Just bought a decent OEM Goddess of Speed hood ornament, need a good glass as mine is broken. Is anyone supplying these or are they strictly OEM vintage parts? I have the removeable head 39-40? version. Thanks!

Yes, I have eye candy envy. Tried to locate a finned aluminum head when I built my 359, but was lucky enough to get a stock aluminum head in good shape. The manifolds I used to make my (2) 2 bbl. manifold...they were AMC/Jeep six cylinder log manifolds, available on eBay for around $100 each or less. They are taken off the 258 AMC engine installed in Jeeps and of course the Jeep guys all want a four bbl. The photos are on my phone, I'll try to post them later. Lots & lots of tig welding...Oh, here's a tip for the head install...lay a machinists rule on the milled surface...if you have more than a few thousandths of bow, slowly torque the head down over time...like weeks. Use allen head studs for head bolts and a good composition gasket. Do not over-torque!!!

Hi...I have the complete 4bbl carb and manifold for a 1954 359. The carb was completely rebuilt and my 359 engine was started and run in with this setup. I decided to go with a fabricated aluminum manifold and dual 2bbls primarily for looks...along with custom headers. I am willing to sell the whole outfit (no air cleaner, just carb and the two-piece manifold), or will trade for some dash parts for a 1939 Junior 120 Packard. Need the glove box door with trim, and the ash tray that goes into the center piece of trim...don't need the clock. Thanks, Stan Palma, can send photos. sjp@palmaarch.com

Hi...I believe the overbore was 20 over, although I would have to check the spec. It does have an Isky cam with the modified Mopar adjustable tappets. That's a benstend? adapter with a 4L60E trans behind, modified XJ Jag rear suspension. 18 & 19 inch wheels respectively.

Again, need help with that 1939 Packard junior glove box door with trim.

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For my Packard project car- need the glove box door and trim, not the clock- I have two clocks right now!

I also have a NOS (I know, I did not believe it either) 37-39 Super 8 dash, just the steel dash itself, no filler panels or gauges. I'll attach a photo, would consider a trade...I have fenders, a full 1954 359 4BBL carb setup with manifold, several other Packard parts.
sjp@palmaarch.com thanks

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It's been several years since my last post, and many changes have been made to the Packard. I sold the car I was originally basing the PHR around, and bought a 359 eight engine to rebuild. After finding that block to have a number of cracks, bought another short block and forged on. The 359 was overbored, all new innards except crank & rods, has an original aluminum head. VS blower with two carb manifold (made from 2 AMC/Jeep 258 six cylinder manifolds), WW Strombergs in 1957 Stude air boxes. Car itself features a 1935 hood, 1936 cowl, custom frame, custom suspension. I'll try to include a photo. Need a glove box door with trim (already have the clock) for a 1939 Junior, the flashy design chrome ribs. Would appreciate any leads, thanks, Stan P.

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I forgot to add, I like the idea about a pressure cooker! Right now I am working on a R3 Stude airbox, but I think that idea could be really interesting.

Thanks to everyone who has joined the discussion. Jack, I have read a few of your posts and you sound like you know what you are doing around a Packard engine. As far as using an airbox, other than the Panther nostalgia angle, it is usually easier to seal a box than a carb- if you look at what Studebaker did with the R2 & R3 engines, when money was no object, Granatelli built the R3s with airboxes, while Studebaker built the R2s with hats & pressurized carbs. Both ideas work, but according to supercharged Stude guru Ted Harbit (the "Chicken Hawk" guy), keeping the pressurized carbs together requires constant maintenance. I was planning on using the stock carb- I think it is a WCFB, have to look.

I would also like to hear from the group about the use of the stock 359 aluminum head if it is salvageable. I have looked at some forum strings discussing the different combustion shamber shapes Packard tried, and would be interested in how they perform. It looks like the biggest performance change you can make is simply to separate the intake & exhaust manifolds, and do some simple intake porting or at least polishing/cleanup. The McCulloch should take care of the rest!

I apologize if this material is available somewhere on the site, I tried a couple of searches unsuccessfully.

I am trying to find out what wheels were commonly used on the Packards of the 30s, and the overall tire/wheel combination outer diameter. I know the early 30s had 17" wheels, later 30s 16"; with 4 & 4.5" widths. Apparently there was also a 16" 6" width for the V12 cars.

Can anyone help me with the outer diameter dimensions?

Thanks, Stan Palma

Thanks to everyone for posting so much useful info, including the great links. Brian Thomas' engine buildup was especially interesting, and the Panther underhood shot is the best I have ever seen of the McCulloch installation on that car. The only photo on the web shows only the airbox w/o the blower.

As to engine mods, I recently sold my drag car, which had a Ford FE 427, and frankly I got tired of throwing large chunks of money at it to gain ever-smaller returns. I am going to use my Packard Special as a driver, with occasional blasts down the road- not as a racer, so any internal mods will be for longetivity only. Max torque is what I am after.

In case I decide to take the engine down to install hardened seats w/ new valves, can anyone direct me to a supplier of seats & valves? Are there any crossover parts such as brand X valves that enable one to gain a wider choice in valve sizes?

While I am currently planning on using a Stude R3 airbox, I did have a thought on saving money instead of buying a Paxton or Vortech box- why not adapt a cast aluminum oil pan? You can get these under $100, and I would think for anther $100-150 worth of TIG welding you could have a custom finned box!

Thanks again for all your help.