Re: 58/59 Rambler questions from the Allpar forums

[farna@xxxxxxx]

Arfon, send me his e-mail address in e-mail if you don't mind, unless you can talk him into signing on the list. That later is what he really needs, he can ask questions as they crop up.

1. All big Ramblers use a coil spring rear about 60" wide. MEASURE BEFORE REPLACING!
The torque tube itself is the primary locationg arm, along with a panhard rod. All open drive Ramblers use leaf springs, and later AMCs that use a four link have much wider axles. Those who do replace the tube use ladder bars or a "truck arm" type suspension. "Truck arms" running to the trans crossmember is the best setup. Check the mounts where the crossmember attaches to the frame. 63-66 Ramblers use a rubber mount, I'm not sure about 58-62. If a rubber mounts is present it should be replaced with a fabricated solid mount if "truck arms" are attached to the crossmember. 

The "Hot Rods to Hell" GM G-body kit (http://hotrodstohell.net/truckarm/truckarm_gbody/truckarm_gbody.htm) should be adaptable to the Rambler as the G-body mounts the coils on the rear axle like AMC did. I don't think the screw jacks can be easily mounted. The Rambler spring seats simply bolt to the axle tubes with a single bolt -- I'd pull them from the original axle then drill and tap the replacement tubes for the Rambler spring seats. If you want different coils or air bags just order what you need.

2. All AMC cars use the same bolt pattern for the front spindles. Any 79-83 2WD AMC (Concord, Spirit, Pacer) front discs can be used, just get everything from the caliper mount out. Older disc brakes can be used, but parts are harder to come by and more expensive.

3. The front suspension is unique, but don't let it scare you! The turnnion joints are tough and the double wishbone suspension is actually better ridning and handling than a strut rod (Mustang II) type. The trunnions are easy to service and replacements readily available through AMC vendors (www.ramblerparts.com, www.blaserauto.com, and maybe www.amclives.com) or Kanter (www.kanter.com). The only advice I can give is to grease the things! That's the reason for problems with them in older cars -- the joints were not properly serviced. Mineral grease doesn't hold up like modern stuff. I'd disassemble the front end, check for wear, and put the joints back together if not loose. Cleaning the old grease out and putting modern grease in is usually all they need for a another 100K or so of service. 

4. If you change the engine you will have to change the transmission. If it has a six cylinder only 1971 or older AMC/Rambler sixes will bolt to that one. If it's a V-8, only 1956-1966 AMC/Rambler V-8s will fit (except the late 66 290). The old Rambler V-8s are tough and smooth running, but there will be no speed or dress-up parts for it. But it would make a very good cruiser engine, and be unique in a sea of GM, Ford, and Chrysler mills. 

The 58 uses a four point mount system like the tri-five Chevys, so mounts will need to be fabricated. Shouldn't be difficult, and though a unit body the front rails are strong enough for an engine plate if desired. I believe the front crossmember is strong enough in those models to support engine mounts also. If not the rails will support a "universal" tubular crossmember.

5. You'll need more info as you go, so why not join the AMC-List? Go to www.amxfiles.com and sign up. If you don't want messages in your e-mail, go back to the site once ou start receiving mail and change your settings to "postpone". That leaves you signed up but stops mail. To read messages go back to the website and read (even reply) from there. 

Frank Swygert
Publisher, American Independent Magazine (all AMC/Rambler!)
http://farna.home.att.net/AIM.html
Moderator, AMC-List
www.amxfiles.com/amc-list

On August 4, 2005 Arfon Gryffydd wrote:

> rustynewyorker writes:
> 
> 
> So I finally got the '58? (58 grille, sold as '59, have to doublecheck VIN
> for the year) Rambler custom I'd been eyeing since last fall. Solid body,
> trashed seats and door panels, some surface rust. Motor is a 6 and in
> pieces with water sitting in a couple of the bores, head elsewhere. So it's
> in need of an engine of some sort, maybe a trans too since it hasn't been
> run in a very long time.
> 
> Of course this has a torque tube drive in it... so I have some questions.
> 
> Is there a later Rambler/AMC rear or center section that will bolt in and
> give me an open driveline? I guess that's the big thing. I have a couple
> cheap options to remotor it, leaning towards a $75 rebuilt Caddy 425 a guy
> took out of a car he bought to build for the demo derby (thus the low
> price). Should be more than enough to scare people at the lights. But
> anything outside of an AMC 6 or V8 means another rearend - need to know if
> something else fits or I need to weld perches onto an open housing of some
> sort. Pretty much all I have laying around are GM motors, getting an AMC
> for it would mean finding a good one somewhere.
> 
> There any front suspension interchangability between these and later AMC
> products (70's)? Wondered about a disc brake swap, but it's not crucial.


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