Re: Not what you'd expect

Posted by JimGnitecki On 2008/8/26 8:40:53

Rusty O'Toole: I don't own a Packard V8 engine, but do own a GM LQ9 6.0 liter out of a Cadillac Escalade, that has already been cammed, has MSD electronic ignition fired off the stock reluctor ring, and has had the fuel injection replaced by an Edelbrock performance manifold with dual 4-barrel carbs, all polished for effect.

The Packard V8, despite its non-SAE-compliant "gross" hp rating, would be plenty strong enough, and would certainly be an easier project, since, as you point out, the '55 used the same body (disguised a bit), BUT I don't have one.

You use what you got whenever you can and money is tight . . .

The GM LS series engine is also serviceable anywhere, and very reliable - the LS series V8s are used in all GM V8 vehicles except Cadillac Northstars, including in all the pickup trucks, so the bugs were worked out long ago. And, if the insanity strikes you, Magnacharger makes packaged supercharger kits for them that get them to about 600 crank hp while still being incredibly reliable (and 16 inches of vacuum at idle).

Jim G