Re: Packard V8 in 57-58 Packards?

Posted by Jack Vines On 2010/5/26 12:07:38
FWIW, you may be interested in knowing the 275hp 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk was the quickest, fastest US-built car sold that year. According to contemporary magazine road tests, it was accelerated quicker and had a higher top speed than the Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Thunderbird and Chrysler 300.

Just imagine how dangerous the '56J would have been if S-P had used the 305hp 374" '56 Caribbean engine. On top of that, the proposed-but-never-sold Jet Stream kit, with the Iskenderian solid lifter camshaft and dual point distributor would have made it a rocket ship. The TwinTraction limited slip would have insured it broke both axle shafts instead of only the right side, as did most GHs which were drag-raced.

Bottom line, the Packard V8 was the largest displacement, highest rated horsepower engine for sale in the US in 1956.

As far as the '57-58 275hp McCulloch-supercharged Studebaker V8 being a better choice, not in my experience. The Packard V8 has much better low speed torque in normal driving and is long-gone and far out of sight by the time the smaller Stude V8 gets wound up and making boost.

thnx, jack vines

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