Re: Packard V8 Engine Size

Posted by Jack Vines On 2008/6/20 0:24:10

The 374" block can be safely bored to 4.250". The standard cast steel crankshaft has hollow throws. If it is a street engine and not to be run hard, it can be welded and offset ground for another 1/4" of stroke. I don't recommend it.

There were a very few, very rare forged steel crankshafts made for service replacements. They have solid crankpins and can be welded and offset ground up to 3/8". Any of these stroker options will require clearance grinding of the bottom of the cylinders and relieving the bottom of the oil pan.

As to the weight of the Packard V8 versus the Studebaker V8; I weighed a 1956 Power Hawk 259" Studebaker V8, complete with bell housing, flywheel, clutch and a 1956 Golden Hawk 352" Packard V8 equipped the same way. They were weighed on the same scale hanging from a hoist on the same day.

Please go to the '56J site http://www.1956goldenhawk.com/ and read the '56J front end weight bunk article also, note the published shipping weights. The '56 Golden Hawk was only a few pounds heavier than a similar equipped '56 Sky Hawk or '57 Golden Hawk. There are two differences I have noted which make the '56J a bit more nose heavy. The Packard engine is longer and taller than the Stude and thus the weight sits slightly higher and farther forward. Many '56Js were also equipped with the Saginaw power steering, which adds another hundred pounds high and to the front.

I've owned and driven hard both the '56 Sky Hawk and Golden Hawk. The Golden Hawk will definitely accelerate faster, has a higher top speed and will keep up in the turns. Neither is a sports car, but both were the fastest cars of their day. The '56J with manual transmission was quicker and faster than the '56 Corvette and '56 Thunderbird. It was quicker and about even on the top end with the '56 Chrysler 300.

thnx, jack vines