Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I have recently acquired a 1955 clipper constellation. I know that it should have a 352. The block / head is green - so Packard, but I don't know which size is actually in it. I would like to find the engine numbers, but any positive indication of the size would be good for now. Randomly looking through 50 years of grime has not proved successful.


thanks!

Here are the engine number locations. Easiest to quickly check and indicate size is the casting number at rear bellhousing area. The others tell what car the engine was originally installed in so would also tell the size.

NOTE: Believe there may be an error on the casting number listed for the 320. Can anyone with a 320 confirm this?

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Howard, my 55 Super Clipper with the 320 V-8 is sitting in the garage right now. What should I look for? What error?

(o[]o)

Not sure you can easily see it in the car. On the right hand picture, the casting number on top of the bellhousing for the 320 is given as 446521. I think I remember a post saying that number might be wrong. If so, would like to know the correct number.

I'll see what I can see.

(o[]o)

found it! 5567-4437, same as the body tag. OK, I don't know for SURE that it is a 352, but who would special order a lower engine, with factory air?

That is your model/engine number, but it is not the casting number which is located at the rear of the engine. The number can be seen but you have to get your head (or camera) in position behind the distributor to see down at the number. It is located just forward of where the trans bolts to the engine.
That casting number is different for the three different blocks. The internal difference in the blocks is probably the different cores. The external number allows id to be made easily as to which block it is.

Howard, I did locate two sets of numbers cast into the top of the bell housing on my 1955 Clipper Super with the 320 cu. in. V-8. They are: 3 25 55 (which I take to be the casting date; and 446527 (which is the number you think may be questionable). I tried to find the other number on the rear of the RH bank, but no luck. I used a neat little tool my son gave me a couple of years ago, a wireless inspection camera (photo below).

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Thanks much for confirming the error. Looks like after all these years I still can't read my own writing and typed a 1 instead of a 7 on the photo.

I just bought one of those camera gadgets to look at some of my projects up close. Mine is a General Tools model but haven't used it yet to see if it works as well as the pictures would lead you to believe.

Look at Service Counselor 29 #5, dated May 1955, and Service Technical bulletin 55T-33, dealer 24, dated July 14, 1955.

Both of these are on this site.