Re: What about the 25K 105mph V8 Patrician?

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2011/4/4 10:40:11

BH gives a good overview, nicely said. It's worth noting that in the era of the mid-50s, 100,000 miles, +/-, would have been considered good engine life before some internal service was needed, be that a valve & ring job, or more. And certainly individual experiences with the Packard V8 varies considerably; some due to design and metallurgy limits of the day and perhaps others due more to poor maintenance and neglect as these cars fell into the hands of 3rd and 4th owners, some of whom bought them solely for cheap transportation and treated the accordingly.

My own experience with my 56 Caribbean has been quite good. I've averaged about 1000 miles a year in the 14 years I've owned it and it's now just over 90,000 miles. It was in the hands of a Packard-lover from the day it was sold new so no doubt it received loving care for it's entire life. It's never been layed up or dormant. It neither uses nor looses oil, has excellent oil pressure, but compression is beginning wane a bit in two cylinders, down to about 110 psi. It's been on several tours where 500 or more miles were covered at modern Interstate speeds; I've had a few issues issues but never any with the engine. As far as I can tell when I pulled the pan and several bearing caps to examine, it's probably "as sold" internally. I've gradually accumulated just about everything I'll need for a full rebuild at some point.

Unfortunately, I know not everyone's experiences have been so good. And yes, it would be interesting to find some details of the 55 test car engine which I'm sure Packard tore down to evaluate. Perhaps that info will yet surface in the years ahead. Carl(?) Atz who I believe as a Packard test driver and who recently passed away was probably involved in that episode, I wonder if, as he attended various recent PAC events, anyone every questioned him about it? There was a reasonable contingent of retired Packard-Detroit employees at the 1999 Centennial and it was a golden opportunity to interview them and get their remembrances into the record. I don't know if that was done or not - it would be a shame if it wasn't.