Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

New guy here, I recently bought a 51 Patrician 400 from a gentleman in Wichita Falls, Texas and trailered back to Granbury, Texas. I was tickled silly all the way home with our "new" car. With that being said, I've written down the following numbers: Body firewall A70240, Firewall body number tag 2452 6927, door jam ID plate 2452 6927 Paint Q Trim 601 (or 501 because first didgit is fuzzy), engine head front 32653, head number front to back 448019 288 and last but not least (scratching my head) B606032. With all the research I've done, this last number is telling me it's a 1938 block with a 288 head. Is this possible ? Any and all help is appreciated and encouraged. Many thanks in advance for all replies.

This engine serial number thing was driving me crazy....so I went out with a flashlight and scraped/sanded/ scrubbed and wiped that number........low and behold, it's J606032 which tells me that it's a 327 9 main with a 288 head ! So....I read where a 288 head on a 327 increased HP/ performance ? Anybody have info regarding this combination ?

Regards,
HotRod

You have a 1951 Patrician, identified by the first 4 digits of the vehicle number, 2452. The body was made by Briggs which also put a tag on the firewall as you've found though the correct vehicle number is the one found on the VN tag on the driver's door jamb - they don't always match as the sequence of delivery from Briggs wasn't always the sequence of final car production. Your "thief-proof" number, A70240, is in the range for 1951 - I've studied the thief-proof numbers extensively and we can talk about that more if you wish. The engine # is correct for a 1951 Patrician and it is indeed a 327 cubic inch with 9 main bearings. Someone has obviously replaced the cylinder head at some point with that from a 288 engine. Paint code Q is Ash Green; both trim codes 501 and 601 are among those available for your car. Both 501 and 601 are tan wool broadcloths.

No, a 288 cylinder head will not fit on a 1938 Eight (282) engine. Numbers on cylinder heads are often not very useful as they often include casting numbers (different than part numbers) and casting dates. 288, 327 and 359 heads with all interchange, with resultant changes in compression ratio.

Quote:
PackardInfo's 1948-50 Service Index (which I complied) points to a service newsletter article on the subject of compression ratio - published in SC Vol. 24, No. 7, for 22nd-23rd Series including the use of 288 head on the 327 (Super Eight) engine.

I've never laid hands on one, but perhaps the concept was extended, unofficially, to same displacements in later years/Series.

No reference on casting numbers, though.

Thank you Sir for the info. Very interesting reading. I love learning about our "New" Packard. I probaly spent several hours going through past posts, articles, tech tips and any other info I could find on the 51 Patrician. Again, Thank you.

HotRod