[Amc-list] Restoring 1960 Rambler Cross Country Wagon

[DonMcCPA@xxxxxxx]

This may amuse some of you AMCers.  The reason that I bought this  model was 
that it was the first car that I owned when I was 16 (but that's a  long story 
in itself).  I went to college in Flint MI and drove between  Flint and 
Dayton OH many weekends.  I loved to drive fast, so much of  that was flat out at 
nearly 100 mph (verified by the Michigan State Patrol  on one occasion).  My 
Dad, who was an experienced mechanic, and I  did all the engine work except for 
the machining.  After several  years, I rebuilt the carb one Saturday in Flint 
and discovered  that Dad (in the interest of keeping me alive??) had replaced 
the  original 2bbl carb for a 1bbl and then put a restrictor plate under 
that.   I rebuilt and installed a 2bbl from a salvage yard and shared some good  
laughs with Dad about it.  Before the 2bbl, I took it to the  drags and ran the 
quarter in around 19 seconds and 60 mph.  LOL!!  What was my time after the 
2bbl?  Uh... let me  just say that I never took it back again to find out.
 
Cheers,
Don McCready
 
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Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2007 20:08:28  -0500
From: Dan Curtis <d.curtis@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Amc-list]  Frankenstein 390 problem
To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:  <c0e63bd2384c391b683ec11ce38202bf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type:  text/plain;  charset="utf-8"

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Message-ID:  <mailman.145.1188230452.442.amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

With regards to  head compatibility, you can interchange most any year heads 
with an early motor  with a set of 4 head bolt dowels for the 7/16 studs to 
properly align later  model heads on the early motors.  All 360 and 390/401 
motors from 1970  forward use 1/2 head bolts (which I suspect is also the case for 
the smaller V-8  as well although I have no first hand experience with the 
smaller motors to say  for sure), thus the need for the dowels on the early 
motor 7/16 head  bolts.  

In one of my post earlier this week, I offered a very good,  lightly used 360 
shortblock with new bearings, freezeplugs, cam and lifters with  the factory 
harmonic balancer. You could use your flywheel and clutch along with  your 
intake and timing cover and be ready to go.  Either way, I strongly  suggest that 
you change the heads to the big valve 360/390-401 large valve  heads, 
preferably the later model heads if you rebuild the 390 or the 291C  dogleg heads if 
you use something like my '75 360 to achieve a nice streetable  compression 
ratio on either type of motor.

Feel free to contact me if you  would like to discuss further. I would be 
interested in a trade of my lightly  used 360 shortblock for the damaged 390.

Regards, 
Dan  Curtis




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Message:  5
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:52:41 -0500
From: "Eddie Stakes"  <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Amc-list] Fw: Have a amc  engine question and need help.
To: <baadassGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,  <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: cary avey  <ffparamedic34@xxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:  <00ee01c7e764$58396210$b3621e4c@piageedc1iqa5q>
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Cary would like some information  concerning a interchange, and if anyone 
here can hook him up, please feel free  to reply and thanks in advance to all who 
might, be sure to copy your reply  directly to Cary also.
Eddie Stakes'
Planet Houston  AMX
713.464.8825
eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.planethoustonamx.com
email  reply currently 5-9 days
8-19 day reply times, just call!
----- Original  Message ----- 
From: cary avey       ffparamedic34@xxxxxxxxx
To: eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Sent:  Tuesday, July 31, 2007 4:34 PM
Subject: Have a amc engine question and need  help.


Hey Eddie,

My name is Cary Avey, I used to live in  Houston and was memeber of the AMC 
club there for a couple of years. I have  recenlty started working on a 69 
javeling to restore to ride in. I recenlty  purchased a 73 360 out of a Jeep 
wagoneer that had a th400 behind it. It has the  adapter plate for the tranny as 
well as verything else. I have elected to to use  the tranny and purchased a 727 
to go behind it. I have begun taking the motor  apart and when I looked at 
the back of the crankshaft, I noticed something  different about it. On the part 
that the flex plate bolts up to seems to be  longer than normal. Almost a 
little over an inch. My question is this. Was this  normal to have that much 
space behind on the back side of the crankshaft or do I  nee to replace it with a 
different one for a car? I have some pics of it that I  can send when I get 
home from work. Thanks for the help.


Cary  Avey
70 AMX
69 Javelin
77 Pacer  DL


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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 26  Aug 2007 20:55:09 EDT
From: Pinsonelliott@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Amc-list]  Amc-list Digest, Vol 8, Issue 51
To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:  <c86.1a66b65a.34037aed@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;  charset="us-ascii"

I am a recent new comer to the AMC world and this  list. The last  AMC I 
owned 
was 30 years ago. I want some advice from  people who know more  about these 
cars than I do. I have a 1972  Javelin, all the original papers,  dealership 
materials, and title. A  basic SST, 304 engine with air. A one owner  car 
until I 
obtained it.  

How many original Javelins' do you see around AMC car gatherings? Do I  keep  
it as is or muscle it up? Either way, I will be restoring for me,  and not to 
 
resell. I am open to putting more $ into it than I could  get out of  it. 
My kids can deal with that when I've left this world.  I'm Just want  some 
objective advice.  

David



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Message: 7
Date: Mon, 27  Aug 2007 00:57:26 +0000
From: Wrambler242@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re:  [Amc-list] 64 Ambassador With NOS Parts - Destroyed!
To: "AMC/Rambler owners,  drivers and fans." <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
<082720070057.4891.46D22176000089550000131B2215593414CDCBCD0A0C079D9F059D0E03@
comcast.net>


Yeah, your right sad indeed. the good do die young!
However,  WOW, what a parts car!
If I had a 64 I'd be all over that auction! even  paying shipping you would 
have one heck of pile of nice parts!

--
Mark  Price
Morgantown, WV
1969 AMC Rambler, 4.0L, EFI, T-5
" I was different  before people dared to be different" 

-------------- Original message  ----------------------
From: Archimedes <Freedom@xxxxxxxx>
>  
> Dang, now this is sad.  Look at item # 290153896410 on  ebay.
> 
> -- Marc
> 
> 
> 
>  _______________________________________________
> Amc-list mailing  list
> Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>  http://www.amc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list



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Message:  8
Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2007 19:07:19 -0600
From: Frank Swygert  <farna@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Amc-list] Restoring 1960 Rambler Cross  Country Wagon
To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:  <46D223C7.90209@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1;  format=flowed

Congratulations are in order! Depending on what you bought  it for and what 
it's powered by. If you bought it for a fun cruiser and aren't  real concerned 
with long trips and 70+ cruising speeds even that doesn't matter!  The old 196 
OHV six is a great economical engine, but a bit low in power for  modern 
driving. It just wasn't designed for long high speed runs, though it will  carry 
the car at 60-70. The engine will use a bit of oil at those high speeds,  and 
will struggle a little to maintain speed up hills. It takes a bit for one of  
the long stroke engines to build up speed, but it produces great low speed  
torque and will never fail to get the car rolling -- just not quickly. It's hard  
to choke on in good running order down if it's a stick shift. My ex wife  
couldn't drive my four speed Chevette, but had no trouble taking off with my old  
Rambler -- even on an incline! It would just lug the car right on up until it 
 gained enough speed to stop lugging, but never quit. 

If you have a V-8  (well, in 60 that would be a Rebel) it's a different 
story! Heavy but great  little 250 V-8. More than adequate power, but not quite a 
hot rod. Not much you  can do to change that either -- there was no hop-up 
equipment ever made for the  GEN-1 AMC V-8, with the exception of some mild cams 
which can no longer be  found. If you wanted more power you could locate a 
larger 287 or 327 GEN-1 AMC,  or get the used camshaft custom ground (which cost 
about the same as a new cam).  

If you like the car you'll enjoy it no matter what! There's a lot to be  
gained from the remarks you'll get as you sport around town -- even if it's  
slowly! Rarely do I get a bad remark, always good. The worst one I've ever got  is 
"Why would anyone sink all that time and money in a Rambler?" My reply is  
easy -- when was the last time you saw one? I get more interest than my brother  
with his 65 cookie cutter (Mustang) at a general car show. Everyone knows 
about  and has seen a Mustang recently, but not a Rambler!  

---------------
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:36:13 EDT
From:  DonMcCPA@xxxxxxx

We just took delivery of this wagon that is in bad need  of  restoration.  
Fortunately the body and glass are in pretty  good  shape.  If any of you 
have any 
tips, parts, or even  condolences, we'd be  delighted to hear from you.







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