Re: 1956 Packard Patrician Rebuild Project

Posted by Troy Taylor On 2014/10/7 11:00:23

Ok, the postmortem is complete.

Initial cause of engine failure Dropped a intake valve in cylinder #7 Crunching a chunk out of the cam lob with the solid lifter.

Secondary, blown head gasket with water severely oxidizing the aluminum piston and welding it to the cylinder. This piston is frozen solid.

Piston walls show very little wear and are not grooved in the least. Bottom mic'ed at 4.125

Crank has mild grooving as the babbiting was worn through the mains and down to the brass.

Valve stems mic'ed to spec and less than .004 wiggle, should not have to oversize.

Engine headed off to Kaley's tomorrow to be cleaned, and worked up. Heads will be cleaned and hardened seats inserted. Cam will be repaired, Kaley's has the blanks for the 374 and does a lot of Packard work for the local restoration shops. Crank Ground.

On hold on ordering parts until I get the Engine back. So for now, back to the Frame, T/L bars due in tomorrow, still waiting on the Sandblaster. Oh Well, the garage needs a good cleaning, I need to go find my wife.