Re: Boring out the 237 Packard 6

Posted by Jack Vines On 2016/12/14 21:54:37

Yes, No, Maybe.

This is old junk we're discussing, so how it was treated over the years is equally important to how thick it was originally.

We recently had a 374" open a hole in a rear cylinder at .060". That block had the gnastiest water passages ever seen; the surmise is a previous owner put lots of stop-leak compound in there. Whatever, there was a weak spot. A Packard V8 is always safe to bore .125", except when it isn't.

Sonic testing is a must if large overbores are contemplated, but from experience, it is impossible to get a valid reading for every square inch of every cylinder. Sometimes, even with best practices, shit happens.

Bottom line, your 6-cylinder would probably be safe with another .060", except when it isn't.

(Henry, remember there were also 320"s in '55 ;>)

jack vines