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It seems like Packard didn't invest much in engine options. They only offered a few, and the upgrade just had more main bearings. Why did they skip out on an ohv head for their straight 8? If Buick, a lower end car had one, why not Packard?

What makes you think Buick was a lower end car. Check out the forum mystical 8 that is an OVH from 32 straight 8, and they made them before that. By 1954 Packard and Briggs & Stratton were left with flatties.

Pontiac also had a flathead straight eight in 1954. But I'm not a brain surgeon, I don't know that much.

Packprince:

1. Dodge
2. Plymouth
3. Hudson
4. Nash
5. Kaiser
6. Willys
7. Studebaker
8. DeSoto
I maybe wrong but I think these car maker in 1954 still had Flathead engines. Please correct if I am wrong


John. Shireman

Quote:

What's up with all the brain surgeon stuff? What about podiatrists?

In 1954, there was only two manufacturers of flathead straight eights, or any straight eights in particular. This was Packard and Pontiac. Flathead sixes lasted quite longer, with Plymouth having one until 1959, (Actually, the Plymouth 6 lasted until 1972, in industial form) and Studebaker until 1960.

As for the OHV question, I really have no idea why they didn't, other than the fact that it's cheaper to build a flathead, and you have much more positive valve actuation with a flathead as compared to an OHV cam-in-block engine.

Eric, Packard Proctologist

I suppose a better answer to this question is another question:

How many OHV's of any configuration were there prior to 55????? Probably not many. All ican think of right now is 49 Cadillac, prewar Buicks.

Also, i would not consider the BIG buick as a lower end car not even compared to Cadillac or any other car for that matter.

I had a 49 Olds Delta 88 with a 313? OHV v8(could a been a 303,I can't recall)Dang nice car.

In the 1948 salesman's handbook, Packard answered the question about why no OHV (specifically for V8s). It states that the Valve in block configuration was a tried an true technology and it used 100 fewer parts. I've never tried to count but I guess that makes sense. There are no such things as push rods, rocker arms, etc.