Re: [AMC-list] Gotta get off the pot!

[tom jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

Where's it hissing out coolant?

But I agree with you -- it sounds like your car is over the hump, drive,
take notes, fix annoyances failure-pain-priority first.

I would deal with that cooling issue ASAP. Nash/AMC really screwed up head
cooling on this motor -- badly. There is NO, ZERO coolant circulation until
that thermostat opens, so there is no coolant circulation during critical
warmup. It's an amazing oversight on their part.


AT THE LEAST I strongly suggest drilling a 1/4" hole, or three 1/8" holes,
in the thermostat, and install it with the hole(s) towards the radiator, so
that it leaks coolant into the radiator during warm up, and that that
warming water passes over the button on the bottom of the thermostat.


You can do this test at home with no instruments at all -- with a COLD
engine, start it and let it idle and warm up normally. Feel the head casting
as it warms. At some point it will be too hot to touch. Now feel the "pod"
where the thermostat lives. IT IS STILL COLD!

Not until the head reaches some crazy hot (harmful!) temperature, does that
thermostat open. Eventually convection and conduction "waft" heat in the
general vicinity, and it opens a bit, then water flows, then it gets hot and
opens all of a sudden. Once warmed up it regulates fine. How this got out of
the design floor I dunno. It's bad.

The heater has no effect on this. The pump drives water into the block water
jacket; heater water goes up that pipe near #6 cyl through the heater core
and into the water pump (heater has it's own suction side).







On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 08:30, Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> Yeah, that is too much thought. I could simply pop the tent, ground
> pads, tarp, cooler and supplies in the trunk and be done with it. Put
> on the hitch when I have time and cash. The car no longer leaks oil
> from under the valve cover (I just used some sealant when seating the
> gasket - problem solved). No longer leaking gas. Still hissing out a
> little coolant, but the gauge doesn't go high. No longer leaking brake
> fluid. Starts, stops and turns. Hoping to order clutch parts today
> (called for pricing yesterday - had put it off a while ago, but I
> really need to do this before hauling the Apache).
>
> Think what I'll do is park the Corolla and just use the Rambler. That
> way I should have the Rambler well sorted out before giving up the
> other car. (providing the tax man holds no surprises)
>
> On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 10:48 AM, Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Yep, you're over thinking it! Sort of like the safety stuff you mentioned
> a
> > few months ago. Get good seats and belts, that's the most critical thing!
> > I hauled a good bit with my 63 American w/196 and auto trans. It was my
> > "truck" while I was in service too -- still have the utility trailer my
> > grandfather and I built with old Model T frame rails and front
> > spindles/wheels and rear springs from a parts 61-63 American I had.
> Welded
> > the spindles to each end of a piece of square tubing, and used the
> bolt-off
> > spring mounts from the American too. Every time I moved it hauled a
> trailer
> > load. Trailer weighs 700-800 pounds I'm sure (8'x4' bed), and it usually
> had
> > about that much on it too. If it needed hauling, the rambler and trailer
> did
> > it!
> > Tom will speak for himself I'm sure, but he loads the heck out of his
> wagon
> > and goes on trips, even across the desert and mountains.
> > So you won't have a problem. You've got the idea, just slow down a bit,
> > allow more pull-out and stop room, get annoyed by inconsiderate drivers
> who
> > act like they didn't see you're pulling a load as they pass then slide in
> 2'
> > from your front bumper, and enjoy the ride! HINT: on the interstate, get
> > about 30-40' behind big rigs and drive. You need to stay far enough back
> > they can see you. People don't like driving between a car with a load and
> a
> > big truck, and you can still stop slightly faster than the rig even if
> they
> > lock up the brakes suddenly.
> > ----------
> > Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:53:02 -0500
> > From: Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>
> >
> > Looks like I have from now until August to get serious about the
> > Rambler and change it from a once in a while grocery hauler to an
> > every day driver, dog hauler, popup-puller mobile. Think I had better
> > avail myself of local AMC club contacts and get myself to meet folks
> > and ask questions in person and turn a wrench a little more often. At
> > least it's at a pretty good point and it starts and drives well for
> > short jaunts.
> > TomJ - did you do any trailer pulling with your 196, or was it with
> > the Classic with the 232? If I do end up letting the 'Rolla go, I
> > still want to be able to go camping once a month in good weather - and
> > I'd prefer not to go back to the tent. I'm trying to figure this out,
> > but am probably giving it too much thought. I think just driving
> > conservatively, keeping my speed down and giving plenty of room in
> > front of me would be just fine. The trailer weighs between 500 and 650
> > pounds (probably closer to 500, I don't have the table and bench
> > options).
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Frank Swygert
> > Publisher, "American Motors Cars" Magazine (AMC)
> > For all AMC enthusiasts
> > http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
> > (free download available!)
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > AMC-list mailing list
> > AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> > http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com
> >
> _______________________________________________
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