Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I'm not to sure where to post this (V8 or General), but thought it was very interesting.http://www.hotrod.com/events/1510-the-iron-lung-vintage-packard-v8-pumps-out-445-hp-on-dyno/
Go Packard!
Wes

This engine would blow a Twin-Ultramatic apart!

See this thread.

Two points:

1) The article at the link claims that the (supposedly stock) head flow is 270CFM at ???InH2O. The industry standard depression across an intake or exhaust port has been 28InH2O for a long time. At that differential, for example a stock 1973-74 Pontiac SD-455 head (the best rectangular design during the muscle car era) intake port will flow around 235CFM and it is of similar configuration to the Packard but has 2.11In intake valves rather than 2.00In. So, this claim of 270CFM is either BS or a journalistic mistake or at a different pressure differential.

2) In the PackardInfo thread cited above, I made a post about this effort for the Engine Masters Challenge with "vintage iron." I predicted 450HP. The result was 445HP, but there were some claims that test runs were at 475HP. OK, the latter is possible under optimal conditions, but my guess was "spot on" and I'm not bragging about it.

BTW, my Panther 374CID with stock heads should be around 400HP and very streetable. I'm not planning on having it dyno'd, so you'll have to take my word for it although you are welcome to take a ride in it after I get it finished next year. We'll take it to nearby Death Valley and see how fast it will go (the computer says 145MPH).

Aside from all of my supposed criticisms above, I applaud their effort and I believe the 55-56 Packard V-8 was right up there with the best in the USA, if not the world, at the time.

Craig

FWIW, I furnished all the parts for that Packard V8. I was out of the country during the EMC, so couldn't enter an engine myself.

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And yes, Craig is correct in that stock Packard V8 heads do NOT flow 270 CFM @ 28". It's not clear whether that number came from Lynn or from the writer's notes; either way, it's definitely bogus.

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A quick-and-dirty guesstimate for normally aspirated modified OHV8 horsepower is usually two times intake CFM, so a 445hp figure would back into 222 CFM.

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If the EMC Vintage class required OEM castings with a 1955-or-earlier date code, the Packard V8 would always be the winner.

jack vines

Jack, thanks for the reply.

I'm kind of surprised this thread hasn't gotten more posts. Maybe it's too far afield for most guys on PackardInfo?

Craig

I think it has more to do with several members being at the national meet.

I've been watching, but it is to Veeee for me, not enough flat head to it.....LOL

I don't understand the project. Sure more and more air can be crammed into the thing, but it's an antique. One thing I'll say about the modern cars is the transmission and motor engineering is very impressive stuff. And it's all being done in a corporate culture that is poison. So today's engineers are heroes that are being ignored by almost everybody.