Re: 1953 Packard Patrician 327 9 main upgrades or engine swap?

Posted by Rusty_1999 On 2020/12/24 14:48:12

I am afraid I will not be doing that. There comes a time when only so many automobiles can be kept original. There will come a point when one day you will not be able to drive them anymore as they were originally designed. One day, there will be no OEM original parts, one day there will be no aftermarket to support a niche car group. People of my age have no interest keeping a car original if it means we cannot drive it as we intend. Whether that be across the country or down a drag strip, or even on a circuit track, or just to car shows. When this car was bought by its original owners, they had no intention of worrying about that, they drove it every day. I want to drive it every day too.

Why do you think engine swaps are so common, the original drive train cannot keep up. Maybe a car from later in the 50's with a 3 speed and a more powerful and efficient engine.

How many Packard owners will take their car across country and daily drive it? I bet only a select few and i am willing to bet 75% of them have done engine swaps.

Sheesh, i would have at least thought that me wanting to keep the original engine but modify it to be THE BEST VERSION of itself possible would at least garner some respect.

And to do that it must be brought into the 21st century. No amount of work done to it to factory specs will allow it to keep up, that was fine for back in the day, especially considering the national speed limit.

But it's abysmal gas mileage, and antiquated 2 speed transmission cannot keep up.

You can only keep so many cars original.

AND OF THOSE ORIGINAL CARS HOW MANY CAN BE DRIVEN WITHOUT WORRY OR BE COMFORTABLY BE TAKEN CROSS COUNTRY.

Original sucks in every way possible if it means i cannot enjoy driving my car.

I want to enjoy driving my Packard in the 21st century and i want to enjoy it to the fullest.

Why do you think engine swaps are so common, the original drive trains cannot keep up. Maybe a car from later in the 50's with a 3 speed and a more powerful and efficient engine.

How many Packard owners will take their car across country and daily drive it? I bet only a select few and i am willing to bet 75% of them have done engine swaps, or have at least changed something about the drive train

Sheesh, i would have at least thought, that me wanting to keep the original engine but modify it to be THE BEST VERSION of itself possible would at least garner some respect.

My Packard was Intended to be enjoyed by whomever owns it and wishes to drive it.

It was never Intended to be stuck in time with antiquated equipment. It was Intended to be DRIVEN! And being Intended to be DRIVEN has nothing to do with originality.

The past was cool and should be honored, but there does come a time when we must move on.

This is my prerogative- Should new Packard owners be shunned out of the community for wanting to upgrade their car? Should they be shunned for wanting to drive their car more? And in doing so they do some upgrades so they can, should they then be banned from owning a Packard simply because they desire to drive theirs?