Re: V-8 engine design flaws

Posted by R Anderson On 2010/1/23 20:36:32

Agree with all that, but given their legendary expertise it seems odd that something so basic as inadequate oiling would turn out to be a problem. The complex Chrysler Double Rocker 331 V8 of 1951 had no real weakness or teething problems whatever once in production (I've had a number of what has colloquially later become known as the "hemi", Chrysler themselves never called it by that name at the time) so I'd put it down to perhaps the small size of the engineering staff and lack of adequate capital for the V8's development and testing on the part of Packard, and, as mentioned, the small number of engines produced. Perhaps in retrospect it's easy to now really understand Packard's apparently well founded reluctance to move away from their well proven straight 8s for as long as they did.

What modifications are considered mandatory for durability at this point? - specifically, is the Olds pump substitution required, or merely desirable... 91K on an original engine is not high mileage these days, or even then. There's a '56 Cad with over one million miles supposedly. Richard Langworth has stated rod bearings are also suspect in Packard Buyers Guide, perhaps as a result of the oil pump issue?. Also valve seals have been mentioned by some.