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

Hi everyone,i need help in removing the camshaft on my 51 ,327.
thks

Just the highlights from memory, I last did this about 40 years ago. Hopefully someone with recent experience will give current practice.

In a nutshell, remove the cylinder head and all the valves and springs. If hydraulic lifters you may need to remove the plunger assemblies. Lift up the cam followers (tappet bodies) off the cam and secure with clothes pins, string, rubber bands, or similar. Remove the oil pump. Remove the radiator and just for convenience, the fan. Remove the vibration damper and then the timing chain cover. Remove the cam sprocket and chain. Beneath the cam sprocket is the camshaft retainer plate - remove it. When I did my 1954 Patrician I was able to wiggle the engine just enough to slide the cam out without removing the grille, hopefully you'll be able to as well.

I've probably forgotten a few details but its a very straight forward job. Enjoy!

That seems about right.

For hydraulic lifters you would take the "plungers" out. Others might have another opinion, but from what I understand this would be a good time to disassemble and clean them (though do not mix-and-match parts between different plungers).

Then lift the "tappets" up and hold them with clothespins or what-have-you.

If you have to take the grille off it's not as hard as it looks at first glance. Just a lot of fasteners.

You want one of those "flathead-style" valve-spring compressors:
Flathead-Style valve spring compressor

You can conceivably do this job without taking the intake manifolds off, you can get to the valve covers from the right-hand side by taking off the right-side tire and then the inside fender cover, as in the Speedwell Garage You-tube video for adjusting a Packard Straight-8 valves.

Speedwell Garage Flathead Straight-8 Valve Adjustment

Thanks guys for all your responses i've forgot to explain that the engine is out,and everything else , but the camshaft has been removed,i don't know how to identfy the differents lifters,in the next few days,i'll post pictures.
thks.

Pics.

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your pictures didn't come through. You need to click on the icon that says "images" and then upload each image separately.

Here is the illustrated part plate for your year. The picture shows the hydraulic lifters, but the solid lifter situation looks similar.

You can look up the specific part # from the parts book itself or use the "Factory Parts List" in the bar to the left.

Camshaft and Valvetrain 288/327/359 illustration from Packards Parts Book

pic#2

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Finally i was able to upload the pics,i wanted to show,now how do i remove the retainer litle piece in the front ofthe camshaft??

In the illustration above
I believe what you are talking about is is 5.0110 "spacer". You shouldn't have to remove that, it should come out with the camshaft.

You have the desirable solid lifters. Your actual camshaft retainer has already been removed. All you will need to do to remove the camshaft is turn the engine upside down so all of the lifters are away from the cam and then just twist and pull it out.