Does anyone know if 359 pistons will fit in a 356, if bored out? The pin height and rods will be the issue to getting the 359 pistons to fit on the 356 connecting rods. Has anyone tried this?

Thanks,
John R.

Thanks all that really helps.

John

I know the junior cars had 122" wheelbases and the seniors had 127". Where was the extra 5" added on the '51-54 cars?

Thanks, John

Tim: "This might be a faster way to turn cash into smoke."
This is always the case. :) But it is a lot of fun.

It sounds like I am trying to Hot Rod an engine, actually I want to improve the efficiency/fuel economy of a Packard. My first thoughts were a longer stroke engine would produce more torque allowing the car to accelerate more easily and not need to be revved as much, which uses proportionately more fuel and a long stroke engine can't do anyway.

I am thinking I would use a 356 engine at this point.

I was going to use computerized engine management: port fuel injection and distributor-less ignition to get more power from the same amount of fuel.

All flat heads have poor breathing characteristics. My thought is to add low boost (5 psi or less) to counteract this and increase torque as well. I would use 2 twin scroll turbos, the smallest possible that won't choke at redline even if not much extra hp is created there. Looking for the earliest onset of boost and an increase in torque. Intercooling would increase efficiency, too.

Use a ZF 8 speed automatic transmission to further improve fuel economy.

But I want to keep the car looking stock.

Founds the 356 heads can be interchanged to 288/327/359. So I guess it still is a maybe.

John

Thanks. I haven't been able to find the cylinder bore spacing for the 356 & 327/359. If those aren't the same it definitely wouldn't interchange.

John

Does anyone know if it would be possible/how much machining it would take to put the longer stroke 356, 9 main bearing crank into the 327/359 9 main bearing engine block?

I have looked around on some of the specifications documents on this site but can't find anything that gives much evidence to this.

Thanks,

John R.

For the 9 main bearing engines, 356, 327 and 359 I was trying to find out the dimensions of the intake and exhaust ports. I would be obliged if any one could tell me.

Thanks,

John

Ports:
'42-'48 356 Intake - 1.625" 1-5/8"
'48-'53 327 Intake -
'54 359 Intake -

'42-'48 356 Exhaust - 1.406" 1-13/32"
'48-'53 327 Exhaust -
'54 359 Exhaust -

Quote:

Sure. Sort of. My dad got interest in Packards got a 48 Super 8. I got interested in the Reinhart body cars and was talking them up. later he bought a 54 Patrician.

John

Has to be a 51-54 300/Cavalier or 400/Patrician.

John