm) with a trailer of bikes behind.
The 38 Six however was souped up a bit in 1974 when I bored it out 62.5 thou and shaved the head 150 thou. I fitted an R6 overdrive and 4.36 ( 120 ) rear axle ratio. In 1979, I had the vehicle up to 100 mph on the speedo (probably 92mph or thereabouts in actual) during a "test" with a 1948 "sunbeam Talbot" English sports car. I won the "test" easily, surely due entirely to my overdrive. The vehicle cruises at a GPS 65 mph ( 2,200rpm)very comfortably and noise free.
I would rate the 533 engine as age fragile with poured bearings ( similar to the 384 motor), but the 38 six is almost bullet proof and cruising speed in OZ is dependant on how many points you have left on your licence. IMHO, With regard to comparisons with the bigger version engines, the factory numerically lower rear axle ratios of the smaller engines means that they are not capable of the same top speed. It is only when you give them a better r/a ratio that allows them to compete on an equal footing, and they are not often far behind, if at all, depending on the driver in many cases. Best regards Peter Toet
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The 38 Six however was souped up a bit in 1974 when I bored it out 62.5 thou and shaved the head 150 thou. I fitted an R6 overdrive and 4.36 ( 120 ) rear axle ratio. In 1979, I had the vehicle up to 100 mph on the speedo (probably 92mph or thereabouts in actual) during a "test" with a 1948 "sunbeam Talbot" English sports car. I won the "test" easily, surely due entirely to my overdrive. The vehicle cruises at a GPS 65 mph ( 2,200rpm)very comfortably and noise free.
I would rate the 533 engine as age fragile with poured bearings ( similar to the 384 motor), but the 38 six is almost bullet proof and cruising speed in OZ is dependant on how many points you have left on your licence. IMHO, With regard to comparisons with the bigger version engines, the factory numerically lower rear axle ratios of the smaller engines means that they are not capable of the same top speed. It is only when you give them a better r/a ratio that allows them to compete on an equal footing, and they are not often far behind, if at all, depending on the driver in many cases. Best regards Peter Toet
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