Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I need to install a completely new dual exhaust system on my 56 Pat. The current exhaust has no resonators installed and I was wondering if Packard produced any cars in the 56 model year without resonators. I would like to keep it as original as possible. I had a 56 Cadillac coupe deville (man what a car)way back in the sixties that was one of less than a hundred produced without resonators so I know not all of the big cars with V8s had them.

I'm only aware of senior cars with resonators. I have seen many V-8 Packards without them, and to me they are too loud, not wisper-quiet like a Packard should be.

Are you saying the car is quieter with or without the resonator. I don't like a loud noisy exhaust. The Packard parts manual shows resonators on the 5680 as standard so I'm guesing they were all supplied with resonators.

Seniors all came with resonators, not sure about the juniors and/or single exhaust models. Many folks omit the resonators, perhaps for cost as they are expensive. Despite my usual passion for originality, I replaced the resonators with glasspacks. The car is generally very quiet but when I get on it, it barks nicely.

Mr. Pushbutton (John), do you remember how loud my soon-to-be-ex Patrician was? It was pretty much straight exhaust and dual glasspacks, and I didn't think it was too loud. OR... Do I need a hearing aid??

Eric--your '56 Pat wasn't necessarly loud, but I figured you like the performance aspect, ergo the supercharger.
I have heard Packard V-8s that were wisper quiet, as quiet as a Packard 12 or R-R (these where V-8s that didn't have lifter noise obviously) and they all have resonators.
Engineering for silence of operation is a completly different discipline than engineering for performance (racing). I personally like a fine car that is very quiet in operation.

What about Bentley? "The Silent Sports Car"? That was going to be my goal if I would have kept the Patrician.

One of the simpler pleasures I enjoy is leaving the cruise at night's end and having to blink parking lights to make strollers aware I am behind them. I never turn on the headlights till I clear the parking area, and I hate to blow the horn. While all the Chebbies and Fords are making noise and revving their engines, I just sort of drift out of my spot and roll softly to the exit. I have heard comments about the quietness and smooth exit as I leave. "Is that thing running?" "Yeah, it never makes a sound."