Re: 356 & 359 info and choices.

Posted by HH56 On 2022/7/16 19:07:34

I will be the first to add two cents worth. Unlike in Packards time, two cents is almost worthless these days but here goes.

The 356 is a great engine but was obsoleted after the 50 models. It was a smooth and for the time powerful engine but is one of the harder and more expensive to rebuild. Main reason being the crankshaft counterweights must be removed to do any work on the crank and require machine work to remove and reinstall. Dealing with the weights adds up to expensive shop time and a need for someone who understands what needs to be done working on the engine. if you should get one in need of any work keep that in mind. Some parts such as the hydraulic valve lifters are almost extinct so it is good used on those if you have a need for any. The lifters are expensive and getting hard to find. If the new engine does not come with the motor mount parts am not sure if the 282 front mount parts will bolt on the 356 block so that might also be something needed as would possibly be some front crossmember work due to different block lengths. Some years also used side stabilizing brackets on the 356 and those might need to be found.

The 359 uses the same block as the 9 main 327 but was bored and stroked for 54 so was a one year only engine. Machine work is not as involved as the 356 but since it was one year only engine some parts are getting hard to come by. The aluminum head in particular is hard to replace if the one on the engine is not usable. Cast iron heads can be substituted but that destroys the look exclusive to the 359 and also requires heads from specific years and models to avoid increasing the compression ratio so high it will be difficult if not impossible to eliminate the pinging. It may also need shorter studs or attention to threads under the nuts because the cast iron heads are not as deep. The 54 engine is also a side mount engine so you will need to find the parts to change from a side to front mount. Parts from a 48-50 288/327 block should bolt onto the front of the 359 but you would need to verify and again there would probably be some work needed on the front crossmember due to different block lengths from the 282.

Am sure others are much better versed in the details so hope they chime in.