Your donations help keep this valuable resource free and growing. Thank you.
|
1960 American flathead |
Post Reply |
Author | |
Dstark0828
AMC Fan Joined: May/16/2021 Location: 98270 Status: Offline Points: 3 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: May/16/2021 at 11:00am |
New to rambler. My son bought a flathead engine. We need pistonss and rings. Overboard to .020 or .030+. Are pistons and ring sets available? Where if so? The car is a 1960 American Super? Thanks for any info!!!
|
|
pacerman
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jul/03/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9057 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Try one of the AMC vendors like Galvin's Rambler Parts first. They have a better chance of having the rings than the pistons. Kanter's Auto Parts in New Jersey specializes in Packards but they have a lot of old factory inventory of the independents like AMC and Nash. They might have the pistons or you can try Egge Machine for the pistons. Good luck. Joe
|
|
Happiness is making something out of nothing.
|
|
Dstark0828
AMC Fan Joined: May/16/2021 Location: 98270 Status: Offline Points: 3 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Thx I will try them all.
|
|
tomj
AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/27/2010 Location: earth Status: Offline Points: 7544 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
These were sturdy dependable cars when new, but they weren't Corvettes or luxury cars, so they are usually finally-parked for a solid mechanical reason. There is no longer a single source for everything as far as I know. You will need: pistons, rings bearings (rod, mains) headgasket (*) timing chain, cam sprocket, crank sprocket valves (maybe, probably) rear seal (rope type) (*) All of these parts are scarce, but findable. |
|
1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5 http://www.ramblerLore.com |
|
al1630
AMC Apprentice Joined: Oct/05/2017 Location: Boise, Idaho Status: Offline Points: 174 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
What exactly is the situation on the head gaskets? It seems like the ones for sale (made by Best, right?) are newly made. Are they still in production or all just NOS from a few years ago?
|
|
Alex
1963 Rambler American 440H |
|
pacerman
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jul/03/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9057 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Within the last few years, Best Gaskets bought the dies and the rights to produce the former Fel-Pro brands of older gaskets from whoever owned the brand. So the Best Gaskets are newly manufactured. Joe
|
|
Happiness is making something out of nothing.
|
|
farna
Supporter of TheAMCForum Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 19676 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Kanter originally specialized in Packard, diversified into other makes many years ago! They have rebuild kits for most antique engines if you want to go that route. I don't think the kits are all inclusive, but will have most of what you need. Pistons are separate, for instance. I don't really want to discourage you from building the flat-head. It's less prone to cracks than the OHV head, but still a good idea (and relatively cheap) to have it checked for cracks before doing any machine work. Tear it down, and when you take it to the machine shop have them check the block and head for cracks. The head rarely cracks, block cracks are usually around the valves -- unless it froze and cracked a water jacket. Valve seats can have inserts, but if they will grind correctly without them they aren't necessary. It's not a high speed engine nor does it have stiff valve springs. If the inserts are cheap enough it won't hurt though. Unleaded gas isn't an issue with these low speed engines, no matter what the shop recommends. Most recommend insert due to unleaded gas, but most are building performance engines that are being run at high rpm with performance cams and stiff springs. Pistons are going to be the major cost. If you get pistons on e-bay look for pistons WITH rings. Don't have to be on pistons, but there are 2-3 different ring/piston sets. The big thing is it will cost as much to build a V-8 to build the flat-head you have. That's just because it's an antique engine. The flat-head has adequate power for the American and will be very dependable, but it's BARELY adequate for modern traffic. If you intend this to be a daily driver I'd look for a 196 OHV or consider an engine swap. For a hobby car it will be great as is.
Edited by farna - May/18/2021 at 6:42am |
|
Frank Swygert
|
|
mramc
AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/12/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3217 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Egge Machine makes a lot of Kanter's parts, web site is here :https://egge.com/ Also check for the 196 parts under Nash , as the 196 is mostly from the Nash years. LRDaum
|
|
LRDaum
|
|
ramblinrev
Moderator Group Joined: Dec/28/2008 Location: Wisconsin Status: Online Points: 11538 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Forged, 060 over pistons for flathead! |
|
74 Hornet Hatchback X twins (since 1977)
62 American Convertible (still worth the $50 I spent in 1973!) AMCRC #513, AMO #384 70 AMX 360 4-speed (since 1981) |
|
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |