Re: [AMC-list] Last long trip?

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

Tom,

It sounds like it's rebuild time. If the oil level is good and the light 
flickers, that is a sign of worn engine bearings. What you're describing 
with oil in the PCV system sounds like worn rings. There are other 
things that can cause these things to happen so you may want to have the 
oil pressure tested with a mechanical gauge (make sure and get the 
engine hot for the test) and have a leak down test done. On a stock 
engine, oil pressure at idle with a hot engine should be at least 13 PSI.

As far as the rebuild goes, I wouldn't bother with trying to find an AMC 
engine specialist. There is nothing tricky about these engines and any 
good machine shop can do a quality rebuild so ask around at local shows 
and find out who has a good reputation. You can also buy a 
re-manufactured engine (do some research to make sure you get one from a 
good rebuilder) for your car if you want to go that route. Either way 
should take car of the engine for a long, long time.

Matt

On 8/23/2009 2:02 PM, Tom spouted this sage advice:
> I've been the keeper of a white '82 SX/4 since '98, and have taken a round trip with it from Maine to Michigan in August for 7 of the last 8 years to visit family, attempt the Woodward Dream Cruise, and go to the AMC show in Lavonia(last year the cost to keep it on the road and the price of gas kept me home). This year my sister and I managed Woodward from 8 Mile to 14 and down again; no AC and a clutch in stop 'n go traffic's not that much fun. The show in Lavonia,Sunday, was OK; not as much in attendance as in the past, I think, but good-and Pat Foster was there(got a signed book), and Richard Estermeyer(hi, Richard!). My sister and I hit the road to head to Cadillac Monday to take her home and for me to do a few jobs for her. The Eagle ran really good this year, with mileage in the low 20's, but have, over the past few years, getting more and more oil coming from the top of the valve cover, bad enough that I had to disconnect it from the air cleaner because of soaking t
he 
>  filter with oil. My mechanic replaced that line with a filtered plug last year, but, of course, am getting oil misting along the aluminum cover. Bad some more, but on the way home Saturday(22nd) after spending the night in the Downriver area after coming down from up north, on the first break in Canada, as I pulled into the rest stop parking lot, the oil light flickered on-just a bit, and went out when the RPM's went above a grand, but it was THERE. I checked the oil and had plenty, but the rest of the trip, what with toll booths, road work traffic, and other idling areas, the light would flicker on...I used a quart for the first 1300 miles of the trip, but a whole quart the last 825. The odometer just flipped 170,000(actually more, I have the wrong gear in the tail and its under-reporting). It brought me home AGAIN, thank goodness, but here's the question: is it time for an engine rebuild? maybe a head rebuild and new pump, if the compression's OK? Next year Livonia's ho
sti
>  ng the AMO, and barring personal disaster, I and the Eagle want to be there, and not on a trailer. Does anybody know a REALLY competent AMC engine rebuilder in southern Maine area(I don't trust either me or my mechanic for that...)? Thanks for any and all responses.
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mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1967 Rambler American wagon
1968 Rambler American sedan
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