Re: [Amc-list] Amc-list Digest, Vol 22, Issue 75 (rod knock on 196)

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Joe and Tom are correct, just in case you need another endorsement! 

The big problem with the rod is it going through the block. If you want to keep that engine then don't drive it. If you know you're going to replace it with another, you need to line up the other one. But you may not have a rod bearing loose at all. If this is an automatic trans car you more likely have a cracked flex plate, which is very common. Have the valves been adjusted in the last couple years? These engines have "solid" lifters and need to be adjusted every 5-10K miles. A lifter out of adjustment can sound like a light rod knock.

Unfortunately, there is no demand for 196 engines. If you replace it, you'll have a hard time selling the old core unless someone in the immediate area needs one. Usually the guy who needs one is 2-3 states away and shipping is cost prohibitive. The head needs to be retorqued every other year or every 12-15K miles or it could warp. Heads are more in demand than blocks, as good heads have become hard to find and are more commonly damaged. You could drive it until it breaks, but as Joe says, the pan is pretty easy to get off if it's a 58-63 American or 56-61 big Rambler. Everything will bolt out of the way without disturbing the front suspension on those. In 62 AMC changed the front suspension, but you can put the car on stands and remove or lower the crossmember enough on 62+ cars to get the pan off. Not as easy, but can be done. 

If you do have a rod knock and it's rather light now, drop the pan and at least put a standard bearing back in. That won't help for long, but you should be able to get 3-5K more miles out of it. Really depends on how bad the crank is now. You could pull the timing cover and transmission then drop the crank, have it turned by a machine shop, then put it back in without pulling the engine. Not much point in doing just one rod bearing if the crank is pulled. 

------------
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:24:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joe Fulton <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx>

If the car is a 62 or earlier Classic family (big Rambler), I think you can pull the pan fairly easily and check the rod journals to see where the culprit is.  There's a chance it's not a rod.  It could be an loose pulley on the water pump or on an accessory.  Anyway if you pull the pan you should be able to diagnose it and go from there.  I agree with Tom.  I would not drive it, unless you want to spend more on the repair.  

Joe Fulton


--- On Sat, 10/25/08, gorhodes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <gorhodes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


> > From: gorhodes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <gorhodes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: [Amc-list] Amc-list Digest, Vol 22, Issue 75
> > To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Date: Saturday, October 25, 2008, 6:31 PM
> > Got a quick question.I have a 196 6 cyl. and I have a rod
> > bearing making noise.My friend said to just drive it.Could
> > this mess up the crankshaft?Thanks in advance.
-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

_______________________________________________
Amc-list mailing list
Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list