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Re: 359 cu. in. aluminum cylinder head question, Part # 446974
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Home away from home
 
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Here is what you are up against. The 359 was only used in five Packard models in 1954. Here are the production numbers for each model:
Patrician: 2,760 Convertible (non-Caribbean): 863 Caribbean: 400 Executive Sedan: 65 Corporate Limo: 35 Total: 4,123 Source: The Packard 1942-1962 by Nathaniel T. Dawes. Copyright 1975 by A.S. Barnes and Co., Inc. Given that these cars are now more than 70 years old, the survival rate is not very high so there just aren't even that many parts cars or parts engines left out there which might furnish a good cylinder head. Also, the aluminum head had a high failure rate and many, if not most of the senior '54 models I have encountered have had the heads replaced with an iron one. Any time you mate an aluminum head with an iron block, you are going to have head gasket issues. I have owned several 1980's Chrysler products with the 2.2 liter four. These all had aluminum heads, and I had to replace the head gasket in every single one of them. Some failed in as little as 40,000 miles. Best I ever did was about 70K with a 1988 Plymouth Horizon which my wife bought new. Question: If your aluminum 359 head fails, what iron one can you replace it with? Was this something that was covered in a Service Bulletin? It must have been a problem even many years ago.
Posted on: 8/6 10:10
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Re: 359 cu. in. aluminum cylinder head question, Part # 446974
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Home away from home
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It was also used on the 5413 commercial coaches, the only year in the 1951-1954 style to use the senior engine.
Posted on: 8/6 14:14
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Re: 359 cu. in. aluminum cylinder head question, Part # 446974
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Home away from home
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Quote:
I found this ad posted 2 hours ago: Aluminum Head/-1954/359 engine/ my friend was very firm at $400/ Now- $300/ we need to move/ so he will accept the lower price- of $300, but not $200, as someone offered-,located in Collegeville, pa- suburban phila area- call jp-215-313-5800/ tnx
Posted on: 8/6 22:42
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1955 400 | Registry | Project Blog
1955 Clipper Deluxe | Registry | Project Blog 1955 Clipper Super Panama | Registry Email (Parts/service inquiries only, please. Post all questions on the forum.) service@ultramatic.info |
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Re: 359 cu. in. aluminum cylinder head question, Part # 446974
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Home away from home
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Whatever you end up with, be sure to dye-test it for cracks and t have it thoroughly cleaned/tanked but don’t mill it. Heli-Coil all the threaded holes too.
Posted on: Yesterday 0:12
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Re: 359 cu. in. aluminum cylinder head question, Part # 446974
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There is a person that is making new performance aluminum heads for the Hudson 262-308 engines, and everyone that has ordered one has said there are no head gasket problems. Maybe the same person can remake aluminum heads for Packard engines if there is enough interest.
Posted on: Yesterday 12:13
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Re: 359 cu. in. aluminum cylinder head question, Part # 446974
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I can speak to some of my 3D printing vendors on this, but I need to know the length, width, height, and weight of one of these heads. All of the numbers can be approximate within a few percent. It doesn't have to be perfect to just be able to get an estimate.
Posted on: Yesterday 13:09
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1955 400 | Registry | Project Blog
1955 Clipper Deluxe | Registry | Project Blog 1955 Clipper Super Panama | Registry Email (Parts/service inquiries only, please. Post all questions on the forum.) service@ultramatic.info |
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Re: 359 cu. in. aluminum cylinder head question, Part # 446974
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Quote:
I checked the production chart in the Nat Dawes book and that gets you an additional 205 units for the 359. I also left out the Pacific Hardtop model which had 1,189 units produced for the 1954 model year. So total 359 production comes to 5,817, plus any replacement engines built by the factory. Still not that many, and how many are even left?
Posted on: Yesterday 14:19
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Re: 359 cu. in. aluminum cylinder head question, Part # 446974
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Just popping in
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Many thanks. I will give that # a call, but I generally look at " my buddy or a friend has this part .... and please call ... " as an indication of a scammer. Could be just how it is being listed. I have family sort of near that area, so it would be a cash and hands on type of transaction. However, thank you for providing this.
Posted on: Today 9:33
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Re: 359 cu. in. aluminum cylinder head question, Part # 446974
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Just popping in
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Thank you for this. Even with "extras" which is probably normal for any car manufacturer relative to replacement parts, and even if the number was rounded up to 6,000, then the number of running or to be running cars with 359s is probably 1%, give or take. Having 60 units as the global demand does create significant contraints on production. I have extremely limited experience on manufacturing replacement parts or upgraded, modified parts. I did reproduce a rear swaybar for the W123 Mercedes sedan which was slightly thicker than the commercial vehicle's rear SB. On non-commercial cars, it is slightly thinner. The W123 platform had circa 2.4M units. The commercial rear SB is rare and NLA, which prompted me to have some made. I sold almost 300, with manufacturing in batches of 50, then 25, and then 10 at a time. The R&D was minimal and the risk for the first 50 or even the first 100 was about zero. The SBs do have a different shape, but they are superior to what the Mercedes' did in the late 70s or early to mid 80's when it came to the W123 platform, e.g., 240D, 300D, et cet. As for the cylinder head, it is the total opposite. High level of risk selling one let alone 10. Price and the industry base to reverse engineer the cylinder head are exceedingly expensive from what I can tell and not really present in any significant capacity, respectively.
Posted on: Today 9:50
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