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electrictech 
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Joined: Mar/17/2013 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 115 |
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 Topic: Smoky JoePosted: Aug/04/2019 at 9:19pm |
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Just picked up a 61 Rambler with a 196 inline that smokes when started and when shifting gears. Im thinking a engine rebuild. maybe bad rings. Car shows only 84000 miles.
Should I rebuild the engine or can I pick a good used engine up cheaper? |
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Heavy 488
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Joined: Apr/27/2019 Location: In the Status: Offline Points: 3553 |
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Posted: Aug/04/2019 at 9:36pm |
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Odds may be against you finding a better used 60 year old engine. |
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billd
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Posted: Aug/04/2019 at 10:13pm |
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No kidding. Finding one at all that's not been sitting and of questionable condition is going to be tough.
Normally not that expensive to rebuild - and they are pretty simple engines, too - if you know older engines. But to find one running that is in known condition - doubt it. Anything out there will be just as old and likely have at least that many miles on it.
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al1630
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Joined: Oct/05/2017 Location: Boise, Idaho Status: Offline Points: 174 |
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Posted: Aug/04/2019 at 11:05pm |
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Rebuilding is the way to go, most of these engines are either worn out or were abused at some point, being cheap transportation when they were new. My American with a 196 ended up having broken ring lands. I got away with honing and replacing the bad pistons and rings. I got a full set of rings for about $20 on ebay, those may still be available if you need them. They also have cylinder head issues, which I'm sure one of the 196 gurus around here will explain soon.
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Alex
1963 Rambler American 440H |
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tomj
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Posted: Aug/04/2019 at 11:07pm |
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80,000 was a typical maximum life for an engine designed when it was. and typical maintenance in that era was... poor. flathead or overhead valve? there won't be any engine exchanges most likely. it iwll require a rebuild by an old fashioned shop. parts are scarce, but findable. i've done a lot of work with this engine, you can see it at 195.6OHV.com... lots of mods there, but also info on rebuilding. somewhat of a jumble, feel free to ask on this forum or PM me. there is no other engine that will bolt in. there's a flathead, and an OHV version of the same engine. (and an aluminum one, but it won't fit in the car). if you haven't yet, go find a factory Technical Service Manual (TSM). absolutely invaluable. NOT a "haynes" or "motors" manual. |
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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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electrictech
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Posted: Aug/05/2019 at 5:07pm |
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Thanks for the feedback. I had also pondered a different engine swap but now that's out the question. So I guess I will be rebuilding the motor. I found a TSM on ebay and ordered it. Hopefully I will find the parts needed.
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electrictech
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Posted: Aug/05/2019 at 5:11pm |
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Tomj
Tried to access your 195 site it was not available. |
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pacerman
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Posted: Aug/05/2019 at 9:30pm |
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Do a compression test. If it only smokes when started or when there is high vacuum like decel/shifting gears you could have worn valve seals. Joe
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Happiness is making something out of nothing.
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tomj
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Posted: Aug/05/2019 at 9:50pm |
that's odd... working just now... https://195.6ohv.com/ |
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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
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Posted: Aug/06/2019 at 8:46am |
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If you're a bit short of money right now replace the valve stem seals and possibly remove the head and have it rebuilt. You need to torque the cylinder head bolts if it's an OHV motor, and also adjust the valves. Both need doing every 10-12K miles. Neither is hard to do. If you loosen then tighten one head bolt at a time you don't need to worry about the order you go in. If you don't re-torque the head every 10-12K miles you will end up with a leaking head gasket -- first sign is usually the engine running hot. That can lead up to a cracked head, and good heads are hard to find. If you have a flat-head you don't have to worry about the head bolts. What model car is this in, an American or the bigger Classic?
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Frank Swygert
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electrictech wrote: