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I understand the difference between the 288 and 327 is the connecting rod length therefore the head length should be the same. I would expect 356 head length to be greater than the the 288/327. Does anyone know the head length dimensions for the 288/327 and 356 so that it could be used to partially confirm engine size? Are there any physical features on the 288 and 327 that will consistently differentiate them?

The 288/327/356 heads will interchange as evidenced by this Packard article on changing compression ratios. If I remember correctly, there is a slightly more rounded or softer profile on the designated 356 head edges and corners.

Because the heads interchange and might have been swapped, even if a head has a large cast CID number there is no easy external way to differentiate a 288/327 5 main block other than the motor number. You can download the Packard Engine Serial Number Reference from the Misc info category in the literature section if you want to have it for reference.

The 327 9 main block is identical to the others if looking at the distributor side. You can externally tell the difference between a 5 and 9 main by looking on the passenger side and counting the number of 1/8 brass plugs on the main oil gallery. The gallery is a rounded area which extends the length of the engine below the valve covers and just above the oil pump. There is a plug at the drilled passage going to each main bearing so an easy way to tell -- although a couple of passages will not be obvious as they are behind other items.

The 288/327 engine has the distributor located slightly forward of the middle of the block between two core or freeze plugs while the 356 distributor is positioned dead center directly under a core plug.

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Howard, as brilliant as you are, I believe you're thinking of the 1954 359 but the question was about the 356.

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Don, The 288/327 heads will fit the 356 block as specifically stated in the compression change service article and the most notable easy to spot difference externally between engine blocks is with the distributor location.

The 54 359 engine will externally be like the 9 main 327 but if it still has the original aluminum head that head will be the same size LxW as the cast irons but smoother and slightly thicker with definite rounded corners and edges. The 356 cast iron head has smoother edges than the others but is not as pronounced with rounded edges as the aluminum and has a typical cast iron rough finish.

No idea what the compression ratio would be with the 359 aluminum head on the 356 or other engines so that might not be a good combination just as some of the earlier 288/327 heads are not a good idea on the 359.

All,

Thanks for the input and direction. You have made my upcoming visit to the National Packard Museum in Warren. OH more meaningful. I will observe and photograph their '50 Deluxe (327?) and '50 Custom 8 Convertible (356)engines to practice engine identification. The motor number spreadsheet be with me as well. Thanks to all.

356 heads with 1951 casting dates and 14mm plug threads do not have rounded edges. Whether these were made as service heads for automotive 356 engines or for the 356 marine engines (or perhaps both) is unknown to me. My old 2206 has such a head.

The rounded edges on 356 engine cylinder heads ended with the 21st series.

22nd Series and later had sharper edges like the 288 and 327 heads.

G'day Tom(puttenham),
to PackardInfo and, I invite you to include your Packard/s in the Packard Owner's Registry.

Enjoy your visit to the Packard Museum at Warren.

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Thanks, Brian. You've explained what O_D mentioned.

Along with the perceived lowering of overall quality starting with the 22nd series cars that others have lamented in various publications I guess they were really starting to cut back on expensive or time consuming procedures with the advent of the 48s. My 21st 47 head looks like it went thru some kind of finishing process -- maybe something like a belt sander went around the edges smoothing and rounding. I know later engines and one 53 in particular that I spent way too much time around and got overly familiar with had edges on the head that were sharp enough to break the skin if one got careless. I think I found every one of those sharp edges during my time with that engine.

What is the recommended way to store any straight straight 6 or 8 head?

Thanks