V8 engine castings

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2010/8/18 11:56:53

I'm a bit surprised that no one picked up on or had any comments on my earlier note asking where and by whom the 1956 and perhaps late 1955 engine blocks for S-P's Packard line were cast. I posed the question here after hearing the Jim Balfour lecture at the PAC National in Gettysburg where he noted that the forge and casting plant on Harper Avenue had been sold during 1955 which is confirmed in the 1955 Packard annual report to the stockholders. I thought this was "new" news, but perhaps it was already well-known and understood? I've tried to determine if the forge/casting plant was sold as an ongoing operation to which S-P might have contracted for the castings, or sold for real estate development, but haven't been able thus far to uncover any relevant information. I suppose the casting operations could have been done by Studebaker?

This didn't spur anyone's curiousity? Anyone have any information on it? Or perhaps a way to determine the details of the transaction, such as who the purchaser was and for what purpose?