Re: engine vibration 232 engine

["Jay" <jciampi@xxxxxxxx>]

I already replaced the U-Joints when I  replaced the tranny mount. I already 
thought about the rear wheel brgs, but havenj't done anything with them yet. 
I have brand new tires (last week) and it had the vibration before I had the 
tires changed.  I guess the next thing to do is remove the manifolds, put on 
a new gasket and i have a new exhaust manifold to replace the old one(its 
getting noisy,thin walls, I think).
Have you a copy of the service bulletin you could email me a copy of?

Jay
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Matt Haas" <mhaas@xxxxxxx>
To: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2004 2:41 PM
Subject: Re: engine vibration 232 engine


> 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.