Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

In the coming weeks I will be rebuilding my 320 V8 engine.

Any common pitfalls out there for this? I have been watching a fair amount of YT videos (Uncle Tony's Garage mostly).

I got the cylinders honed and am installing new rings. One piston seems to be damaged from detonation so while it's theoretically reusable, I am replacing it with one NOS. The previous pistons appear to have had the skirts knurled not long before the engine was taken out of service, so the old pistons and the NOS actually have basically the same skirt clearance of 2½ thou.

The bearing situation as a whole is on the higher side of acceptability by the book, so I don't plan to replace any unless I find something unexpected.

Obviously I am installing a new seal/gasket kit. I will also be replacing the freeze plugs and exhaust manifold bolts.

Run a '56 Cam?

Why?

Common pitfalls:


1. Disassemble the rocker arms, pull the plugs from the ends of the shafts and run a brush through the bores. Regrind the rocker tips.

2. Early valve spring retainers are too soft. They should be replaced with later hardened retainers.

3. Magnaflux check and pressure test the heads. Many '55 heads are cracked.

4. Balance the rotating assembly.

5. We line hone all our blocks.

jack vines

Thanks Jack.

1. Will do, maybe except the regrinding. What profile should those be ground to?

2. Already done 😃

3. What is the pressure test of? The water passages? Gotta see if I can find anyone that can do that. The heads are already "done" so hopefully they are OK.

4. Not sure I will put in the time to get this done as I'm trying to wrap up the build before winter.

5. Too late, the guy already used a ball hone. Hopefully it will be good enough.