Re: Stewart's 1955 Packard 400

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2013/12/28 9:05:18

I was not expecting to find the pistons already numbered. So unless someone tells me that Packard numbered them during assembly I am going to assume this is not the first time my engine has been rebuilt

Traditionally, factory-installed pistons on most (all?) makes of engines were hand-selected for individual fit to the bores and thus were numbered. A careful engine rebuilder would also number pistons, so I would NOT automatically assume that having numbered pistons means the engine has been previously rebuilt.

PS - just looked at my spare V8, a 1956 Patrician. OEM pistons and they are numbered.