Re: 359 packard engine

Posted by HH56 On 2015/7/6 10:36:32

As others have mentioned, it was an expensive engine to make (and rebuild). Example is the crankshaft. The 288/327 crank has the counterweights cast or forged in place and are part of the assy whereas the 356 has individual weights which are bolted onto the crank forging. Because the weight are wide and overlap the journals, the machining has to be done first and then weights bolted on and balanced.

To do any rebuild machine work the bolt heads holding the weights have to be milled off so weights can be removed, machining to the journals done and then weights rebolted in position and the protruding bolt head ends finished again so all is flush with the weights. Then the crank is balanced again. Rebuilding one of those engines today takes a shop with expertise and with machines large enough and capable of doing that kind of work. Your local or typical SBC rebuild shop is usually not the place to take that engine.