Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

could I get more juice out of my 52 thundebolt w/ a 2 bbl carb by finding a 4 bbl intake manifold and carb to bolt on?in the repair manual theres a section on both carbs so I guess its doable ,the engine has about 70,000 mi , hydrolic lifters ,and new rings,and is bolted to an ultramatic

Yup, it's a bolt on.

The four barrel gives leaner cruise and better open throttle performance. Especially with Ultramatic.

I have an article from an old hot rod magazine that covers modding 2bbl carbs if memory serves it was done at the Man-a-fre shop if your interested i could get the info over to you.

I am interested in this swap ,I love a period mod,and will start looking around for the parts ,great to know its a bolt up ,thats about my expertise limit .
The car is ultramatic equiped .It has a hydrolic lifter 327 engine that may have been an option/replacement as the car should have had a 288
.
What would happen with the carb linkages? how about the starter switch with the gas pedal to the floorboard starter? ,is that bolt up? ;or when I did the swap is there some reworking that needs to be done to these?
the two barrel sits on a phenolic block for tempurature isolation.Does the 4 bbl do this ? will the oil bath air cleaner for the 2 bbl have to be changed out too to fit the 4?

I did a 2 to 4 bbl carb switch on a 66 dodge with a little soup can stromberg to a 4 bbl by finding the correct intake manifiold once ,boy what a difference that made

Packard actually offered a change over kit from two to 4 barrel so apparently you're not the first wanting more oomph. If you get the Packard setup, carb, manifold etc then it will be a bolt on and the switch will be there. There is a different length rod from the cross linkage to carb. If you get stuff from a parts car it would be there as well but it could probably be made from stock rod or maybe even modify the original to the different length. There are some other small detail pieces, one being the choke tube. Not sure if yours could be modified. You will need a new air cleaner.

Back in my younger days (long ago and far away), I converted a 52 mayfair to stick with OD and put a four-barrel manifold and carb on the engine. Made it a floor-shift. Had to make an extension on the carb linkage to reach the full throw. Took the two wires from the carb start switch and connected to the back-up switch on the ultramatic linkage - I had already removed the back-up lights.
So you turned on the key, slipped in the clutch, and threw the ultra lever into reverse till the car started, slipped that into Park and shifted gears on the floor.
My wife passed her driver's test in that car. The State cop said he should have passed her as soon as she got it started and pulled out.