Since it looks like a rebuild is in the works the next concern is the cooling system.

Does the Packard have a fan shroud?

All this car has is the "core support" and a shroud in front of the radiator.

In the past the temp gauge would show very hot in traffic, especially after cruising and then slowing down to a stop.

We would run a infrared thermometer at the water neck when the gauge showed too hot and it only showed 195 F but who knows how accurate that was.

The radiator was cleaned out and when I disassembled the engine the cooling system looked clean.

Perhaps it was the gauge itself that was showing too hot???

My plan is to boil water and then run a ground wire to the sender and stick the sender in the pot of hot water and then watch the gauge indication and record the gauge indication and compare it to the actual measured temperature in the pot as the water cools.

I guess I should check the thermostat for proper opening as well.

I know you all have been waiting with bated breath for the progress report.

It looks like the cylinders were .020 worn out so a .030 overbore is in the works. Two exhaust valves were burned so new exhaust valves are in the plan.

Still waiting on the inspection of the cam and crank journals.

>1951 and later models used a narrower fan belt than earlier cars, so generator and crankshaft pulleys are different and the crankshaft pulley is also a different diameter. Vehicles with power steering had an extra groove on the crankshaft pulley that drove the pump directly with its own dedicated belt.

Will the 51 and later engine harmonic balancer fit the 49 crankshaft? Naturally if it will indeed bolt onto the crank then the other concerns are the engine balance (was the crank and balancer dynamic balanced as a unit or were they balanced separately and then bolted together later) and timing marks and fitment to the timing cover.

Someone said that the engine mounts of the 52 were relocated from the front of the engine to the sides of the block and this allowed for the installation of the PS brackets up front.

I have the head off so swapping for a later year head would not be excessively painful if that hole helps -OR- I can drill and tap one if necessary.

Does the generator of a 52 have two grove pulley and/or will that pulley install on the 49 generator?

If so I might could install the two pulley onto the existing generator and then run a second belt over to the PS pump? The existing belt is surprisingly wide so I bet it could drive both a PS and generator.

Another option regarding the drive belt of the PS and generator is...if a generator can run backwards and still generate electricity I can mount the PS pump next to the generator and then I can run a very long slotted V belt around both the PS pump and the generator pulley and then it can run both.

Pictures of an actual install would be super helpful.

THANKS!!!

Thanks.

THANKS!!!

What years/models did the Strait Eight come in?

A wrecking yard and parts re-conditioner company I found online (hey...you can ALWAYS trust someone you met online) said they have all of the parts from a 1954 "Strait Eight" and that everything should be a simple bolt on affair. He said the following:

I would need a different harmonic balancer because it has two groves for the PS pump as opposed to the single grove unit the car originally had. QUESTION: Can one simply swap out the balancer or is the balancer balanced as an assembly with the crank?

The control valve will bolt onto the steering gear but the old steering gear will not have as close of a ratio as the gear designed for the PS car (I dont think that is as big as the steering a deal)

Does anyone know if the PS pump to engine brackets will bolt onto the OEM strait eight block or will I need to drill and tap the holes for the new brackets?

Any other advice from someone who has done this mod before will be helpful!!!

THANKS AGAIN!!!

Bill

Hi Packard Cyber Friends!!!

THANKS AGAIN!!! Sorry for the delay in getting back to you...sometimes "work happens". This forum is REALLY helpful!!!

Can you PLEASE give some advice/tips on the following for our "engine spa treatment"???

ENGINE:
The engine serial number is G4246XXXX

Looking at the Engine Serial Number reference chart on this website (SUPER WEBSITE BTW) this is what we are working with:

-the engine a "1948 22 Series" (Whatever that means)

-327 CID, 145 HP, Super Eight

-L head ("L or M...whatever it takes" Mr. Mom movie reference)

-5 bearing, solid lifters

-Casting number: 389803 11-17-48


CAM and LIFTERS:
The machinist removed the cam and the cam is good!!! I assume it needs a polish.

One lifter is bad however he has another lifter "laying around the shop" he can mill down to fit the bore.


VALVES and SEATS:
A couple of exhaust valves are burned. Naturally it would be best to replace all the exhaust valves with stainless valves since they are out and get the seats ground and cleaned up.

The intake valves look good. My assumption is that it is best to grind the intake valves and seats since it is apart.

Since Flat Heads are new to me, I Ass-U-Me that the engine internals need to be removed so as to keep the valve seat grinding debris away and then a full clean up of the engine block will be needed before the internals are re-installed???


HEAD and BLOCK:
The head is not cracked however my guess is that it should be resurfaced to ensure a sealed head gasket fit.

Does the block deck NEED to be resurfaced??? Removing and reinstalling all of the studs will be the time cost on that so the question is ...does it REALLY need to be done or a clean up will suffice?


CYLINDER and PISTONS/RINGS:
Since the head is now off, the machinist "finger nailed" the cylinders and he swagged that the cylinders were "Ten Thousands" over bore. When he removes the pistons he will bore mic it out to be sure. Would a re-hone of the cylinders and new rings be sufficient or are we going to need a ten thousands over boar and pistons?


CRANKSHAFT/BEARINGS:
When he removes the crank he can determine IF the crank journals are clean. If they are NOT scored then my guess is that the OEM bearings can be reused in their original positions - OR- would a crank journal polish and new standard sized bearings be needed -OR- would a ten thousands crank journal regrind and ten thousands oversized bearing be OK?

DISTRIBUTER:
The distributor was good and I left the cap and wires installed so I can get them back on with no grief. Someone said the distributor needs to be "indexed". What does that mean?

CARBURETOR:
The carburetor worked fine so I sealed it up in a plastic bag and plan to simply reinstall it.

EXHAUST MANIFOLDS:
My guess is that the exhaust manifolds will simply need to be reinstalled. They were not cracked nor leaking before.

OIL PUMP:
Should I disassemble the oil pump and inspect it or should I simply clean it up and reinstall?

WHAT ELSE???

Can you think of anything else I am not thinking of?

THANKS SO MUCH GUYS!!!

I am converting a 1949 Packard to power steering and I need all of the parts for this project.

If you are parting out a car/ have the parts/ or know of a source please let me know.

THANKS!!!

Good information!!! THANK YOU for helping us out in this swap.

Does anyone know of a good source for the donor parts?

HH56,

Thank you for the information.

I looked around for the plates you mentioned however I am having trouble finding the documents you listed.

Can you PLEASE send a link?