I am well aware of the supercharged 8C Alfas. I was in Sonoma raceway, NorCal at classic races few weeks ago and there was one. I talked to the gentleman who owned it and was blown away by the car. Awesome machine in every aspect, loved the sound. Obviously it had a triggering effect on me.

There's irony right there. I had a '47 with the 288 but I sold it. The car itself was in horrendous condition but engine, trans (manual with overdrive) and frame with suspension was good. Oh well.

The recreation will be a GP-car. A copy of something that was campaigned in Europe during 1930-50's. The original is long gone but I managed to see old paper photos of it long time ago and never was able to forget it.

I do have a specific plan with one of these engines. I am not asking to only get more knowledge, I plan to put it into use in the form of an old 1930's race car recreation.

I would need the most intelligent and sturdiest straight eight bottom end for this as I have seen what happens with 5-bearing cranks when you ask too much from the engine.

Motors Repair Manual from the early fifties sounds interesting. How do I know I've found the right one online? I'd assume there might a number of books by this name on the market. Who wrote it? When published? Etc?

Thank you for the replies.

Hello,

I'm almost a noob on Packards and came here hoping to learn. I'm closing in on being 50 years old in a couple of years and have been building cars since I was 15. Intro, there, done.

I am asking you gentlemen to educate me on Packard inline eights and their differences. My main interest is in the 9-bearing blocks and especially aluminum ones.

I've read about post-war 327 and 359 ones but the pre-war aluminum ones are more difficult. Were they all 9-bearing or not? What kind of bores and strokes were offered? Which are good ones and bad ones (if any)? Forged or cast cranks?

I'm asking for your help. Thank you.

I've understood there's a 316cid L8 engine? Was it a 9-bearing? How about journal diameters?