[Amc-list] It's time for round tires (another Rambler on the re: road)!

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Great news Bruce!! Yes, you have the infamous T-96. No synchro in first. In fact, hardly any transmission made before about 1965 had a syncrhonized first and reverse (before the 40s most had NO synchros at all!). First gear is just to get the car moving, that's about it. Wait until you're around FIVE MPH or at a dead stop before dropping into first of you'll have broken teeth on first gear like Tom does. 

If you MUST drop down to first (say the brakes go out or some other emergency) double clutch. That's a lost art in itself, you might want to practice shifting between third and second. While in third (or whatever gear -- you can up-shift this way too), press in the clutch and slip the trans in neutral. Let the clutch all the way out. This gets everything inside the trans spinning at about the same speed. Push the clutch in again and slip it into second. With everything in the trans at the same speed it should smoothly go into gear, maybe with a slight crunch (depending on speed), but not a grinding like dropping from second to first at more than 5-10 MPH would produce, and nothing that will damage the trans. Old trannys assumed people really knew how to drive, not just get in the car and go! It takes some practice to learn the old trans when you're used to something more user friendly. User friendly isn't always the best thing, but it puts more people on the road (whether the
 y should be or not!!).

I know the feeling about having "a million things to do", but at least you have a list to work off of, that's a big start! I'd write that list down one evening, in order of priority. Some things won't really have a priority, but put those that really need doing near the top of the list. Check/cross them off as they are accomplished, and keep the list handy. Even when it feels like you're not getting much done you can glance at the list and see that some things HAVE been accomplished! 

The glove box latch is pretty simple. There's an angled metal tab screwed to the upper edge of the glove box. The latch has an arm that pivots up and catches the angled piece. If it's stuck you just have to pry it open from the top. Pad the dash lip with a rag and pry the box lid back with a screwdriver. Push a small screwdriver in the gap and push the latch down. This might be hard with all the pressure against it, so you might try prying the angled metal catch UP. You may have to pry it all the way open. The angled catch will bend the lip inside the opening no matter what, but it's pretty easy to bend back into shape. The lock can be disassembled and the plates removed, making it a non-locking latch. It's a pretty common early 60s latch, so you might be able to find another. The piece that holds the latch in and the outer bezel will be unique to your year and model, but the main latch should interchange with other 58-66 models. 


---------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 17:47:58 -0500
From: "Bruce Griffis" <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>

After getting the car running again (thanks to Matt), I wandered over
to Motor Vehicle and registered the car. Popped the plates on it, and
took it for a spin around the neighborhood.

Okay - I'm guessing I've got a non-synchro first in the '65 American
330 with 3 on the tree. It likes to go into first when I'm at a full
stop. That's cool. I missed a shift once or twice. It will take some
getting used to.

Got a million things to do - (snipped) 

Oh yeah, I gotta figure out how to pop open the stuck glove box. Need
some place to keep the registration and insurance papers!


-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)


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