Re: 356 Crank in 327/359

Posted by Mike On 2011/8/15 23:17:09

"I like the 327 motor and think it is under appreciated due to Ultramatic."

I don't quite understand that statement.


"Without OEM pistons, new carburation, etal, I don't think it is possible to rebuild them to original horsepower."


I know several carb rebuilders that can do a carb BETTER than new. Same for machine work, or ignition, or what have you. I would think quality pistons would be a fine replacement for OEM, as are most parts in general. I think, as Ross has pointed out, it's about doing the WHOLE deal, valve job, pistons, rings, and all. I think with a proper rebuild, original horsepower is more than attainable.


Also, let's not forget, these were still mass produced cars, without the attention per unit that we dote on them.

You could make it run BETTER than new if you also cared about cleaning manifolds, deburring edges on port entrances, gasket matching, light cleaning porting, polishing, etc.

But really, when you gain 15hp out of all that, was it worth the time and money, for a car that isn't a race car, and you have no one to race?


As someone here once said, "I've never been in a Packard street race!"

I think of it every time i want to hot rod my Packard; if i want a fast car, there's way better and cheaper ways to go than a Packard.



HOWEVER. if i was going to hotrod a packard, maybe i'd put a supercharger on a Packard V8 after boring it out, then my second vote would be split between blowing a 288 (for the reasons you state) and blowing a 327 (because you can get one with 9 mains.)