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

Hi All,

This weekend I decided to follow the FSM for a change and test the oil pressure in my '51 200 Deluxe with the "mystery" 288 engine. I took a known good after market mechanical oil gage out of my '70 Ford F-250 (Ford being another auto maker that has had difficulty with V8 oil pumps) and hooked it up to the Packard. Oil Pressure is a minimum 30psi for a low and a maximum 42psi at 60mph. I removed the small pipes that go from the oil filter to the "T" and the one from the "T" to midway up the block and blew compressed air though both pipes and the "T". The little knock that I heard briefly after a cold start has now disappeared, but the clatter is basically unchanged. At least I know that the oil pump is healthy.

Later this week I think I'll pull the lifters and clean them myself to see if that helps.

I have a spare engine with mechanical lifters and a spare with hydraulics. I presume you can put mechanical lifters in an hydraulic engine but not the other way around?

I bought some Muriatic Acid over the weekend as well and will see if I can't raise some engine numbers before I tear into the engine. If putting hydraulic lifters in an engine designed for mechanical lifters is a non-starter; I wonder if that is the case with mine. The people I bought the car from said it has always had clatter since they bought it.

Wouldn't it be nice if some former owner "sinned" and that would be the end of my problems?

There is a different camshaft and specs show both a slight duration & lift difference. While obviously not the proper way, I can say that a friend and I changed his 53 from hydraulic to solid and left the cam alone. He put many miles on after the switch and the car ran just fine with no evidence of any issues.

Thank you Howard -
That's good to know and I'll keep that as an option.