Re: 356 327 327 288

Posted by John Harley On 2013/6/27 22:32:25

Brian

Owen et al are in Detroit this week, let me see if I can do this from memory...

The 282 was the new engine with intregal crankcase designed for the 120 in 1935. At this point there were still two "big " eights with aluminum crankcase, the 320 , Standard Eight and the 384, Super Eight along with the Twelve

In 1937 , Packard introduced the new Six , 246, the 384 was discontinued and the 320 became the Super Eight.

In 1940, the 356 reppalced both the 320 and the Twelve. The 356 has 9 main bearings, hydraulic lifters and a counterbalnced crank. The block and crankcase are intregal, as on a 282.

In 1948, for the 22nd series, the 288 and 327 were introduced. The 288, 327 and 356 all had the same bore, 3 1/2 in, so one set of machinery could be used for all the engines. The 288 and 327 have 5 mains and mechanical lfiters. They also weight a lot less than a 356 - 300 or 400 pounds.

The 356 was discontinued in 1951, if you add things up maybe less than 20,000 were produced. The 327 was given 9 mains and hydraulic lifters in the 288/327 block for the Patrician. Thus for a while there were two 327s.

Soon the smaller engines got hydraulic lifters and compression ratios and carburators grew. In 1954 senor cars were increased to 359 ci, had the compression raised up as high as they could get away with, and 4 barrel carbs. The HP was listed as 212, which is the highest for a flathead Straight Eight.

Clear as mud?

Yes , a small Packard has a bigger engine than the competition.

Regards

John Harley