Re: 352 Crankshaft

Posted by BH On 2012/1/27 18:46:37

To me, the 1959 date of that bulletin merely tells us when supplies of the original crankshafts, as originally installed by the Utica plant for 55-56 Packard V8s and supplied for service, were running out and that the other P/Ns were to "now" be substituted.

One should not assume that the replacing parts or numbers were newly issued at that time.

Let's consider the replacing part numbers. Generally, part numbers are simply issued in sequence. Also, Packard began prefixing their P/Ns with a "6" at some point in 1955-56, to avoid conflict with Studebakers own P/N sequence as pats warehousing and distribution operations were merged.

Notice, if only by virtue of their sequence, that P/N 440989 precedes the OE 476009 for 5560-80 and 56th; similarly, P/N 440912 precedes the OE 440954 for 5522-42-47. None of these four P/Ns are 7-digit P/N that used the "6" prefix.

This suggests to me that the forged cranks were already in production, and concurrently with the OE cast type, but for some application other than Packard vehicles.

I don't have any Nash/Hudson/AM parts books, but wonder what they show for P/Ns. I also wonder if Packard sold - if only as a middleman - forged cranks for marine conversions?

As for the continuity of parts production after 1956, I have to wonder how many of Packard's suppliers were shuttered - caught in the undertow of the S-P "rescue", like so many contract suppliers in the wake of the automaker bailouts of more recent years.