Re: Engine Number Questions & Proper Running & Intake Manifold

Posted by Fred Puhn On 2009/9/25 23:12:15

A couple months ago I replaced the rings on my 1950 Packard 288. I pulled the head and the oil pan. Pulling the head is easy but the pan is not. You have to disconnect the front motor mount brackets on the bottom and hoist up the engine to allow the pan to drop down far enough to pull it off. Having the car on a hoist was really handy, in fact probably necessary for access to the pan.
The "ring job" involves cutting the ridge on the top of each cylinder so the pistons can slide out. You need a ridge reamer tool to do this (which I borrowed). You need to measure the cylinder taper to make sure you do not need a rebore. My cylinders have a taper up up to 0.010", which is the upper limit according to the Packard manual. I bought the rings from Egge after giving them the ring dimensions.
The cylinders need to be honed to allow a good surface for the new rings. That requires a hone sized to the 3.500" bore (which my mechanic had). I paid a mechanic to hone the cylinders because I am too old to climb up on the engine and do it.
The piston ring gooves need to be cleaned carefully. I had a tool from my mechanic, but you can do it with a broken piece of an old ring. Just snap off a piece of ring and grind the end of the ring to make a scraper. Clean off all the carbon in the ring groove.
Installing the new rings requires a ring expander tool. They are way too stiff to use your fingers.
As long as the pan was off I checked the rod bearing clearance and they were fine.
The valves were ground and adjusted with the head off because it is a lot handier to know exactly where each piston is by looking.
After all that the car runs fine with no smoke or blowby.
A ring job is no small task, but it can be done without pulling the engine.
Good luck with your Packard.