Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

G'day Ralph,
to PackardInfo! You've come to the right place for information and advice about your Packards. Yes, Packards, because I see from your public profile that "The other is still on the way home here in Maine from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It's a '56." Accordingly, I invite you to include your '55 & '56 in the Packard Owners Registry here on PackardInfo.

Hello Ozstatman,

Thank you for the welcome. I have found the 8-digit number on my engine and will register it. I hope it is the original engine.

Ralph,

PS,

I've just completed the add of all that I know about this car at this writing.

As far as I know, I have a '55 Packard Custom Clipper Constellation black /cream/black in exterior color.

I still do not know what size the engine is but this number is what I've found to the right of the oil fill tube:
5567 2452

I have no VIN on the driver's door post; I see the area where it once was located but it has been removed since.

I have what I believe to be the correct theft-proof number:
025365

Ralph

If it is the original engine to that car then the 5567 2452 would have been the VN found on the door pillar tag. Possible wxception the door tag mite have been 5567A 2452. Not sure if the "A" applied to 55's or not.

Sounds like the original engine as vin would be correct for the 55 Custom Constellation. A 352 with 245 HP. Complete specs are in Service Counselor 29#1.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/SC/SC-VOL29NO1.pdf

Ralph,
for including your '55 Clipper Custom Constellation Hardtop Coupe in the PackardInfo Packard Owners Registry.

Well bad news. I lubed all the cylinders, installed new points, condenser, and a coil. Rotated the motor by hand. Cranked the motor with the coil wire out. Everything checked out. Put a little gas in the carb, engine fired on the first turn and the locked up. So I'm gonna tear the motor down and see if I can find what is stuck.

well that just sux! hope it isn't serious man.

good luck

Hank

Really sorry for the bad news, and its a big surprise too since you did the right things. Is it solid locked or just real stiff? Small possibility that the Ultramatic locked. Very rare, but I have seen it once and heard of it twice. To check you would need to get the convertor nuts loose and see if the convertor will rock in the holes.

Its real tight. i can't budge it with my 1/2" breaker bar.

Some good news. I was able to get the engine loose. I loosened the main caps one at a time and found the front bearing was what was holding the engine up. The main bearing was in its correct position in the cap and block and did not seem too badly worn. Some interesting notes, the oil pan and pump had been removed before. The oil pan had no gasket just cement and the pump had a hand cut gasket between it and the block. I'm wondering if someone tried to repair/replace the bearings and either overtightened or did not use the correct bearing. The bearings had no markings as to an undersize on them. Any thoughts on the best way to repair without a major overhaul?