The AMC Forum : What is a "Late" L head? http://theamcforum.com/forum/ This is an XML content feed of; The AMC Forum : 6 Cylinder Engine Repair and Modifications : What is a "Late" L head? Sun, 19 May 2013 20:40:51 +0000 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:11:56 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 10.03 360 theamcforum.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=15732 The AMC Forum http://theamcforum.com/forum/http://www.theamcforum.com/forum/skin_images_amc/forumheader.png http://theamcforum.com/forum/ What is a "Late" L head? : Frank, you darn tootin I have... http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139708.html#139708 Author: MARTINSR
Subject: 15732
Posted: Jan/12/2010 at 5:11pm

Frank, you darn tootin I have thought about it. I have been an electric car fan though I have never owned one, I have a crap load of books on it. I did look this car over well for the swap and counted against it because I just hate to molest this cool old car.
 
Brian
]]> Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:11:56 +0000 http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139708.html#139708 What is a "Late" L head? : Speaking of batteries....... http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139643.html#139643 Author: farna
Subject: 15732
Posted: Jan/12/2010 at 11:49am

Speaking of batteries.... I got a 63 American from a college professor years ago for free. He had planned on converting it to an electric car because of the relatively light weight and ample size -- plenty room for batteries and relatively large home made controller (this was early 80s). His plan was to use the original stick trans with an electric motor up front, then build a platform over the electric motor for 9 batteries, with another 8 in the trunk (cut floor out and build a drop compartment where the gas tank was, then raise the floor of trunk as necessary). It was to have been a 96V system, doubled for capacity (two 96V battery packs). The ninth battery in front was to run accessories. While he never built it he went over the basics of the car in class (anelectricity class, engineering program) as an engineering example.

He saw me driving my Rambler, and said that one had been there three years and he was no closer to doing anything and probably wouldn't, and his wife wanted him to do SOMETHING with it one way or another, so I got a free parts car! He hadn't done ANYTHING to it at all. But it was a good idea, and might be something you'd be interested in.


Edited by farna - Jan/12/2010 at 11:53am]]> Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:49:58 +0000 http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139643.html#139643 What is a "Late" L head? : Is that one of them hemis? http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139437.html#139437 Author: poormansMACHINE
Subject: 15732
Posted: Jan/11/2010 at 4:48pm

Is that one of them hemis?LOL]]> Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:48:08 +0000 http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139437.html#139437 What is a "Late" L head? : 65 americanwith the flat head.... http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139434.html#139434 Author: chevynova
Subject: 15732
Posted: Jan/11/2010 at 4:39pm

 65 american with the flat head. 195.6]]> Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:39:03 +0000 http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139434.html#139434 What is a "Late" L head? : Believe me, about 95% of the driving... http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139349.html#139349 Author: MARTINSR
Subject: 15732
Posted: Jan/11/2010 at 1:41am

Believe me, about 95% of the driving I do a very basic 10 12 batterys and a motor hooked to a VW transaxle would be PLENTY. I drive down surface streets with a max 45 mph four miles each way and that is about all this car will be asked to do.
 
Thanks for all the great info! I still just can't believe that they ran the flat head until 65, that is simply wild.
 
Brian
]]> Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:41:38 +0000 http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139349.html#139349 What is a "Late" L head? : Brian has the right idea on the... http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139219.html#139219 Author: farna
Subject: 15732
Posted: Jan/10/2010 at 5:11pm

Brian has the right idea on the headers. Back in the 50s there was a header "flange" set made for the Nash/AMC L-heads. They were a cast piece, but pretty much were what Brian described -- a short section of pipe capped at each end with another at right angles to i. There were "ears" for the mounting bolts on top and bottom. Those things were rare when being made -- I think Edmunds and maybe Fenton made them. I've only seen one set in person.

I can help a bit here -- the exhaust pipe is 1-7/8" OD.

AMC kept the old L-head and 196 OHV (same bottom end and many shared parts, just different valve train, block, head and pistons) in prodution until 65 mainly as economy engines. The old L-head had plenty low speed torque and was good on gas, just not much on performance. Adequate is about the best adjective to use for it -- and just so in modern traffic. I drove one back in 79 in high school. Would just hold 55 mph going up hills even if you were doing 65 mph down one first. In thick traffic you had to really know your car and time things JUST RIGHT to get out in it, because there was NO reserve power. The only thing I know of that was worse was a 60s bug. My little 61 American wagon had about the same performance as a friends equally worn 59 Chevy pickup truck with 235 six.
]]> Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:11:44 +0000 http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post139219.html#139219 What is a "Late" L head? : That blows me away that they ran... http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post138972.html#138972 Author: MARTINSR
Subject: 15732
Posted: Jan/09/2010 at 4:25pm

That blows me away that they ran that motor up until 1965! I LOVE this car! I am so sick and tired of working on late model cars electronic computerized crap! Talk about basics, open the hood of my American. :)
 
Brian
]]> Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:25:18 +0000 http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post138972.html#138972 What is a "Late" L head? : MARTINSR wrote: farna wrote:The... http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post138971.html#138971 Author: purple72Gremlin
Subject: 15732
Posted: Jan/09/2010 at 4:20pm

Originally posted by MARTINSR MARTINSR wrote:

Originally posted by farna farna wrote:

The "late" L-head is actually a 1964-65 model. It has the bosses in the sides for the three point motor mounts (one each side, one under trans). Earlier blocks use a four point mounting system and have a plate behind the timing cover with a lip on ht lower edge for the front mounts, the rear two mounts are on the bell housing.

 
Ok Frank, clear something up for me, would these pistons work in my car or not? Are you saying the did sell a Rambler with a FLATHEAD in it up until 1965!
 
Brian
1965 was the last year for the flathead.]]> Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:20:23 +0000 http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post138971.html#138971 What is a "Late" L head? : farna wrote:The "late"... http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post138969.html#138969 Author: MARTINSR
Subject: 15732
Posted: Jan/09/2010 at 4:17pm

Originally posted by farna farna wrote:

The "late" L-head is actually a 1964-65 model. It has the bosses in the sides for the three point motor mounts (one each side, one under trans). Earlier blocks use a four point mounting system and have a plate behind the timing cover with a lip on ht lower edge for the front mounts, the rear two mounts are on the bell housing.

 
Ok Frank, clear something up for me, would these pistons work in my car or not? Are you saying the did sell a Rambler with a FLATHEAD in it up until 1965!
 
Brian
]]> Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:17:21 +0000 http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post138969.html#138969 What is a "Late" L head? : tyrodtom wrote:The exhaust... http://theamcforum.com/forum/what-is-a-late-l-head_topic15732_post138967.html#138967 Author: MARTINSR
Subject: 15732
Posted: Jan/09/2010 at 4:12pm

Originally posted by tyrodtom tyrodtom wrote:

The exhaust manifold on some years of Chevy Cavalier 4 cyls are just one tiny step better. The first time I saw one of those manifolds I immediately thought of my old flathead .
You'd have to do some welding around the exhaust ports on the block to install headers, that area is curved for the pipe. You'd have to weld it up and mill it flat . Then you'd still have those paired exhaust ports.
 
The ports won't have to be changed one bit. What I will do is get a piece of pipe (or just make from scratch) that is the same OD as the stock "manifold". I'll cut a piece that goes across the ports and ends up flush with where the stock "manifold" bracket bolts across. I'll then weld a flange on each side of the piece with a hole in it to bolt it on. I'll bolt it on and then weld the header pipe to piece where hole will be cut in it to match the port on the block. It's actually pretty easy. The limited space to the spring tower is the only real problem. But making them will be a piece of cake.
 
Brian
 
Brian
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