Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Quote:

You are leaving out part of the story. Developed horsepower is only one factor. For every day performance, high torque and a wide power band are at least as important, maybe more important.

The stock long stroke engine will idle down to a walking pace in high gear and pull away without a buck. Then accelerate to a top speed of 85 to 90 MPH. In normal driving the 130HP engine is as satisfactory as a modern short stroke V8 with twice the HP. The only place the V8 would really shine is at high speeds, over 70, where most people seldom go especially in a 60 year old Packard.

Only in rodding is a pushrod V8 a "modern" engine

The L8 published torq is not very much <200, as I recall. It's gear ratios that make it move.
But this thread was about swapping motors, not defending them.

Here in Michigan it's not possible to drive a Packard.

The roads are complete ruin and the crooks in Lansing have no intention of fixing them. The other day I slowly passed a hole in the road that was at least 2 feet long 1 foot wide and a foot deep. On an expressway ramp no less.

Yet the people drive like maniacs. Today I was doing 75 in the slow lane and being passed. I only drive on roads where I can keep track of the potholes. People hit potholes that rip the entire suspension out from under their cars. They don't even care.

I just putt around and let them tailgate me, pass me, get pissed, whatever, and hope they hit a huge hole in the road ahead.

That said, if you like the look of the car but can't drive it because of it's poor performance then what the heck? Let the purists preserve the nice original cars that are going to waste.