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Smoking after reassembly, 1963 Rambler classic

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purple72Gremlin View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote purple72Gremlin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan/08/2023 at 8:33pm
Originally posted by farna farna wrote:

If you're looking for another engine and plan on keeping and driving this car much, I'd pursue the pre 72 (71 models will work) 199/232. There were 258s made in 71, but not that many -- they are hard to come by being one year only. There are a few issues, but they can be dealt with.

The 196 is a great engine -- if kept maintained. The problem is so many haven't done that -- mostly just from ignorance. So finding a good one is tough. You're right about rebuilding cost -- $1500-$2000 depending on where you are (local machining costs) and how carefully you shop around. At least you have a known good head, which is the most likely thing to be bad on a used engine.
  with all the things going on 1500 to 2000 is low. Think 3000 to 3500.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mtrosclair Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan/08/2023 at 10:25pm
Originally posted by purple72Gremlin purple72Gremlin wrote:

Originally posted by farna farna wrote:

If you're looking for another engine and plan on keeping and driving this car much, I'd pursue the pre 72 (71 models will work) 199/232. There were 258s made in 71, but not that many -- they are hard to come by being one year only. There are a few issues, but they can be dealt with.

The 196 is a great engine -- if kept maintained. The problem is so many haven't done that -- mostly just from ignorance. So finding a good one is tough. You're right about rebuilding cost -- $1500-$2000 depending on where you are (local machining costs) and how carefully you shop around. At least you have a known good head, which is the most likely thing to be bad on a used engine.
  with all the things going on 1500 to 2000 is low. Think 3000 to 3500.

Yeah, that’s what I’m concerned about as much as I love this thing I don’t want to spend 3500 bucks to get it running again.
1963 Rambler Classic 550
Originally a 196, this one has a 199 from a 69 American.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote farna Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan/09/2023 at 6:57am
There isn't a lot of modification to put a 199/232 in a 63 Classic, luckily. Don't even have to move the radiator. I think I did move mine forward slightly, but all I really did was slide it down in front of the radiator supports instead of behind them, giving maybe 1/2" more space. I put a 4.0L in mine with short sections of 2"x4" rectangular tubing between the 196 crossmember and later model 258 engine plates and mounts. That's easy to do, but a 232 crossmember shouldn't be too hard to locate for a 64-66 Classic. 64 Ambo and 65-66 Marlin works also, but not 65-66 Ambo -- those were stretched and engine mount perches are different. But you can "roll your own" easy enough. The 196 radiator works fine. I needed a little extra room for running an electric fan.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mtrosclair Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan/12/2023 at 4:06pm
Originally posted by farna farna wrote:

There isn't a lot of modification to put a 199/232 in a 63 Classic, luckily. Don't even have to move the radiator. I think I did move mine forward slightly, but all I really did was slide it down in front of the radiator supports instead of behind them, giving maybe 1/2" more space. I put a 4.0L in mine with short sections of 2"x4" rectangular tubing between the 196 crossmember and later model 258 engine plates and mounts. That's easy to do, but a 232 crossmember shouldn't be too hard to locate for a 64-66 Classic. 64 Ambo and 65-66 Marlin works also, but not 65-66 Ambo -- those were stretched and engine mount perches are different. But you can "roll your own" easy enough. The 196 radiator works fine. I needed a little extra room for running an electric fan.

At this point I'm beginning my search, I don't know that I want to deal with getting the block machined and building a bottom end.  I can do it but I'd rather just get a complete engine that runs and throw it in there. 
1963 Rambler Classic 550
Originally a 196, this one has a 199 from a 69 American.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trader Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan/12/2023 at 5:07pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote purple72Gremlin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan/12/2023 at 8:30pm
Originally posted by mtrosclair mtrosclair wrote:

Originally posted by farna farna wrote:

There isn't a lot of modification to put a 199/232 in a 63 Classic, luckily. Don't even have to move the radiator. I think I did move mine forward slightly, but all I really did was slide it down in front of the radiator supports instead of behind them, giving maybe 1/2" more space. I put a 4.0L in mine with short sections of 2"x4" rectangular tubing between the 196 crossmember and later model 258 engine plates and mounts. That's easy to do, but a 232 crossmember shouldn't be too hard to locate for a 64-66 Classic. 64 Ambo and 65-66 Marlin works also, but not 65-66 Ambo -- those were stretched and engine mount perches are different. But you can "roll your own" easy enough. The 196 radiator works fine. I needed a little extra room for running an electric fan.

At this point I'm beginning my search, I don't know that I want to deal with getting the block machined and building a bottom end.  I can do it but I'd rather just get a complete engine that runs and throw it in there. 
  you might be able to find a 199/232 with low miles from a Rambler owner who is swapping to a V8. (Im talking 66 to 69 Americans)  alot of these engines get sold for scrap. 
I know a guy who has a 58 American. And he swapped in a 59 OHV 196. He had to do changes, and the 59 engine smokes. But it still runs.
I think it will be difficult to find a running 196.
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