Re: [Amc-list] TELL ME THERES HOPE!!! (doubtful)

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

If you're talking about getting that engine running you're SOL! I don't think that's what you meant though. As far as rebuilding, it can be saved. 

If you can get the rocker shaft assembly apart and cleaned up it can be saved. The head will need a full rebuild, but it can also be saved. The valves and seats will need to be ground. Unless one or more of those are badly pitted it should be fine. Seats can be installed, but if more than a few need it cost might be a problem. 

The block can likely be saved, but I suspect will need boring. Those blocks will take a 0.125" overbore, but finding pistons in that size with the right pin height is probably impossible. 3.125" standard bore, pistons usually available in 0.020", 0.030", 0.040", and 0.060" sizes. I've heard of a set 0.080" over, but those would be a rare find today! The rings have obviously rusted to the cylinder walls. That one really bad one may have to be sleeved, but the others should clean up good enough at 0.040". Check for piston availability first, and be prepared to pay $300 for a set of six (Kanter has them listed at $45 each, $705 for a master rebuild kit with everything). They don't list what sizes are available. If more than two cylinders need sleeving on a six I try to get another block. 

It's okay to have a little pitting in the cylinder walls of a low performance engine like this. If you decide to rebuild it I'd check piston size availability then have the shop bore it to the pistons (after getting them!) if it looks like most will clean up at that size. Check pitting after it's been bored before deciding whether to sleeve or not. I've run engines with a good bit of pitting in one small area where rings rusted with no noticeable effects. Might burn a slight amount more of oil, but we're talking a few drops at most per revolution. Won't affect compression -- the pits aren't big enough to leak compression past both rings. That would take gouges running vertically. Shop may not like it, but if you're assembling the engine yourself they won't say anything -- but they probably won't build it with even minor pits in the bore for liability reasons. There's no harm, but if a customer unhappy with the engine afterwards and knows they are there they could point finger
 s and complain. 

----------------
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:00:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: d stohler <das24rules@xxxxxxxxx>

well, i got the head off the little american lastnight. got depressed and discouraged.... 2 cylinders were full of i have NO idea what. 2 were rusted up pretty bad, and 2 look.. well... better than the other 4. i have no idea what so ever was in 2 of the cylinders. one of the 2, (#3) was powdery kinda, but damp. wasnt rust. the other one, #2, was rock solid. looked like quartz or marble or some kinda thing like that... rock HARD. chipped it out with a screwdriver. got it soaking with pb blaster now. rocker arms and under the valve cover was just full of rust powder... please, if you got time, take a look at my pics, and tell me someone has a spare motor for me not terrible far away??? 

http://picasaweb.google.com/das24rules/63American

-- 
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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