Re: engine vibration 232 engine

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

Jay,

I just found out that there was a service bulletin issued in 1969 about 
rough idle and/or surging on six cylinders. The fix was new intake manifold 
gaskets and a specific intake torque sequence. The bad part about this fix 
is that you need to separate the intake and exhaust manifolds and there's a 
good chance that one of those studs or bolts will break.

The torque sequence starts with the top left bolt behind the carburetor and 
works clockwise outward. After that, it calls for tightening the nuts on 
the intake to exhaust manifold studs (left first, then right) between the 
carburetor and motor and then the outer manifold bolts (the ones that are 
on the bottom) in the same order.

The vibration could be a bunch of things. Once you fix the wheel bearings, 
try over-inflating the tires (add bout 10 psi) and see if it changes or 
goes away. You could also have any of the following out of balance or 
damaged: wheels and tires, drums, driveshaft. Also, worn out u-joints or 
rear wheel bearings can cause vibration.

Matt

At 11:35 AM 11/7/2004 -0500, you wrote:
> I finally got around to tightening the intake and exhaust manifolds to 25 
> ft/lbs and it did help the vibration problem but not entirely.  I also 
> have a synchronous vibration while driving at about 35 mph. If I let up on 
> the gas it diminishes slightly . There is a  "flex" fan on the engine, 
> seems to be in good condition and the water pump has no play in the 
> shaft.  I would like to find a 5 blade OEM  fan as i don't like flex fans 
> much. The problem with that is it is a small fan because of hose clearance 
> problems. You have an American, so you know what I mean. The  35 mph 
> bibration may be a wheel bearing going bad. When I got the car back in 
> April, I was checking things over and found the LF wheel was NOT tightened 
> down properly at the wheel shaft nut. I tightened the nut about a 1/4 turn 
> until I had no play in the wheel when held at the top and bottom.  I have 
> no idea how many miles the bearing was loose and driven that way. I am 
> going to replace the bearings on the front wheels just to be safe.    BTW, 
> I had a simliar  35 mph vibration on my 66 AMBO and I never did find out 
> what caused it. the only thing i didn' t replace on it was the engine 
> mounts. I have replaced the tranny mount on the American.
>
> Jay
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matt Haas" <mhaas@xxxxxxx>
> To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 8:54 PM
> Subject: Re: engine vibration 232 engine
>
>
> > Jay,
> >
> > Check the intake manifold bolts. My American did that and tightening the 
> > bolts solved the problem.
> >
> > Matt
> >
> > At 06:12 PM 10/31/2004 -0500, you wrote:
> > > Hey Guys, i have a 66 American with the 232/2bbl engine. I have set the 
> > > timing, set the idle speed at 700 rpm in neutral/ 550 in drive. The 
> > > engine has new plugs and points, doesn't appear to have any vacuum 
> > > leaks.  At the 550 rpm speed the engine has a rapid vibration which is 
> > > quite annoying. The vibration mostly stops when i speed the engine up 
> > > above the idle.  I have replaced the tranny mount which was dissolved 
> > > from tranny fluid getting on it before i got the car. Could the engine 
> > > mounts be so old and stiff that they won't absorb even the slightest 
> > > vibration and transmit it to the frame? I had a 65 American with a 
> > > 232/2bbl when it was new in 65 and i don;t remember it being anything 
> > > but smooth idling. The engine runs smoothly as far a vacuum gauge shows, 
> > > no fluctuations due to worn valves or rings. The engine doesn't smoke 
> > > and has 120k miles on the odometer. Someone did put the oil kit from the 
> > > side of the block up into the valve cover as suggested in a service 
> > > bulletin. I know that has nothing to do with the idle. Just mentioning 
> > > it as I hadn't seen this done to many 232 engines.  I didn;t mention it 
> > > but the engine has new plug wires also. Any ideas?
> > >
> > > Jay in Central FL.
> >
> > mhaas@xxxxxxx
> > Cincinnati, OH
> > http://www.mattsoldcars.com
> > 1966 Rambler Rebel
> > 1968 Rambler American sedan
> > ===============================================================
> > According to a February survey of Internet holdouts released by
> > UCLA's Center for Communication Policy, people cite
> > not having a computer as the No. 1 reason they won't go online.

mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1966 Rambler Rebel
1968 Rambler American sedan
===============================================================
According to a February survey of Internet holdouts released by
UCLA's Center for Communication Policy, people cite
not having a computer as the No. 1 reason they won't go online.