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

I hope I'm not being a nuisance with all these questions. I just discovered that this 39,000 mile original time capsule (2362 Deluxe Eight) has a 327 cylinder head. I know it may have had it replaced due to overheating and cracking the original head. But did the factory ever use 327 heads on a 288 engine? And if this is a replacement head, does it alter the compression ratio or maybe cause problems down the road? It's hard for me to believe that in 39,000 miles it would have needed cylinder head replacement. The engine runs great. Just wondering whether anyone else has run into this.

Thanks,

Steve

Authorized swap to change compression ratios on most engines. Have you verified by motor number that your engine is actually a 288 and not the optional 327? If it is a 288 and has a 327 head then the article says there is no increase so it could be a damaged head was replaced.

Attach file:

---

  (169.62 KB)

I can check the engine number tomorrow. Is there an engine number list on this site that will tell me what engine I have once I have the number?

There is a list of serial numbers in the literature section you can download.
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/PackardEngineSerials.pdf

Got it. Thank you!

The engine number is H201945, which makes it an early 288 in the 23rd Series. I'm going to have to guess that someone replaced a damaged cylinder head sometime in the past. As best I can tell there is no one living who would know for sure, so it's a "best guess" situation.

Thanks again for the help.

Somewhere else on this site there was mention that dealers sometimes restamped replacement engine blocks with the original number so it might not hurt to try to find the casting dates on the block to see if they match the era.

The casting date on the block is 4-20-48. I'm guessing that the factory stockpiled blocks and used them as needed?

We've seen cases of cars having delivery dates as little as a month or so after a motor casting date.

hi,

near by my 2362-2845 has got 288 engine number 200799 with a not so clearly visible casting number 4-6-49 ???

it is one of the golden drive away cars, so it should have been delivered in April 49

golden regards
Michael

Attach file:

---

  (42.86 KB)