Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

Carbs are Carter 531S's.
The car is a '48 Custom Club Coupe.
Stock Carb is the Carter 531S.

Yes, I have eye candy envy. Tried to locate a finned aluminum head when I built my 359, but was lucky enough to get a stock aluminum head in good shape. The manifolds I used to make my (2) 2 bbl. manifold...they were AMC/Jeep six cylinder log manifolds, available on eBay for around $100 each or less. They are taken off the 258 AMC engine installed in Jeeps and of course the Jeep guys all want a four bbl. The photos are on my phone, I'll try to post them later. Lots & lots of tig welding...Oh, here's a tip for the head install...lay a machinists rule on the milled surface...if you have more than a few thousandths of bow, slowly torque the head down over time...like weeks. Use allen head studs for head bolts and a good composition gasket. Do not over-torque!!!

I completed install of the Edmunds Finned Head last weekend and ran it... a short time to get things heated up enough and then re-torqued. So far...smooth as silk and all cylinder's firing. This weekend I expect to wrap up my cooling system and drive it.
I have had to fabricate/modify my Electromatic Clutch bracket assembly.

I completed install of the Edmunds Finned Head last weekend and ran it... a short time to get things heated up enough and then re-torqued. So far...smooth as silk and all cylinder's firing. This weekend I expect to wrap up my cooling system and drive it.
I have had to fabricate/modify my Electromatic Clutch bracket assembly.

Those finned heads are just so beautiful!

48CF, Ross is right. Aluminum head nice for some eyes. Otherwise avoid. Different rate of heat expansion, so even with today's coolant preservatives like No-Rosion or Red Line Water Wetter, you're recruiting trouble. Add to that many polish such heads, which reduces surface area, countering the reason for having an alloy head. Skip it. My late mechanic, who ran motor pools in the War II Pacific, then worked at Packard dealerships, then Hudson, inc. setting up winning cars at the Capitol and Sacramento speedways, then a Pontiac dealership, before starting his own legendary NorCal shop in 1959, had a strong 308 Twin H Hornet and could never go beyond 7,000-8,000 or so miles with an aluminum head. Switched to iron and it was still loafing along the CA freeways 100,000 miles later when only macular degeneration had him selling his cars.

Twin carb set up will give you more hp, but largely at higher rpm, and Packard straight eights are more about easy low-speed torque, so moot really, lest you just want something to wow the cars 'n' coffee set.

Jettison all the car (and passenger) weight you can, run well but not over-inflated bias-sized radials (Yokohama and others make these LT tires which look right, unlike the metric SUV tires many use), enjoy what you've got.

Packard knew what they were doing. Don't reinvent the wheel. Pay attention to shift linkages, make sure your clutch and brake pedal shaft not worn; the car proper.