1962 swappable carb, rambler american

my carb needs to be rebuilt but i'd rather swap it out and have it rebuilt while i can get the car running so i can sell it.

Flathead or OHV 6?

The two carbs most likely used on the 196, whether flat head or OHV, were the Carter RBS and the Holley 1909. If someone is selling one of those for $500-600 than either they're gold plated or the seller thinks everyone is an idiot. I bought an NOS Carter WCD two-barrel on eBay for $50.00 two years ago. The carbs and bargains are out there. Keep looking or place an ad in the WANTED section of this forum.

UPDATE: Smudge I have NO idea what category you were searching in eBay but I just looked at ALL carbs listed for any AMC and the most expensive I found was $400 for a Holley 4barrel used in a dual quad setup. HOWEVER, I did find two different rebuilt Carter RBS carbs for BUY IT NOW at $175.

Edited by rocklandrambler - Aug/03/2015 at 3:52am

American Frank, I have TSM's for both the '64 & '65 American. In both years the 196 L-head and the OHV were the only available engines. In the FUEL section the ONLY caburetors listed are the Carter RBS, the Holley 1909 and the Carter WCD. Possibly earlier flat heads used the Carter YF.

I think the "Swappability" factor mostly depends on the throttle linkage hook-up. OHV carbs have a unique, rotating throttle-rod, in the same axis as the throttle shaft in the carb.

The L-head carbs (At least the YF application) used a push-pull rod that ran across the cylinder head, and operated a more conventional throttle lever on the carb. (This is how my '61 American Super / L-head six is set-up.)



Edited by American Frank - Aug/04/2015 at 7:33am