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

Yes, of course. A motor shop. I'm reasonably confident that one of those is around here.


I think I found a Harley mechanic. The dealership quotes started to sound like prison sex. Wat thinks not. I asked around and got a reference. Rest of the info is coming tomorrow. We'll see how that goes.


Thanks for helping me think these things through.

Made the call yesterday to commit on a '54 Henney limo, or what's left of it. THe 359 is almost complete. Slushbox appears to be intact behind it. Looks like an after T-giving pick-up.


This one still has the aluminum head. That'll be interesting, I suspect.


Made an offer on his '47 Clipper 6 sedan, too, but I'm not very hopeful. It's like coal to Newcastle, but it does have pretty good sheetmetal.

While wondering and before researching: IIRC, the 359 has hydraulic lifters. I think that NOS replacements are still available. My question is, can the solids from the little engines be used instead?

I doubt it as solid lifters also require a different cam lobe shape so you would need to replace that too which is not possible if there was never one made for the engine.

I'd consult Ross on any internal engine part swaparoos. He's been there, done that.

Solid lifters should fit and let the engine run even without a proper original solid cam and many with the smaller engines have found the solids to be quite satisfactory after changing out the original hydraulic lifters but leaving the cam.

The question and possible issue becomes what will happen because of the higher compression since the engine requirements even with all original items are somewhat fussy. A change in timing or a different head with the higher compression can make the engine do strange things so what would a change in valve lift or duration do and could any detrimental changes that caused be worked around by changing something else and would anything be gained with the change.

You would have to take the cam out to install the solid lifters anyway so just put the whole shebang in. Everything will fit.

The engine is out. This is a redo from scratch. I have a theory and this is the guinea pig.


Thanks.


I'm sure something else will pop up sooner or later.