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Here are the condition of my pistons. I know it isn't good, but don't have any idea just how bad it is.

I've been sick over this, I have dedicated every waking hour (excluding while I am at work) to this car since January when the person who was supposed to help me who is knowledgeable on restoration and mechanics fell through - Every relationship (excluding my son) has been neglected, but I was able to get it on the road and enjoyed it for a full weekend before this and can't let it all be in vain.

If anyone can provide me what a little guidance on what my next steps should be I would really appreciate it!

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Jason75,

I sure relate to how you say you feel sick about a situation that you've put a lot of effort into, and that looks bleak; I've been there and felt identical. I am not a mechanic, nor an engine specialist, but in LOOKING at the top end on your motor, to me, the pistons don't look horrible. One thing is for sure, and that is there was not a 3/8 nut bouncing around in cylinder 7 as there doesn't appear to be any high-velocity impact damage to the top of that piston. There is definitely a bit of carbon build up that could be cleaned up and vacuumed out of the holes. I'm sure the owners who have rebuilt lots of these blocks will weigh in with advice, but from the limited amount of diagnostics that can be determined from pictures only, I wouldn't think things are dire, that's for sure. One issue that did seem to stand out, is the water circulation holes sure seem full of flake and sludge and one would think that should be addressed before putting things back together. Chris.

Hi Chris, I normally am up and active early in the morning till late at night and I didn't get out of bed until noon yesterday when i has expected the worse...

Yes, the water jacket cleaning is definitely a need and I am sure a big contributor to my engine heat issues. I'm thinking I will use oxalic acid and pour it into the jacket from the top of block - I may even put the old head gasket back in and fill the jackets and find a way to recirculate it without starting the engine since I don't want to run the engine much until I determine the source of the noise which started all of this (video linked below should anyone want to play, name this noise)


share.icloud.com/photos/0Uu9En1CkvsLZOqqa7qNeDS1A#Home


So on my list:

Clean the water jacket - oxalic acid
Remove carbon - seafoam and plastic blade
Locate a vendor for a head gasket
learn how to inspect the lifters to see if they need adjusting
Figure out what kind of inspection/ diagnostics / preventative maintenance would be good to do while I have the head off

To any and all: this is all new to me so if I am doing something wrong feel free to jump in.

Did you do a compression test on the cylinders before?

John

Looks like a thousand other slightly tired Packard eights, so you can rest easy on that. Your compression readings are not bad at all except for cylinder 2 and I suggest pulling the valves out of that one for a look. Could be the the exhaust valve is starting to leak.

Sadly I don't see anything that would account for the sudden appearance of noise. No grooves in the cylinder walls?

When the car overheated, how hot did it get? Boil-over is not normally going to cause damage. Did the oil light ever come on?

A memory from oh 44 years ago is that when the head gasket on my '50 Super gave way between two cylinders it actually chirped sharply under load. Scared me to death.

Think I would recommend cleaning the top of the engine really well with a wire wheel on a right angle grinder, likewise the head. Clean it all out really well and put some oil around the pistons. Turn it over with the starter and listen if possible. Observe valve action.

Then clean up your old gasket with some scotchbrite and spray a heavy coat of aluminum paint on both sides. Slap everything back together and try it.

Yes, do the oxalic acid. Those calk and rust flakes love to lay on top to your radiator tubes and plug them.

Hi John

I did dry compression and was going to do wet but I got spooked from the noise I was hearing and kind didn't want to turn the engine over any more until I saw what was happening inside / I feared something had fallen into the cylinder. Below are the dry readings

Dry
1 - 120
2 - 90
3 -120
4 - 118
5 - 119
6 - 120

Hi Ross,

Unfortunately I did find some scoring unfortunately I did find some scoring primarily a number two which would explain the low readings let me know what you thinkUnfortunately I did find some scoring primarily in number two which would explain the low readings let me know what you think

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In a quick review I can see that #2 has a broken top ring in that the wear pattern does not continue up to the top land. #3 has been rusty in the past as the tiny pits are still visible. My experience is that rings wear quickly in cylinders like that.

None of this is a huge surprise; the broken top ring is fairly common in engines that are overdue for a ring job. Many somewhat smokey , anemic, and difficult to start Packards are running around in similar state. Sadly, there was a reason that your car was "put up" long ago--it was tired and not worth fixing at the time. You have inherited problems from long ago. Still don't see a reason for the noise. Did you perchance have the filler tube out of the block?

Years ago when I rebuilt the 327 5-main engine in my 1952 Henney-Packard, there were several cracks between cylinders and valves but a local machine shop with mobile equipment came out and bored/sleeved the cylinders any installed valve seats where needed. I don't recall it being particularly expensive and it was certainly better than pulling the engine and trying to get it to the shop, especially as I was working outdoors on rough asphalt where a lift wouldn't roll well. That may be something for you to look into on the scored and pitted cylinders, provided such services still exist. The shop I used was a Napa.

Hi Ross,

In your experience do the witness marks in #2 that you have seen from broken rings also come with broken ring lands?

No, I still haven't found the source of the noise - the filler tube was not out of the block.

After listening to what a leak from the exhaust manifold and block sounds like I think that is a strong possibility... your thoughts?