Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Good lord man. That's not a leak, that's a faucet!!

I have a 320 engine torn apart now, I'll see if I can get some pics. Should be the same, or nearly so, as the 374.

If that is definitely oil, it seems awfully thin and there is too much leaking for a rear main seal to be the cause unless the seal is missing or entirely destroyed. There are a couple of other possibilities at the rear for an oil leak that would provide sufficient volume for that much flow but you will need to remove the transmission and flex plate to check them.

At the end of the block there are two passages for oil to supply the lifter galleries where a Welch plug or maybe a pipe plug seals the ends of the passages that were used for access during machining. IIRC, one plug I believe is exposed and visible after the flex plate is removed but the other is recessed in the distributor shaft area. If a Welch plug, it is conceivable one of those could have come out or loosened and I believe there is also a Welch or core plug sealing the end of the camshaft bore which if loose or missing could also let oil feeding the rear cam bearing leak out.

That much flow could also be from a destroyed transmission front seal but in that situation the fluid should have a red tint if the proper fluid is in the trans.

Here are cutaway layouts showing the approximate locations where the Welch or pipe plugs are located.

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Thanks for any information. This is starting to look like much more of a job than I’m going to be able to handle. I don’t have the means to drop the trans or remove the engine to access these other areas. Does anyone on the message boards know of any mechanics in Southern California that knows about Packards because I’ve looked and can’t find anyone willing to work on it.

If your l.a area.

You can call custum auto service.

If it was me I would pull the engine. And if you don't have the melling oil pump.

I would use the rope seal.

I still have a leak with the felpro. Neoprene seal.

Pulling the engine on these is actually not too difficult. However there are tons of parts that need to be removed to get it out of there so it’s very time consuming and has a lot of steps. Do you have a garage in which to do this at your house?

I can video the steps to do this if it would help.

Humanpotato - No, I don’t have the room in my garage to work on it. Everything I do is done in my driveway, so pulling the engine myself is not an option.

RH - Thank you, I’ll see if I can find that shop.

Custom Auto is in Santa Ana. They are primarily a Packard resto shop.

I would broaden your search and look for a place that specializes in general classic car repair. I remember there being a smattering of those scattered around So. Calif.

I meant more as garage space for the engine. You can pull it in your driveway if you borrow an engine hoist, just saying. And if your HOA allows that type of thing. Obviously getting it done at a shop is gonna be pretty expensive so I just wanted to let you know it's doable as a DIY.

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