Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Kev, you're right! I didn't notice which forum this was in.

The only exceptions being if someone replaced the block when it was nearly new... the new one would have no number, but could have been re-stamped in the past. Not that it would matter at this point to anyone.

For 55 cars, if using a 320 engine from a Nash or Hudson you can likewise re stamp it because they stamped their engine number in a different place, though no 1956 Packards used the 320.

What number are you referring to here? The only plate on the driver's door jamb has the car's serial number, and paint and trim codes, no engine number. Are you saying the serial number and engine number should match? I have 3-1956 Packards, and they don't match on any of them, and the engine in my Canadian Executive is certainly original.

The number on the same door jamb plate that has the trim and pain codes is the official vehicle number. After years of Packard production where the numbers were different, the 55-56 models had the motor number match the vehicle number. If the engine is original to the car the vehicle number on the car (567x-xxxx) will be the same as the number stamped in one of the two locations shown in the photo of the engine.

Please see this PDF. The engine casting number, "Utica" number (if present), and vehicle number are all separate.

What I'm referring to is that in the front of the engine, right in front of the valley pan, should be the vehicle number (same as the driver's door jamb number). If these two numbers don't match, either the car was engine swapped or VIN swapped, no other possibility.

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2727

Finally found engine numbers on both Executive engines, and both match serial number of cars, so both are original. Found that it helps if you look in the right place- you said front of engine, I read rear- my stupidity. Now I'm going to say that the car that came from the U.S. was built with Delco electrics- can't imagine that someone would change starter, generator and regulator, but I guess anything is possible. I'll take a closer look at the regulator mounting to see if I can tell if there ever was an Autolite reg. mounted. Also. this car has a Rochester carb instead of Carter. Thanks to all who were part of this discussion, and for the advice.

For 1956, the Customs used 352ci 9.5 compression engines (same as the other Clippers) except the carb was a Carter WCFB (4 barrel) instead of a WGD (2 barrel). Whereas Packard used 374's at 10 compression, and Rochester.

However, in 1955 the Customs shared the Packard engine -- a 352 ci 8.5 compression with a Rochester carb, and Delco accessories. So, though per the service book a Rochester is not correct for a 1956 Clipper engine, it will work just fine. In fact, that's what my 400 has on it. The engine is from a 56 Super, but has a Rochester carb. Curiously, the Custom and Packard engines don't have the same HP rating even though it's the same engine and carburetion (245 vs. 260). I don't know why.

Does the Delco car have a very high or low serial number? They may have changed how they were fitting out the engines for whatever reason -- they would have known the stuff would work, since they used it in '55.

Well, technically all the cars came from the US. The Packard plant in Windsor, Ontario Canada shut down a few years before the war.

Last 4 digits of the Executive which sold originally in U.S. is 1195, as is the engine number. I realize the other car was built in the U.S., but it sold originally in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The other thing I noticed was when I removed the Ultramatic from this car, it has "export" written on the ring gear plate- don't know if there is any trans difference or not- ring gear plates look identical on both cars.

Many of the exports cars were lower compression for poorer quality fuels in some export regions. Also they had different gear ratios, some had HD springs for poorer roads, etc.