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I'm a new guy to Packards. I know changing what was original is blasphemy to some but I was wondering how difficult is it to go from the 282 ci engine to larger later straight 8 engines (9 bearing)?

Are you considering the 356 or 327 engine? In what Packard would you be doing the swap?

(o{}o)

I'm assuming that you have a 39 or so 120 Packard. The engines up thru 50 have similar engine mounts, so that should be fairly easy. I'll leave it up to the experts as to the transmission hookups. I have a 327 in my 51 - I can look at the mounts on both if you like. Please keep in mind that the 327's with nine bearings are great engines, but are a bit more expensive than the 5 main version.

It's a 1937 120C.

G'day bilbo,
to PackardInfo.

A guy here in Oz bought a '37 120C Convertible Coupe with a rebuilt 288 already swapped into it. He took it out and replaced it with a 282 he rebuilt and is now using the 288 in the '49 Convertible he's currently restoring. That's by the by, what I really wanted to alert you to is this link Right-Hand Drive Engine Replacement Service Letters. May help you, although it's for RHD Packards.

And, I invite you to include your '37 120C Sport Coupe in the Packard Owner's Registry here on PackardInfo!

G'day all, The 288 and 327 block is the same.. Just different crank and rods. I wouldn't bother chasing up a 9 main unless you wanted to go the full 9 yards. You can also bore the 327 out to around 340 and if you use a circa 54 block, then you are around 8.5 to 1 comp for starters. It gets a bit complicated around the X frame, when you put a Packard R6, R9 or R11 overdrive into the equation. It can be done and they certainly motor along. The 282 was a good motor so stick with that if you have a good original 120C. PT

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I'm new so maybe you can explain the difference, other than 29.

A 356 is the 9 main bearing engine that was used for the big Senior cars from 1940 to 1950. A very quiet and smooth running engine but also very heavy.

The 327 engine was used from 1948 to 1954 in a 5 main bearing configuration and also from 1951 to 1953 with 9 main bearings.

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I knew some had the 9 mains and that was the extent of my initial planning. I don't need heavier so it would appear to be the 327 '51 to'53 maybe.

If I found a '53 327 is there a way I can tell if it is the 9 main bearing engine or the 5? I mean short of taking the oil pan off.