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

Car in Charleston, SC

Engine only, or also transmission?

Ross does excellent engine builds in Maryland. Not sure of his availability for the coming season. Obviously Ultramatics as well, but again IDK lead time. I can also do an Ultramatic.

To be honest, the straight 8's are not that unusual so you can probably find a local builder without too much hassle.

There is no builder in Charleston, SC.

I refuse to believe that in a city of 150k people there is not ONE engine shop. Did you call these guys? If they don't build engines, they will surely have a recommendation.

fiskautomotivemachineshop.com/

I find it impossible to believe too! Even the tiny rural town of Terrebonne, OR where my shop is has engine machine shops that could easily rebuild one.

Fisk doesn't do rebuilds any more. OS Performance, Paul's Engine Overhaul, Simmons Machine, Bouchillon Performance: nope, nope, nope, nope. Not only do they not do it but they don't know anybody local that does. L8 that is.

The problem is finding a shop that WANTS to rebuild a 1951 Packard straight eight.
Straight eights haven't been rebuilder bread and butter work for two generations.
Pgh Ultra's listing, Fisk, states "WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING ENGINE BLOCKS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE". They have chosen the business they want to make their money. I would like to think that they would be able to provide referrals for the work they don't or no longer do.

Have you tried contacting Blue Ridge Packards or Peach State Packards?
The Packard Club only lists e-mail contact for Peach State Packards, The_Gray_Family@yahoo.com

Have you looked at restoration shops?
Hemmings has the closest listing for restoration shops as TJ Auto Restorations located in Smithfield, NC, about 250 miles from Charleston. The Hemmings list only has 16 shops so it is far from complete.

Part of the reason could also be the local shops might no longer have equipment that can handle the length of the inline 8 block. I ran into that here when the guy that did my 54 engine moved his shop and didn't have what he considered adequate space for some machine. He said that since he didn't do big trucks and there was such a limited need for a machine with that long of bed anymore he traded it on a newer version that did the same things plus a couple of other machining steps. The tradeoff was the new machine would fit nicely in his new space but could only handle lengths of a V8 and a typical six block.

I should've checked the Packard Club Membership Directory sooner, since you are in it, I expect you have already talked to everyone in your area.

The question now is how far do you want to go for your engine work?

Quote:

Hey Kunzea, what is going on with your engine that you're looking to rebuild it?