Re: Early American question

[farna@xxxxxxx]

First problem is it's not an American -- it's a Nash Rambler. Yes, they had four lugs -- went to five when reintroduced as the American in 58. The front suspension is almost the same as the American except I think it uses the big car type upper trunnion. The spindle pattern is the same, so late model AMC discs (79-83 preferred) will fit. The single master cylinder will work with the residual pressure valve removed and an in-line residual valve installed in the rear brake line (after the T). A 10 psi valve is available from hot rod shops. IIRC the master cylinder is under the floor, so a 2 psi in-line residual pressure valve is needed for the front discs. That's to keep the discs from draining back into the master cylinder. The valves simply screw into the brake lines and are available from www.mpbrakes.com. There may be enough room under the floor for a standard master cylinder, but a power booster would be tight. MP Brakes has remote power boosters that would work. The "jui!
 ce jar" activates a slave cylinder on a remotely mounted power booster and double master setup. It can even be in the trunk -- just run brake lines accordingly. 

I had the same experience you did about 15 years ago. A fellow asked me to come look at a Rambler he was putting a 2300 Pinto engine and four speed in. I got there and it had four lugs!! 55 Nash Rambler. Other than the four lugs everything is the same as a 58 American though mechanically -- except the upper trunnion. 

On March 9, 2006 russ hathaway wrote:

> Got done talking to a guy in So Cal with a 54
> American. As he had just waken me up I was a little
> groggy but the question was in adapting discs/late
> drums onto his American.
> He stated that the car has 4 lug wheels, my first
> question; I thought they were 5 lug but as he has the
> car in his garage I wasn't going to push the argument.
> Were they indeed 4 lug or did someone monkey with the
> car prior to him getting the car. What year did they
> switch to 5.
> Next ques; The stock master cyl would be a single
> resevior, what would be a good choice to use for disc
> brakes considering  the space constraints.
> Last ques; is the spindle the same bolt pattern as the
> later years, 1964 and up?
> I am not as familiar with the early bathtubs as I am
> with the later ones so I am afraid I wasn't much help
> to him, and I hope he is reading these posts.....Russ
> 
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