Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Or let me put it another way:

The PackardV8 oil pump is prone to PREMATURE wear as low as 25K miles. That's not just me speaking. Go look at the PI website for their write up about their fix.

Overfilling the crankcase may work in many cases. THE PROBLEM IS A WORN pump.

SO, what did we do prior to the Olds pump conversio????

FEEBLE attempts to rebuild and redesign Packard pumps. I made 3hree different attempts. The last two worked but HERE"S THE PROBLEM:

Parts for these pumps is nearly impossible to find. Which means expensive machining costs. When i got done i still had Packards original piece of shit pump with bushings, oil grooves, LOWER bushings (double supported) among other mods. Ok it worked. BUT for how long????? 50 k miles instead of just 25K miles, MAYBE???

Bottom line is that a worn pump is a worn pump. It was a piece of shit design from the factory.

BTW, my 56 Exec had 35K ORIGINAL miles on it when it got it and the pump shaft and support was worn .002 inch beyond the service limit as specified in the manual. SOMETHING is causing the premature wear.

well wasn't that fun.......good thing it wasn't on pay per view.

Computers can be frustrating! I just spent 30 minutes putting thoughts to keyboard regarding all of the above, and it vanished! Tomorrow I'll try again. Too late and too tired now.

....SNORE........

Okay. Looks like I could stand to know more about this so I can keep an eye out for what may be an inevitable problem. I know what the oil pump is supposed to do. That's it. I wouldn't know how to access it. Is it in the sump? If so, do you have to remove the oil pan bottom to get to it? Anyone have pics of a worn one to demonstrate what to look for? I thought this think was just misdesigned and couldn't pick up oil efficiently at the level in the pan. The adding of a quart was, I thought, just to cover it, so it would pump oil and not air. I did not know about premature wear. Maybe, is that due to pumping air?

my patrician has over 86,000 miles, and knock on wood, no problems. what is tthe part that wears abnormally?

my patrician has over 86,000 miles, and knock on wood, no problems

Though I have no doubt the oil pump was a weak design and if symptoms are ignored can cause big-time problems, there seem to be as many examples of no problems as of horrific problems. My own 56 Carib has just over 90,000 miles, never a single lifter tick, great oil pressure, and just to feel comfortable I checked some random main and rod bearings and found them to be almost like-new. It does not appear that this engine has ever been worked on, but that's a detail I can't confirm with certainty. I do have an Aller-rebuilt pump on the shelf along with almost every component required for a full rebuild, though I'm hoping that day never comes.

"...there seem to be as many examples of no problems as of horrific problems..."

That's part of the mystery about the Packard V8 pump. At this point i'll stay with amd recommend the Olds conversion.

But i still like to analyze t he original pumps, mounting and related issues.