Re: Since Packard had a V-12 in the 30's....

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2009/7/29 13:12:35

Rusty, the engines I'm most familiar with, 6th thru 14 series senior eights, used 4 rings per aluminum piston but only 1 was an oil control ring, the other 3 were compression rings. Commencing with the 9th series the oil control ring was changed from 1/8 to 5/32 and that piston was supplied as the service replacement for the earlier engines.

Packard was an early advocate, perhaps the first, for aluminum pistons. Other than the very early cars, the only Packard I'm aware of that used cast iron pistons was 1942 as a result of war rationing of aluminum. Perhaps there were others that used cast iron, John raised the question so I suspect he has the answer to this.