Re: 55 with a straight 8. weird

Posted by Jeff On 2011/7/2 16:20:54

Interesting topic - sorry I haven't added to it with my photos yet. I do have a pic or two of Bob Aller's '54 equipped with the V-8, but I haven't been able to uncover them yet. Sad to say that my pics are somewhat jumbled after 3 moves in the last 10 years. The Packard that Bob installed the V-8 in is a very slick job. I don't recall the entire story, but the engine itself is a very early build, and was installed either at the end of the 54th Series run, or right at the launch of the 55th Series. As an employee with connections, Bob was able to have this done as a more-or-less sanctioned swap. The work may have been done in the shop at Jack Beebe Packard (formerly Reid-Ward), the Zone HQ here in KC. A look at the engine bay would make you think that it was actually assembled that way. The engine fits perfectly fine, with likely only minor mods. But as someone said above, to go the other way and install a 327 or 359 in a 55th Series would be tricky. I would like to compare the linear space between firewall and radiator in a stock version of both. That Str8-8 is crazy long!

As soon as I have the pics, I'll put them up for everyone. And if I can find the whole story, I'll post that as well. It may have been printed in an old issue of The Data Plate, our newsletter here.

Bob Aller Papers are still for sale, by the way! I am about to authorize a 3rd run.