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OHV head to L-head? |
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330inthemorning
AMC Nut Joined: Mar/25/2019 Location: AZ Status: Offline Points: 276 |
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Posted: Mar/25/2019 at 4:43pm |
i have a stock 1964 195.6 OHV engine in my american. hypothetically speaking, is it possible to fit an L-head onto my engine? what all is involved besides changing out the head and manifolds?
i'm probably going to eventually build my 199 and upgrade it, but i'm curious about this "pre-upgrade downgrade." i've always been fascinated with side-valve engines.
Edited by 330inthemorning - Mar/25/2019 at 4:58pm |
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tomj
AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/27/2010 Location: earth Status: Offline Points: 7544 |
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i enjoy and encourage your twisted state of mind. alas, no. there's open air where the valve seats, ports, etc would be. the head bolt pattern is all wrong (the OHV bolt pattern is a hash job, "make it do"). probably other issues. the casting changed, more or less above the side access covers. as consolation, you could install two distributors on the OHV. well one might hit the exhaust manifold. though i havent done any exhaustiv research, i always thought that an older Nash OHV head would be nifty. but the good nash sixes are seven mains. (now the Tornado engine, in another thread, has four mains; but i suspect the cylinders areen't siamesed. OK now i'm gonna go ask :-) |
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1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5 http://www.ramblerLore.com |
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farna
Supporter of TheAMCForum Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 19676 |
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What Tom is alluding to, is that the block castings are different for the 196 OHV and L-head. When AMC converted the L-head to OHV they changed the block casting on the right side. Metal was removed where the valves were on the L-head -- the top right corner was changed. Everything from the camshaft down is the same, as is the front of the engine, so all parts interchange EXCEPT the valve related parts (lifters up). L-head lifters have adjusters on them and directly contact the valve, OHV lifters have a recess in the end to hold the pushrod, so lifters don't interchange. Technically the camshafts WILL interchange, but they are ground a lot differently and neither engine would run right (maybe not at all!) with the wrong camshaft grind.The L-head cam would have way too much lift for the OHV engine, OHV not enough for the L-head.There has been some speculation on using a reground L-head cam to get more lift in the OHV engine, but the little 196 probably wouldn't benefit from more lift than you can get from a reground OHV cam.
Edited by farna - Mar/29/2019 at 6:04am |
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Frank Swygert
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tomj
AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/27/2010 Location: earth Status: Offline Points: 7544 |
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umm, what frank said. much better than me. i really want a flat head cam to look at. if anyone has one but isn't sure, i can measure lobe height on an OHV cam i have to compare. |
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1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5 http://www.ramblerLore.com |
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