289 Engine For 1957 Packard

[StudeMichael]

I bought a used 289 for my 1957 Packard Clipper. The seller said it had not been run for about five years but that it ran very good when removed from a Lark. I got it for $400.00, not too bad of a deal.

I decided to do a comression test before installing it. 3 of cylinders I have 150, 4 of them have 120 and the number 6 cylinder has 108. The cylinder test was done with dry cylinders and no carb, just an intake on the heads.

I plan on putting a good supercharger back on this engine. What are the chances of adequate performance based on the compression figures?



1957 Packard Clipper
1958 Golden Hawk
1963 Daytona Convertible
1963 R2 Daytona
1963 R2 GT Hawk
1963 R1 Wagonaire
1963 R4 Avanti
1964 Champ
1966 Cruiser

[JDP]

I would at least do a valve job and retest, maybe even a hone and new rings while it's out.

JDP/Maryland
64 R2 GT (Sid)
spent to date $62,839.60
63 Daytona HT/4 speed
63 Lark 2 door
57 Wagon

[StudeMichael]

What are the chances that the compression may increase once the engine starts to run again?

1957 Packard Clipper
1958 Golden Hawk
1963 Daytona Convertible
1963 R2 Daytona
1963 R2 GT Hawk
1963 R1 Wagonaire
1963 R4 Avanti
1964 Champ
1966 Cruiser

[StudeMichael]

What I am referring to is the rings may be sticky from the engine sitting for five years and that driving it may loosen things up a bit?

1957 Packard Clipper
1958 Golden Hawk
1963 Daytona Convertible
1963 R2 Daytona
1963 R2 GT Hawk
1963 R1 Wagonaire
1963 R4 Avanti
1964 Champ
1966 Cruiser

[Dick Steinkamp]

I'd do a leak down test to see where the compression is going away.

Remove the rocker shafts, put an adapter on the hose from your compressor to fit into the spark plug hole. Fill the cylinder with compressed air. You will be able to hear where the compression is escaping. Most logical ways are through a burned exhaust valve or into the pan past the rings.

If it's valves, do them...they won't get better with the engine running a while.

Also, if you are putting a supercharger on the engine, check the compression ratio of the engine you got. You will probably want lower than normal compression ratio (maybe install thick head gaskets?) or you won't be able to burn pump gas when you get on boost.

[StudeMichael]

I spent the evening taking the heads off. The engine has a ton of sludge in it! A big gob was holding the distributor in and under the valley cover it is all caked in. The cylinder walls look good but have a pretty decent ridge on the top of the cylinders.

1957 Packard Clipper
1958 Golden Hawk
1963 Daytona Convertible
1963 R2 Daytona
1963 R2 GT Hawk
1963 R1 Wagonaire
1963 R4 Avanti
1964 Champ
1966 Cruiser

[StudeMichael]

I orrdered some of this to get the sludge out:

http://www.kanolabs.com/

1957 Packard Clipper
1958 Golden Hawk
1963 Daytona Convertible
1963 R2 Daytona
1963 R2 GT Hawk
1963 R1 Wagonaire
1963 R4 Avanti
1964 Champ
1966 Cruiser