Re: 1956 Packard Patrician Rebuild Project

Posted by BH On 2013/10/25 19:36:02

Troy -

Sorry to hear things didn't play out as expected.

However, I don't think as much emphasis is placed on numbers-matching engines in the Packard segment of the hobby as it is in muscle car circles - certainly not like Bloomington Gold certification for Corvettes.

That is, a factory-supplied service engine should not be frowned on, especially if it is of same displacement. Such engine would have had no VN number stamped, in either location (as previously noted), by the factory (only a Utica number). Previously, dealers were advised to stamp straight eight service replacement blocks with the original VN (and sometimes an additional suffix), but the practice may have lapsed by 55-56.

However, when a service block of original design was no longer available, Packard often approved and provided additional instructions and parts for installing substitute, as noted in various service newletters. In fact, in 1959, Studbaker Service Bulletin No. 350 (p. 7) actually advised dealers that 1955 stripped (service) engines (320- and 352-cid) were available for installation in 1956 cars.

Personally, my preferences would be for an original numbers-matching engine...else, a service engine of correct displacement...else, a used/reconditioned motor from a donor vehicle of same type/displacement.

The only wrong turn you took was not validating the VN on the engine before you struck a deal. As soon as you saw it was not there, that should have raised a red flag for you to dig a deeper. Once you got to the bottom of the matter, you might have been able to negotiate a lower price for the car.

Otherwise, it looks like you have a good, solid, project car, and factory A/C is not all that common in that period of automotive history. If it were my car, I would do the rest of it up right. If everything else works out according to expectations, the motor could always be swapped out at a later date.