Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Thanks for posting that, I love the first photo, professionally posed no doubt, with the little dog. The double-sided white wall tires are notworthy!

The discussion of the crankshaft layout on the Single Eight is incorrect, it seems to refer not to the 1st (and 2nd) Series Single Eight but to the redesigned crankshaft appearing for the 3rd and later series. The 1st and 2nd series were a 4-4 crankshaft layout with the obviously different timing order. The 2-4-2 layout (with the 1-6-2-5-8-3-7-4 timing order) arrived with the 3rd series and became the norm for nearly all succeeding in-line 8 cylinder engines. The 1st and 2nd series Single Eights with the first crankshaft design had the firing order of 1-3-2-5-8-6-7-4.

It looks exactly like my 1922 single six, but with an eight cylinder engine instead of six!

Love that varnish paint job. It puts everything at "Rabble" Beach to absolute shame.

I'll bet it was done with a brush to boot.

Thank you very much for your interest in the story, "Another Look at the 1924 Packard Single Eight." Assertions about the crankshaft configuration are based on these primary sources:

Automotive Industries June 14, 1923. "New Packard has Eigth-in-Line Engine and Four Wheel Brakes"

Automobile Topics June 16, 1923. "Packard Single Eight Succeeds Twin Six"

The Packard Single EightSAE Technical Paper 230039, 1923, Vincent, Jesse and Griswold, W., Society of Automotive Engineers

According to these original sources, the Single Eight employed what we today call a 2-4-2 crankshaft, with a firing order of 13258674. For example, the Automotive Industries article states:

"The crank pins for cylinders 3,4,5, and 6 lie in one plane at right angles to the common plane of the crank pins for cylinders 1,2,7 and 8."

The theme for this story was originally sparked in 1999 while covering the Packard Centennial in Warren, Ohio for AutoWeek magazine, where Packard Single Eight owners shared their knowledge and showed me their cars, including the engine configuration. I have a great deal of regard for the efforts and knowledge of Packard enthusiasts and I thank you for all you do for automotive history. Wherever you can improve my understanding of automotive history, it is much appreciated.

Thank You!
Mac
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