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How do you tell if the engine is the original with your car?

In 55-56 the engine number stamped on a flat surface near the oil breather tube will match tha serial # of the car.

On all other years/models back to the 20's there is no record of the engine number and it does no match the serial #. What you CAN tell in some cases is if it is NOT the original. If the serial # does not fall in the published sequence of #'s for your year/model.

Unless the car is a 1955 or 1956 you really can't tell if the engine is original to the car unless you have original factory documentation such as the Vehicle Unit Record card or original invoice of sale. Only perhaps 1000-2000 of these unit record cards exist for the 1+ million Packards produced so you chances are slim. However, you can estimate from such things as the vehicle number and the theft-proof or body serial number if your car is an early, mid-range, or late vehicle and then your motor number should fall into the corresponding point in it's range.