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FWIW, four years ago, a friend had a custom aluminum cylinder head designed and built for the Hudson Hornet 6-cylinder engine; they were about $1500 each. The I8 Packard would be a similar exercise, just 1/3 longer. At a guess, $2500 each today.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/potential-to-bring-back-a-hudson-6-performance-head.1242895/

jack vines

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Welcome to Packard Land. I have the same problem with anything I choose to reproduce.

Another aspect which I failed to mention would be the characteristics of a "used" 359 cu. inc. aluminum cylinder head versus a NOS, pristine condition one. I generally have no idea if the used one was milled / re-surfaced at some point. I also do not know if having some "extra" meat on the mating surface would pose adverse consequences. If not, that would permit at least one or two resurfacing.

The reason for the commentary and long-winded thread is my intent to have a 54' as a DD with the original engine. It makes little sense to me to have a 54' when driving it would be iffy because of the cylinder head. This was the prime reason or one of the prime reasons I let my Packards go years ago.

I think the block, pistons, bearings, crank, et cet., would stand the test of time and/or can be readily replaced. The other components which make up the various systems, e.g., brakes, fuel, et cet., are rebuildable.

Making one cylinder head makes little sense. Making 10 to 20, maybe, makes some sense if the price for the three which I would like to keep would enable the overall price to be spread across all 10 - 20 units, which would sell within the next 12 - 24 months. The problem is the risk associated with selling the part, and having folks reject it because it is not original. Just need one rejection to sour the entire buying community.

Again, if someone gets me the external dimensions and weight of one of these cylinder heads then I can get a ballpark price for a 3D print. You can send this information of a cast iron head as long as you tell me it's cast iron and I will just use that material density to figure out the amount of material it needs.

This would be an interesting project but I think you would really want to consider just using a cast iron head if you are looking for top tier reliability at reasonable cost. Speaking of originality, if the engine is painted properly, no one would even know it's the wrong type without inspecting the displacement number.

Already working on getting a "sample."

Found one in Arizona, with a price.

May have found one in Pennsylvania.

Got a lead on one in North Carolina, which is the closests to home.

I prefer a junk one which could be used for the very reasons you mentioned.

I agree it would be somethig one would have to be looking for, but I can spot one in a second just becuase of the corners are not rounded, but rather sharp or 90* on the steel head.

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Yeah, I know "steel head" is just a rodder thang, but a stint in a foundry made me sensitized to correct terminology. You know it's cast iron, I know it's cast iron, but that guy out there reading the forum now thinks they're made of steel.

jack vines

My bad. Apologies and corrections noted