Packard Forum Index » General

1955 clipper custom constellation can.t seem to find the engine number i have looked in all suggested place's front behind the water pump ,back by exhaust manifold , am i missing some thing ,also what color should the engine be ,it looks turquoise,with black valve cover stamped packard ,there is is a dark emerald green paint under the turquoise ?

Sometimes the numbers were very faintly stamped and it takes a good cleaning and rubbing some chalk or similar over the area to fill the faint impressions before wiping the excess off in order to see the numbers.

If there is no number found in the known spots, the original engine could have been replaced with a service engine. There doesn't seem to be much documentation posted that expressly states how or if the service engines were to be numbered after they were in the car.

Packard used blue or sometimes called turquoise paint in both 55 and 56 but apparently they are not the same color. 55 repro paint has been made but AFAIK, none of the vendors has offered the 56 shade.

EDIT: The number let the ride refers to is the Utica mfg number. After Packards demise there were a number of service engines found in warehouses but not in all sizes. To get rid of the surplus engines Studebaker advertised them to their dealers at rock bottom prices. It was suggested dealers could make a nice profit if they could convince Packard customers needing engine work that the engines were great buys -- even if the one to be installed was not the original size engine for the car. Your car could easily have one of those. I believe it was predominately the 56 senior 374s that might have got a different engine but if you find the number, will be interested to know if it is the correct 352 for the Custom Clipper.

Attach file:

---

  (121.01 KB)


  (85.61 KB)

See bottom of page 29.
Is that number and letter stamped?
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/SC/SC-VOL29NO5.pdf

Utica plant engine number. Passenger side, just below cylinder head at rear of engine. Best viewed from underneath if the engine is in the vehicle.

This particular engine has always been a bit of a mystery, it's clearly a 1956 400/Patrician engine by this number and all the other usual identifying numbers and features, but there is no evidence it's ever been anything but red in color.

Attach file:

---

  (75.68 KB)