Re: Randy Berger's 1956 Caribbean

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2007/12/9 12:31:16

There has been enough written about this oil pump and its contribution to the V8 lubrication issues to fill a good-sized book. I personally believe that the Packard revisions to the oil pump (pressure relief valve) were attempts to solve a problem that never existed in the first place. Yes, a better-engineered pump might have had an upper bushing, yet the pump from my 90,000 mile V8 shows no appreciable wear at the shaft and still produces great oil pressure, more than 35 psi at hot idle and over 40 at road speed. My personal belief is that among the revisions to improve lubrication that Packard made (changes in rocker arm oil holes, changes to cam plate and timing chain lubrication, higher capacity lifters, etc.) they missed one -- the floating oil intake screen should have been mounted a bit lower in the pan, and this explains why so many high mileage V8s have quieter lifters when running 1/2 quart over full on crankcase oil. In any case the debate over the oil pump will go on for as long as Packard V8s are on the road.