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

The 327 was introduced in 1948 or 1949. I read in Kimes Packard Book that the 327 was reworked in 1951 to replace the 327 of 1949.

It stated it went to 9 main bearings in 1951 and hp went to 155.

Is the 327 of 1951-53 a better motor then the previous 327? (Better = smoother, more delivered hp/noticeable)

Is it a direct bolt in for the earlier 327 applications?

I am knowledgeable about Buicks. Buick had a 248 straight 8 OHV engine in 1948-50. It also had the 322 OHV straight 8 from 1946 to 1952. In 1952, they put a four barrel carb on the 322.

In 1951 Buick put out a 263 to replace the 248. The horsepower race was on. Cars became heavier.

I never thought about it much until I decided to concentrate on Packard but the 327 straight 8 exceeds the cubic inch displacement of my 1949 Chrysler 323 and Buick's 322 yet is seen as a setback from the 356.

Is the 9 main bearing 327 a derivative of the 356 or an all new design?

The 288, while seen as a "junior" engine, exceeded displacement of Buick's 248 and 263. Chrysler's mid line Windsor used a 250 cid.

Cadillac used the 346 cid V8 (FLathead) replacing it with the 331 (I think) OHV V8. Chrysler's hemi V8 was 331.

Brian

Owen et al are in Detroit this week, let me see if I can do this from memory...

The 282 was the new engine with intregal crankcase designed for the 120 in 1935. At this point there were still two "big " eights with aluminum crankcase, the 320 , Standard Eight and the 384, Super Eight along with the Twelve

In 1937 , Packard introduced the new Six , 246, the 384 was discontinued and the 320 became the Super Eight.

In 1940, the 356 reppalced both the 320 and the Twelve. The 356 has 9 main bearings, hydraulic lifters and a counterbalnced crank. The block and crankcase are intregal, as on a 282.

In 1948, for the 22nd series, the 288 and 327 were introduced. The 288, 327 and 356 all had the same bore, 3 1/2 in, so one set of machinery could be used for all the engines. The 288 and 327 have 5 mains and mechanical lfiters. They also weight a lot less than a 356 - 300 or 400 pounds.

The 356 was discontinued in 1951, if you add things up maybe less than 20,000 were produced. The 327 was given 9 mains and hydraulic lifters in the 288/327 block for the Patrician. Thus for a while there were two 327s.

Soon the smaller engines got hydraulic lifters and compression ratios and carburators grew. In 1954 senor cars were increased to 359 ci, had the compression raised up as high as they could get away with, and 4 barrel carbs. The HP was listed as 212, which is the highest for a flathead Straight Eight.

Clear as mud?

Yes , a small Packard has a bigger engine than the competition.

Regards

John Harley

Is it a direct bolt in for the earlier 327 applications?

Possibly. Going backwards, all the front motor mount plates need to be transferred from the early engine. There is another possible issue or question if the holes are drilled and tapped on the lower block for the earlier standard gearshift idler linkage mount. Service engines were but not sure if they are present when moving an engine or block from a later Ultramatic equipped car.

Going forward, no because the early engines do not have the castings on the side of the block for the later motor mounts.

Yes, I have seen 46-47 Clippers with the 9 main bearing 327 bolted in and a 288 cylinder head to boot.

Thanks. Wish I was at the National. I will probably make it from here on.

I am trying to understand the engine sequencing. I have made an offer on a 23rd series Super Deluxe which should have the 5 main bearing 327. I am sure that's a good motor, but if I can put in a 9 main, hydraulic lifter 327, then that would be preferable.

Quote:

There was a kit with instructions on installing a later service engine into the earlier cars. Instructions are in one of the early 50's service counselors on site with additions and corrections a few issues later.

Point I'm trying to make is if you go to the junkyard and buy an engine off a later car equipped with Ultramatic, aside from transferring the front mount stuff and bellhousing stuff, it might not be a drop in without extra work on the block to drill and tap holes.

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You can install as 51-54 S8 in the 22nd/23rd series cars. Just not the other way around. The later motors are drilled to still accept the front mounting of the 22/23rd series cars (done probably for the sake of having service replacement). But the earlier motors are not drilled to accept the the "side" mounting of that is used in the 51-54 cars.

Also if you use a 51-54 block on the earlier cars, you need the entire front mounting setup of an earlier car. That includes the mount, timing cover, balancer, and I believe even the water pump is different.

Hi Bryan

I'll defer to the technically knowledgeable as to what swaps where with moderate ease. Although I do have to comment that if a pre-war Senior has a sick engine needing costly repair and the car isn't a show car, replacing the engine with a '48-'54 327 would be preferable to some modern replacement. At least it would still drive and have the sound and feel of the original.......also it would be less embarrassing to open the hood at a show!

Now, here's my theory about how they developed that '48-'54 generation of straight eights: adding two more cylinders to the 245 cid six cylinder yields 327 cid. The production tooling was already paid off, so Christopher instructed engineering to develop a common block with a range suitable for Eights, Super Eights and eventually whatever replaced the Custom Eight 356 ci. If this was so, it amounted to a considerable cost savings which would have appealed to pinchpenny George, pleased parts and service departments as well. Buyers were never aware that this rationalization took place, received an engine with all the desirable attributes they were accustomed to.

Comments anyone?

Steve

The 327 five main engine is basically the same engine as the 288, just with a longer stroke. The bore is the same. It can be rebuilt with either solid or hydraulic lifters, but the cam will have to made for which type you end up using. The nine main is a bit smoother, but is more expensive to rebuild. In the great scheme of things, either one is a good engine.

Ok. Does that mean a 327 Crank will drop rite into a 288 block with little or no problems other than "balance" issues??????