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

has anyone removed green paint from their 12 engine and polished the aluminum?

Paint thinner and a buffer? I'd start there first.

I guess you're referring to the 1932-39 Twelve? The engine block is cast iron, not aluminum. The heads are painted aluminum, and the oil pan is naked aluminum. They were very attractive engines what with nickel-plated lines and hardware, and porcelainized mainfolds, not sure you can or would even want to try to improve on that. Sure, you could remove the green engine enamel and paint the cast iron block with aluminum paint I suppose if authenticity was of no concern, though with a Twelve it should be, IMO.

About a dozen years ago The Packard Cormorant (or was it the Cormorant News Bulletin?) did an article on a 1934 Super 8 ( I had one at the time) in England. The owner had the aluminum oil pan "engine turned" and it looked great, not correct, but still it was great.

That reminds me, in the Packard Service Letters for 1934 there is a short article and pictures of a dealer's job to engine-turn the crankcase and oil pan of a 34 Eight or Super Eight. I wouldn't think of doing such a thing on mine; it was kind of stunning, but a bit garish also, not the kind of restrained elegance Packard represented.

Owen, I wasn't very clear I was only considering stripping and polishing the alluminum heads

Hi Hal, sorry I misread your intent.