Re: 1956 374 with Big Valve Heads Value??

Posted by Jack Vines On 2009/9/17 13:58:52

You'll have better luck selling it if you spell out in detail what has been done to the engine. "Rebuilt" is a somewhat flexible term. I bought one rebuilt engine which had the used valves and seats reground, used cam, lifters, rockers, chain and oil pump. It had new pistons, rings, rods and mains.

When I sell a rebuilt engine, every wearing surface on the cam, rockers, crank, heads and block has been reground. New pistons, rings, bearings, valves, guides, exhaust hard seats, lifters, oil pump, cam retainer and spacer.

FWIW, all 374" had "big valve" heads. All '55 intake valves are 1.937" and all '56 intake valves are 2.000". All exhausts are the same 1.6875" The .063" difference on the intakes isn't really noticeable. In fact, one '56 engine I pulled down from a Golden Hawk had dropped a valve and it had been replaced with one from a '55.

Another FWIW, there isn't a large demand for rebuilt Packard V8s. I have two rebuilt 352"s on the shelf just now. They'll sell eventually, but most potential buyers seem to be really scared of the shipping costs. One guy ended up paying more locally than my sell price plus shipping. He'd never picked up a pallet at a loading dock and just couldn't get his head around the fact the shipper would drop it right into the back of his pickup truck.

thnx, jack vines