Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

This post was inspired by one of Craig's responses in another topic.

Also, I had posted a long time ago that Lou Senter's dragster w/a Packard V-8 was the first rail to reach 150MPH. I could never find a picture of it to post.

Did anyone ever make and sell performance parts for these engines? Or was production too limited?

From the July 1956 issue of Motor Trend:

Quote:
My additional notes from this article show that Iskanderian kit numbers for Hi-Rev series were 800-CBK-E4 and 800-CBK-P-55 or 800-CBK-P-66; Roller series were 840-RRK-RR-2 and 840-RRK-505T.

Alas, the Jet Streak package was stillborn - never released for sale. However, it's contemplation has been confirmed by a 56J owners group - documented in a factory letter from SASCO.

I've seen some Isky adjustable pushrods listed on eBay for the Packard V8 several years ago, but don't recall ever seeing anything along the lines of an Isky camshaft kit for same engines.

Quote:

Iskenderian did catalog six different camshafts, four solid and two roller for the Packard V8. I've got the catalogs and four of the camshafts.

Aftermarket performance parts I've seen, own or built:

Aluminum flywheels - Ansen and Schieffer

Solid lifter and roller camshafts - Iskenderian, Howard, Clay Smith and Elgin (Never seen a performance hydraulic camshaft listed in a catalog, but I have done performance hydraulic regrinds myself.)

Adjustable pushrods - Isky (actually made by Smith Bros)

Race valve springs - Iskenderian

Solid lifters - Iskenderian

Adjustable aluminum rocker arms - Howard (Only ever seen one set, owned by the late Steve Williams.)

Adjustable cast iron rocker arms - (Never a catalog item. I made these myself. The adjustable pushrods require four hands and there is only room for two in the back of the engine.)

Adjustable aluminum roller tip rocker arms - (Never a catalog item - I made up a set of these myself.)

Dual point distributor conversions - Mallory (Only because the Delco and Autolite distributors were used on FoMoCo and GM cars and the same parts fit the Packard distributor.)

Welded stroker crankshaft custom built using the Packard Service forged crankshaft - Made by the late Hank the Crank

Forged pistons - JE, Venolia, Arias. (Never a catalog item. These are still available on custom order, $1000 to $1250 a set.)

Paxton supercharger - I've never seen it in a catalog, but supposedly Paxton made and sold a kit for the Packard V8. I've seen two installations.

Never seen an intake manifold, exhaust headers, supercharger drive or any of the more common performance items in a catalog. I've made up a few of each. Just common hot rod fabrication. Bottom line - rare and valuable! I've only seen one or two of each item in fifty years of watching for Packard performance parts.

jack vines

I'm wondering what other engine the Isky adj. pushrods had also fit????? As for solid lifters why not the solid lifter that would correspond to the MoPar hydraulic lifter listed here in the X-ref.

Not likely that Isky (et-al) made special tooling JUST for Packard ADJUSTABLE pushrods but rather marketed/made adjustables from some other application. Maybe MoPar. Ditto for solid lifters in view of the adjustable pushrod offering.

i.e. solid lifters tend to beg the existence of adj. push rods and/or rockers.

there is an aluminum flywheel on ebay right now. scheiffer made. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HOT-ROD-SCHIEFER-FLYWHEEL-55-56-PACKARD-352-320-STUDE-/360301804839?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53e3a93d27

Quote: None. The adjustable pushrods were made by Smith Bros for Isky. They will still make them on custom order.

Quote: Because the old Mopar solid lifter is, like the hydraulic lifter, NLA. Yes, if one could find some NOS, go for it. Just don't bother calling Isky or any of the cam companies. I have personally visited and combed through their old stock and there aren't any.

Quote: I've got one of those on the shelf. It is really a race-only part. It's not really a good street driver part. (Just me, but I'd never buy from anyone who types his description in ALL CAPS!)

jack vines

Here's the hydraulics still available at AZO:

autozone.com/autozone/parts/Valve-Lifter/_/N-8zna1?filterByKeyWord=jb+879&fromString=search&isSearchByPartNumber=true

I didn't check AAP nor O'reillies.

$24 EACH on those lifters at AZo ???? I paid about $4.80 each for them some 9 years ago. Yeah, i guess at $24 each they mite as well not be available.

Maybe try AAP website.

they're cheaper from Jegs.

Aproximately how much are they from Jegs??? I've never used Jegs.