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196 tune up |
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DocCreer
AMC Addicted Joined: Oct/03/2009 Location: Portland Oregon Status: Offline Points: 1568 |
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Posted: Feb/19/2012 at 11:51am |
Im getting ready to do a tune up on our 61 American 196,it hasent been started in about 10 years,the radiator was pushed into the fan during a fender bender.It cranks so i know its not frozen,im just wondering what preliminary things i should do before starting it,first i gota get the fan off the rad.I want to know what types of plugs work best,what oil to use,etc.
Edited by DocCreer - Feb/19/2012 at 11:56am |
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61 American
82 eagle limited |
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pacerman
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jul/03/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9057 |
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Doc,
I'm sure you've heard all this standard advice before but any good 10W30 or 10W40 mineral oil (not synthetic) will work in that engine. I don't recommend synthetic because there is the persistent rumor that it causes more gasket leakage and the fact that it's designed to last for longer all change intervals that you'll probably be making. You won't get your money's worth out of synthetic oil. You'll have fuel dilution and some blowby in that old engine which will contaminate the oil faster than on a modern engine. I recommend that you get an owner's manual for that car and present it along with some factory sales literature to your sister as a gift. That will help get her interested in the car and she'll better be able to understand what they looked like when new. It's probably like an antique to a 17 year old. Get some good quality distributor points (Blue Streak or equivalent) and condenser. Replace the spark plug wires if they are over 10 years old. Maybe replace the distributor cap if there is any sign of corrosion on the terminals. Make sure it has a clean carburetor and fuel. Make sure it has good brakes and that your sister understands the difference in stopping distances required for drum brakes. Good luck with it. Joe
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Happiness is making something out of nothing.
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59ramblersuper6
AMC Nut Joined: Nov/19/2007 Location: Delaware Status: Offline Points: 337 |
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I'd pour some ATF in the cylinders and let it sit. It will help loosing up any stuck rings from sitting. Is it an OHV? If so Follow the procedure for re-torquing the head bolts. Standard plugs work best nothing fancy. Replace the plug wires for sure and ditch the points in favor of a Pertronics HEI unit. Clean the carb real well, I fired my 196 up and the float bowl stuck spilling gas everywhere. You may do better with having it rebuilt. If it has an oil filter its a PH50 I think and there hard to come by so order one in advance.
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billd
Moderator Group Forum Administrator Joined: Jun/27/2007 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 30894 |
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Doc same advice as for your others - standard plugs as recommended in the owners manual. Noting fancy. it's a low compression slow running 6. You won't need anything else.
Either good quality points or if you don't want to deal with them, a convesion kit. You won't need any voltage or potential in that engine other than what a good well tuned points ignition can supply. Remember what we've stated in the other threads you've asked the same questions in - same advice. You don't the overkill of the other things in that car. The engine simply won't use them. I go with Joe's advice myself..............
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Kenosha62
AMC Apprentice Joined: Jan/24/2009 Location: Sacramento Status: Offline Points: 104 |
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Don't cheap out on the brakes! Rebuild the master & wheels cyl. Brake lines are very easy to bend, replace em' , I get premade lengths at NAPA. First thing on any new (to me) old car is a full(everything) brake job. Might want to consider a two stage master cyl if it's going to be a daily driver. Don't want to sound like I'm beatin' a my drum to loud, but I had a bad experience in a '62 Catalina back in the day. I'm cool if it don't run but if it don't stop it can really ruin your day.
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CanuckRambler
AMC Apprentice Joined: Oct/06/2011 Location: Edmonton, AB. Status: Offline Points: 91 |
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Great thread. I was about to post the same for my '66.
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1966 Rambler American 440 / 4dr Auto (Canadian)
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DocCreer
AMC Addicted Joined: Oct/03/2009 Location: Portland Oregon Status: Offline Points: 1568 |
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Thanks guys,i took out mosymt of that bs i though i needed before.
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61 American
82 eagle limited |
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tomj
AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/27/2010 Location: earth Status: Offline Points: 7539 |
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do NOT start the engine on the gas in the tank. 10-year-old gas has most definitely gone bad. This is near-universal experience with everyone in your position. don't do it no matter how hard it seems to be to clean out the tank.
and i WILL say 'told-ya-so' if you do :-) and i'm not usually so mean! |
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DocCreer
AMC Addicted Joined: Oct/03/2009 Location: Portland Oregon Status: Offline Points: 1568 |
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OK Got it started,got a new water pump but need a gasket and it has a weird slip on oil filter.
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61 American
82 eagle limited |
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DocCreer
AMC Addicted Joined: Oct/03/2009 Location: Portland Oregon Status: Offline Points: 1568 |
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does the water pump use a gasket or not?61 196?
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61 American
82 eagle limited |
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