Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

The shifter should be on the steering column. Works just like a three speed on the floor- first is towards you and down, second is away from you and up, third is straight down from second. Reverse is towards you and up. My late father in law had a '47 Clipper that had (for lack of a better term) semi-automatic. IIRC, used the clutch for starting and stopping and then the trans would shift it's self or I had to shift it and not use the clutch. I just don't remember.

A word to the wise: These engines do not make a great deal of horsepower. High RPM usage will kill it fast. They do make enough torque to move the state of Pennsylvania to where ever you would like it to be. Horsepower is a function of torque- torque is the work that can be done, horsepower is the speed at which you can do the work. Shift 1-2-3 as low on the rpm band as you can and let the torque take you down the road.

Great to hear that a young one enjoys a P-car. Keep the straight eight. It will amaze your friends, and a smooth running quiet straight eight has a cool factor of eleven on a one to ten scale.

Thank you for your replies. I have taken the head off and poured ATF down the cylinders. It drained through in 48 hours. I hand cranked the engine and it was very smooth. The engine is not siezed which is good news, and there's no rust on the cylinders or pistons. I'll need to replace the rings eventually, but it's fine for now just to get it running. Does anyone know where to get the gasket kit for the engine? I also need a rebuild kit for the carb becuase I'd like to run E85, while they still offer it at the local gas stations.

I have issue with E85 fuels in general and I would like you to consider what I am about to say. Ethanol is "hygroscopic" that is in a nut shell, the ability to absorb moisture. The ethanol will absorb moisture from the atmosphere and moisture is not a good thing for an engine. It takes about 1.3 units of alcohol to do the same amount of work of 1 unit of gasoline- less power, more fuel consumption. Ethanol evaporates very fats and should be kept in a sealed container. You could seal your fuel tank but it will need to be vented at some point. Ethanol is VERY corrosive to rubber and steel. You would have to put some kind of epoxy coating in your fuel tank and run all stainless steel fuel lines and get carburetor and fuel rebuild kits that can handle Ethanol. So, add up the cost of converting to run E85 and the best you can get out of it is lose performance, lose MPG and in the long run you end up paying more at the pump over time becuz you simply need to buy more fuel. Ethanol is great in a high compression (13:1?), purpose built engine, not a sixty plus year old car.

GearRat:

I know this is a shameless plug but I will offer it anyway.

I have a 288 straight-8 engine complete. you can find it in the thread in the for sale section. In any event if you are interested it is going cheap. The engine is on a stand and from the looks of it i would say that before I got it it was either rebuilt or at least gone thru and spruced up a lot. It has new oil, new/rebuilt carb. I cannot use it as I have V-8 Packards. If you are leary of your engine you might to consider this s a cheap alternative until you can work on yours. PM if you want talk about this. I know the istance is a bit, but not to bad, I am in Alabama.

ALK

gearrat,Any of the usual suspects Kanters ect will have your gaskets and carb stuff.There are many others too that will carry such things.Even Napa. I do not think in this case they can help you however. Forget the E85. Great news that it turns over!I bet it will run.Do consider the extra engine. After all parts is parts.LOL

I just ordered a few gaskets from Terrill Machine in De Leon, TX for my '37. They had good prices, and were very fair. They will ship very reasonably.

<a href="http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/alco251man/?action=view¤t=Packardspare003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/alco251man/Packardspare003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Gearrat, If you can get a spare engine, do so. I have one for our 29. Every few months I pour oil into the cylinders and every few months I make noises about selling it, and every day I think about getting it running (which I am looking into now). I may even have enough spare parts to put a whole car together if I could find a frame and cowl Think of a spare running engine as an insurance policy: as long as you have it, you'll never need it. An hour after you sell it you will spit a rod out of the side of your only engine.

Al, I am not sure my engine stand will be up to the task of a Packard 8. Can you send a picture of yours?, if you sell your spare, could I purchase the stand from you?

Paul

I humbly apologize for this late response, I have just now been able to get back and review some of these items. Most engine stands will handle 750 lbs. however the one that this engine is on belongs to a friend.


Al

P.S. Here are some pictures of the engine. If we can work something out?????????

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I can't see if you have a support under the front of that engine, but if not, you should consider one. Those stands were primarily made to hold V8s which are about half the length. All that weight at twice the length puts a very considerable moment on the fastening at the rear - seen a few break the motor casting when supported like that.

Dave,

It looks like AL's engine is supported on the front. The tripod like thing in front of the fan has something bolted to it that extends under the front of the pan.

Tom