forgive me for I have sinned, Chevy engine in Packard

Posted by Wayne Atkinson On 2009/1/6 5:09:39

I have been lurking on this forum for quite some time now. I don't really feel like I belong here. 17 years ago, I traded for a 1952 300 sedan without an engine and with the transmission in the trunk in pieces. I knew where there was a hearse laying on it's side, so I planned on using it for parts. But someone beat me to the hearse. I looked around for quite sometime for a correct engine and trans and couldn't find one. So at that time I started thinking about a modern engine and transmission. I really get tired of seeing Chevy engines in every car, but when it came down to it, it was the only engine that would fit without cutting things up. So I did the swap. I made motor mounts that sit on the original Packard front mount pads, and bolted a plate to the original trans cross member to adapt the turbo 400 trans mount. I even painted the engine Packard gray. It has a single exhaust exiting in the original location. All the chrome was replated, all stainless removed and polished. New interior and carpet were installed, matching the original as closely as possible. We have worn out two sets of biased ply wide whitewalls, and now have Diamondback radial wide whites, and love them. I always had it in the back of my mind to someday install an original type engine and trans, but I really don't think that will happen. This is our long distance travel car. My wife takes it on 300 mile trips by herself.
I have read comments on the forum about how an engine swap somehow makes my car not a Packard anymore, and other comments of that type. I guess my question is, if I attend a Packard meet somewhere will my car and I be stoned and escorted off the premises, or will we be allowed to enjoy the company of other Packard enthusiasts? Thanks, Wayne

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