Re: [Amc-list] Saving for a 196 rebuild (maybe)

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Try finding pistons first! And make sure you get the right rings for the pistons. There were two types, and the difference was the thickness of the rings. The last one I built needed 0.020" over to true up, but I found 0.040" pistons -- supposedly the last full set NAPA had on the east coast back in 94-95 or so. Counter man could have been exaggerating, or just meant the Atlanta warehouse (I'm pretty sure he said "east coast" though).

0,040" over seems to have been a popular size -- the first 196 I built got the same thing because the machine shop (also sold parts) happened to have a set 0.040" over on the shelf (had been there 15-20 years!).  Bore it for what you can get, but assume it needs at least 0.020". Mine only had 180K (+/- a few hundred...) on it! They wear at the bottom from the side to side motion of the rods. The top on mine had barely enough ridge to feel with a fingernail. 

I'd run the piston down in that nicked cylinder and run some emery cloth over it just to make sure no edges are sticking up. Like Mark said, unless it's long and run vertically you'll never notice the difference. I Woke an old one up that had pits where a couple rings had rusted over the years in two cylinders. Didn't use any more oil or have less power because of it. 

Oh, it can be bored 0.0125" if it's prior to 1963. I'm not sure if the 63-65 block can be bored quite that much as it might have a thinner (lighter) casting -- not 100% sure on that though. 

--------------
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:37:44 -0400
From: "Bruce Griffis" <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>

While the head was off, I checked the cylinder walls. Most are in good
shape, but one has a very small nick or gouge in it. Can't really see
it very well, but I can feel it when running my hand in the cylinder.
Not good.

Since it was running okay, just blowing white smoke from coolant, I'm
thinking of sewing it up and driving it. But - I know that if I can
feel a small nick, the piston rings will definately "notice" it, too,
and a small amount of damage can turn into a large amount pretty
quickly.

Time to save up for some engine work. Not sure if it could be honed
out, or if I would need to get it bored .030 over. Those of you that
have bored out a 195.6 OHV, what is a general ballpark for boring it
and going to oversize pistons? I need to figure out how much to put
away. While it might work for a while (if I keep the revs down and the
oil clean), it will need attention soon. Hopefully not sooner than my
wallet can recover.

-- 
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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