Re: [AMC-List] Band adjustment, little aluminum Borg Warner auto

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 6 Jul 2006, Sandwich Maker wrote:

> " I wouldn't be surprised. I've had really good luck with this
> " trans, even though it's small, air-cooled, and in a largeish car
> " (Classic wagon).
> 
> otoh it can't be -that- 'largeish' if a 199 will motivate it
> adequately, automatic and all!

Explain, "adequately".... !

My 1963 Rambler Classic wagon is slow! And it's not just the
propane conversion (probably cost me 15 hp max), it's just not
a lot of HP, and it's a 3.31 rear.

My Rambler came from Len's AMC Auto Wrecker in San Jose,
October 1988. Pulled of the top of a pile of cars headed for
the crusher. $300. It had an aluminum 196.5ci six, 3-speed
manual column shift trans.  I had them yank the motor, and I
towed it home behind my 232-powered Hornet (a terrible idea,
but I was not killed).

I somehow wrestled a 232 into it. Guess what, motor didn't
fit stock x-member. (Recall this is pre-internet and for me,
pre-AMC-club, even.)  Kyle at (cannot remember name of AMC parts
place in San Jose, long gone now) told me I needed the 64-up
x-member. Took Caltrans down, and carried it back on the train.

Bought a custom-built T96+OD from an ex-AMC dealer Ed Stack
(I think his name was). $400, all new parts. Had big sprad
between 1st and 2nd, just great for 1st+OD. Stripped 1st gear
teeth off it cresting a very, very steep hill in San Francisco,
loaded with camping gear on the car's maiden (sic) voyage,
a few months later. Took trip anyways, 2nd and 3rd gear only.

(I think the idea was, the original 196.5ci six simply couldn't
produce enough torque to break a flimsy T96 transmission in
a 3200 lb car. The 232 apparently could. Did AMC ship 1964+
big cars with 232 and T96?)

Kyle's biz partner (can't think of his name) up near Sacramento,
was parting out a 65 Classic, I took the rearend and the M35
auto trans.  Had the trans rebuild by B&E Transmissions in San
Fran, 1990. (That's the brain-surgeon quality place I wish I
had down here). A decade later, 1996, pinion shaft sheared on
San Fernando Road!  At a stop light, no less. Rear end rebuilt
by Dad's Old Car Garage, Culver City, now closed. That cost me
$1500, but it has a NOS ring and pinion and new bearings.

Still driving on that rebuild! But about 6 - 7 fluid/filter
changes and half dozen band adjustments. I literally climb
mountains with this car, you can't believe the places I've
driven this rambler, loaded to the ... with camping gear. Over
10,000 feet, death valley in july, route 80 east to reno,
100 miles of dirt roads in NV and UT, stuck in deep sand in
jeep-ville going to remote hot springs. I even, once, climbed
mild rocks in the Monitor Valley in Nevada (that was foolish,
I had to crawl backwards a foot at a time to avoid sitting the
trans on the rocks).

If I had to choose between my shiny new Hornet and the Rambler,
I'd choose the old rambler any day.

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