Re: [Amc-list] Good Rambler day! (196 problems?)

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

All the problems I've ever had or heard of concerning a 196 can be traced back to abuse and/or lack of proper maintenance. You see me "yelling" about torquing the head every other year/15K miles for that reason! That hasn't been a common maintenance item since the early 60s. Even experienced mechanics today don't recall having to retorque heads on a regular basis. Even a few of the old timers will tell you that with modern gaskets it's not necessary, but that's not so on the 196! Using sealer on the head gasket gets the same response "not necessary with modern gaskets". Don't do it on a 196 and it will seep way more oil than you would like (it will always seep just a little on the distributor side). 

The locked up engines most likely did so due to moisture/condensation while sitting. The spun bearing can only be from lack of oil, loose connecting rod bolts, or simple wear. I've only seen one that came apart like the one Tom mentioned, but it was only one broke rod. One of the cap nuts was missing on the broke rod, and the engine had been recently rebuilt. Builder probably overlooked torquing that one bolt, or it was improperly torqued (to much or too little). 

As long as proper maintenance is done the 196 will be reliable. The only reason I stopped using one in a daily driver was parts availability. I didn't want to carry a water pump and a few other spares every time I went on a trip more than an hour or so away. The water pump is really the only "regular maintenance" item that could fail and really leave you stranded. The electrics are either standard GM or Ford -- you might have to wait until a week day to get something repaired or replaced, but should be doable in a day or two. An electric fuel pump is easy to wire in in a pinch, though the wipers might suffer. But the water pump isn't readily replaced and can't be worked around. Took a couple weeks to get the right one last time I needed to replace it -- can't have that on a trip! For "around town" like Tom plans with his it's not a big problem, you can always call someone if you don't notice the drip or water loss soon enough. It's harder to get someone to come out if you're 
 more than an hour away (one way) though, and you'll need to tow the car.  

-----------------
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:40:31 -0800 (PST)
From: JOE FULTON <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Ya' know, I'm starting to wonder about my decision to
rebuild one of the 196s I have and get that 65 Rambler
running.  It's probably wouldn't be wise to back out
now, but I have heard of more problems with the 195.6s
than almost any other engine except the Vega aluminum
block beast.  

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)


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