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this was really weird for me to look at, but at the same time....makes you think what if the v8 wasn't ready in time for 55, but the facelift was.

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/2444706899.html

With a steering wheel & possibly column as well to match the engine, more likely an exercise someone did to make a driving car out of what good pieces he had or liked. Maybe his new fangled 55 V8 or Twin U bit the dust & he wanted a challenge.

Would be interesting to see more pictures and see what exactly was done. That's a long engine to put in that space and still keep the radiator appearing to be close to the orignal location.

if it was cheaper and closer i would entertain it.

but man...i bet with that motor that thing is a pig compared to its old motor.

i doubt Packard would let one order something like this even VERY VERY early in the production run.

has to be done after the fact.

Hank

i doubt Packard would let one order something like this even VERY VERY early in the production run. has to be done after the fact.


Yes, I doubt Packard would have even considered it for a fleeting moment - they were presenting their "new" up-to-date image, not the past. Not to mention the significant of 1954 models which remained unsold and in dealer's hands well after the introduction of the 1955 models, for the odd-ball person that still wanted a throwback engine.

I bet there is some serious firewall mods that had to be made to make it fit. For sure that is a 55 body (Windshield, rear quarters, dash, etc) , so not just a dressed up '54 with 55 front end.

Wonder if it has TL?! lol

Henry,

Interesting excersize. Bob Aller had a 54 that he put a Packard V8 in. He drove it to PAC national meets and Salado. He did it 54 while he was working for Packard.

I wonder if the owner just wanted standard shift and used a staight 8 set up since it is easier to find than a V8 setup?

Henry, thanks for sharing that crazy "downgrade".

Quote:

Let the ride decide, do you have a pic somewhere? I like the idea to combine the 1954 design with a lively V8.

Could it be a 54 that had a 55 front clip installed. This could have been done years ago due to accident damage when the car was a late model used car. perhaps the owner found a 55 in a junkyard with a good front end and liked it better than the 54. Bodymen sometimes do odd things on their own cars. One could have got an accident damaged 54 cheap and changed the front end for laughs or to get the new look.

Later. On looking again I see it has the 55 wrap around windshield so my theory is shot to blazes.

Putting the I8 engine in is one thing. There isn't enough money to get me to try to make the '55 column shift link up with a '54 side shift box.

jack vines

Jack, my father, totally frustrated with the problems with the Twin Ultramatic, did some conversions to standard shift. His earlier efforts used the pre-1955 Packard-built top shift transmissions and he had to adapt the idler shift lever system to the V-8s. They worked well. His later conversions used the Borg Warner-built side shift transmissions which had a simpler direct shift linkage.

(o{I}o)