Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Dear Ran:

Forget the flush.

Drop the oil pan and clean the pickup.

After a great deal of examination and discussion my conclusion is that most of the V-8 motor oiling problems are being caused by sludging in the oil pan.

I have a failed V-8 on a pallet and the pickup is full of sludge.

Most people aren't willing to go out on a limb and ask basic questions because they fear being regarded and ignorant or inexperienced. I don't care what people think. Packard had a problem in 1956 and sometimes you have to look at the basics.

The V-8 was a good motor with a few very basic but critical faults.

Tim, I couldn't agree more strongly. I've long advocated that anyone buying an older car with unknown maintenance history should drop the pan and clean it and the intake screen before even putting it on the road. Packard long recommended dropping the pan once a year; let's assume that was after perhaps 12,000 miles which means for many of us doing it once every 5 to 10 years, which isn't asking much.

I neglected my own advice a bit when I bought my 56 Carib, but shortly thereafter I dropped the pan and found the intake screen was about 50% clogged.

Is the oil pan easier to drop on 55/56? The 51-54 oil pans are a pain to drop, so I can understand why they got neglected.

Hardest part is removeing the left exhaust pipe unless it has been off recently. Removeing lower bellhousing can be difficult too if it is real tite on the dowls. Front 4-most pan bolts difficult to get to.

The biggest pain is the left exhaust pipe.