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

While doing some research over the weekend I found some interesting info on Suffix codes and what they mean for the 22nd and 23rd series cars.

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Interesting. I have CE after my engine number. I've been trying to figure out what that meant. Mystery solved.

I'm glad this helped. My engine code starts with H. Everyone keeps telling me that means I have Hydraulic lifters. Not so. All 23rd series engines started with H. The additional suffix codes are after the numbers. Just like all 22nd Series engines started with G, then the numbers, then any additional suffix codes. If I did have hydraulic lifters; at the end of the numbers there would be an (F). At least that's what my research shows.

The H suffix was apparently officially designated for use with 24th series engines coming from the factory with optional hydraulic lifers.

Cannot remember which year or specific subject covered but as I recall there is an article mentioning that the optional lifters may be found or maybe they could be dealer installed in other year engines. Don't remember specifics but as an aside to the subject of the article it suggested mechanics be sure to stamp an H on any engine that normally would not have had hydraulic lifters but mechanic had found or maybe installed them.

There have been some 22-23 series with an H suffix found and have been asked about on various forums.

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I agree there were probably some changes made by a particular dealer in California, and maybe a few others, but 95% will fall into the info I found. The main thing to remember is 22nd Series all start with prefix G, 23rd Series all start with prefix H. Suffix letters all fall after the end of the engine numbers hence the term suffix. According to the Packard International website. If the suffix (H ) was used by a dealer, it would be at the end (suffix) and stamped into the block. All factory hydraulic applications were only started by the Packard factory during the 23rd series, and had the Suffix (F).

Bringing this one back around for more curiosity on this subject. So, my serial number most definitely does not end in a suffix, which means it should have solid lifters, although it does indeed have hydraulic lifters. So, my curiosity in this is... what trouble would a mechanic have gone through to change out the solid lifters? From the looks of it, they would be completely different valve lifter assemblies, where the hydraulic lifters have both the plunger assembly and tappet, and the solid lifter is, well, a solid/single unit. So, to switch these out, they would need a full set of tappets and plungers, in addition to needing to remove the camshaft (and all that entails) - is that how that works? I've gone far enough into my '50's 327 to know that it's really very easy to swap out a noisy plunger assembly. Seems far more involved to swap out a whole set of tappets. What are the benefits of making that switch?

The date code on my engine is May 3, 1950. It does appear that the engine has been out of the car before, given the telltale sign of the top of the radiator cradle having been cut and welded back in.

I'm sorry if this has been addressed before, but do our engines perform differently (better?) with one or the other, or rather, if an engine that was meant to come with solid lifters would perform better in its original configuration (when adjusted to spec), versus the zero lash hydraulic lifters that were swapped in at some point? Again, just curious. Thanks!

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Was the crankshaft the same for solid lifters and hydraulic? I'm pretty sure if lifters are changed to a different type then the crankshaft also needs to be changed.

Mechanical lifters need periodic adjustment, but they don't have the potential of failing like the hydraulic ones do.

I can’t think of a reason why the crankshaft would be different but definitely the camshaft would be. The hydraulic lifter assemblies themselves, though, would be a direct replacement for solid.

As for the suffix, I don’t have a definitive answer but maybe after a certain engine number, they all had hydraulic lifters in your particular model which, being the case, would not have needed the suffix. Have you had a look through the parts book for any such reference?

Uh, isn't that a little H in front of your engine #? Perhaps Fred who was stamping numbers that day didn't get the memo. Most later engines have no indication what was inside. They can be readily changed from one to another by swapping the cam and lifters and the little plug at the end of the oil gallery--hole was smaller with the hydraulics. Because I hate surprises, when building an engine for myself it always gets solids


In performance, there is no discernable difference. When the solid lifters are adjusted properly, there is very little discernible noise difference.

The size of the H which is the correct prefix for a 50 engine is interesting. The posts with photos I recall seeing showing a motor number have the letter designating the year the same size as the numerals.