Say hi to Traveller! A '65 Rambler American

[Bruce Griffis]

When I was a kid, we used to have Ramblers. '58 Rambler sedan, '60 Rambler American wagon, '63 Rambler classic wagon, '70 AMC Rebel wagon, and a Rambler American and an AMC Gremlin for a very short time.

I checked out Craigslist and saw a one-owner '65 Rambler American 4 door sedan for sale. I went over to check it out - and now it's in the garage. The original owner said it needed tires, battery and the brakes pulled hard to the right (a wheel cylinder). Engine rebuilt 6,000 miles ago.

Well - it hasn't been regularly driven for 11 years, and hadn't been moved in 4 years. All 4 brakes need work - pedal goes to the floor. Engine is stuck solid. Here's hoping we can get it running. And stopping. And maybe turning and stuff like that.

I still like it though. No power steering. No power brakes. A three-on-the-tree manual transmission. No radio. No AC. Can't wait to get it running.

Pics are here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bruce.griffis/65RamblerAmerican

Notes are here:
http://myrambler.blogspot.com/

[Joel Merrill]

It sounds like a fun project. I wish I lived close enough to help you. Are you mechanical enough to work on it your self or are your going to have to hire a lot of it done?

My dream project is to find a restorable 59 Chevy. I don't really have the money so I haven't been looking very hard.

Joel

[Bruce Griffis]

I'm learning as I go. I picked up a Technical Service Manual and found an e-mail list of folks that work on AMC cars. I was able to get a rusted stuck Chevy 350 running (luckily it was simply parked - no engine damage, just a little rust sticking the rings to the cylinders). Hoping the same holds true for the Rambler. It was rebuilt, run, then parked when the owners husband died.

My son and I freed up the stuck 350, replaced the rusted gas tank, new fuel lines, fan belt, spark plugs, distributor, battery, shifter and tires on his car (abandoned and parked under a tree for 11 years). A friend rebuilt the Carter carb for us. I'm hoping the Rambler will be a little simpler. So this is our second project car.

I might have to pay for help on tricky stuff. Hoping not. So far I'm thinking brakes (I ordered brake shoes, wheel cylinders, spring kits, parking brake cable and master cylinder - need to resurface the drums), free up the engine, rebuild the carb (maybe) and clean and seal the gas tank are the major items. If the engine needs to be rebuilt, I'll need to take it in - fingers are crossed.

Keep looking for that '59 Chevy!!!! I saw 2 on the Atlanta Craigslist in November. A really nice looking BelAir 4 door sedan and a 2 door Biscayne parts car. They weren't pricy at all. I'd think a '59 Impala with a 348 would be a lot more expensive - but a BelAir or Biscayne with a 6 or a 283 V8 and Powerglide might not be too expensive.

I gave serious thought to picking up the '59 BelAir with the 283, but I don't think it would fit in my garage! The Rambler's not much bigger than my Corolla, and fits in nicely.

[Gina Stevenson]

My dream project is to find a restorable 59 Chevy. I don't really have the money so I haven't been looking very hard.

Joel

Oh, that's one of the best years re Chevy ... at least the Impala ... that neatly swept "V" all across the back (recall, too, that in 60 it was split a bit, with a flat piece in the middle of the "V", sort of like "\_/"---best we can do on the keyboard ;), and then straight across for '61).

Yup, '59's the best Impala. Did like my '69 Camaro, tho', with a big spoiler I painted myself (in a then-friend's body shop long, long ago; no idea where they are now--don't even recall the name, it was that long ago) . ;)

[Wilson L. Deaton]

When I was a kid, we used to have Ramblers. '58 Rambler sedan, '60 Rambler American wagon, '63 Rambler classic wagon, '70 AMC Rebel wagon, and a Rambler American and an AMC Gremlin for a very short time.


Nash Motors was based right here in Kenosha, WI!!!

Wilson

[Jim Franklin]

My second car was a '63 Rambler Classic that had been loaned to NNC for their field representative, Rev. Marvin Sporleder. When it was time to return it to the auto agency after 6 months of use he recommended it to me in the Spring of 1963 after my bride and I had both signed contracts to teach in Moses Lake, WA. I remember that the payments were $66/mon. In August of 1965 I traded it in for a 1965 Dodge Coronet slant 6.

[Joel Merrill]

I'm learning as I go. I picked up a Technical Service Manual and found an e-mail list of folks that work on AMC cars. I was able to get a rusted stuck Chevy 350 running (luckily it was simply parked - no engine damage, just a little rust sticking the rings to the cylinders). Hoping the same holds true for the Rambler. It was rebuilt, run, then parked when the owners husband died.

My son and I freed up the stuck 350, replaced the rusted gas tank, new fuel lines, fan belt, spark plugs, distributor, battery, shifter and tires on his car (abandoned and parked under a tree for 11 years). A friend rebuilt the Carter carb for us. I'm hoping the Rambler will be a little simpler. So this is our second project car.

I might have to pay for help on tricky stuff. Hoping not. So far I'm thinking brakes (I ordered brake shoes, wheel cylinders, spring kits, parking brake cable and master cylinder - need to resurface the drums), free up the engine, rebuild the carb (maybe) and clean and seal the gas tank are the major items. If the engine needs to be rebuilt, I'll need to take it in - fingers are crossed.

Keep looking for that '59 Chevy!!!! I saw 2 on the Atlanta Craigslist in November. A really nice looking BelAir 4 door sedan and a 2 door Biscayne parts car. They weren't pricy at all. I'd think a '59 Impala with a 348 would be a lot more expensive - but a BelAir or Biscayne with a 6 or a 283 V8 and Powerglide might not be too expensive.

I gave serious thought to picking up the '59 BelAir with the 283, but I don't think it would fit in my garage! The Rambler's not much bigger than my Corolla, and fits in nicely.

My first car was a plain old 4 door Biscayne with a 235 six cylinder and a powerglide. I would be happy just to get another six. They were very reliable and easy to work on. The 348 engines looked really cool. The 409 was basically a 348.

I'm a mechanic but all I work on nowadays are fork trucks, but I got started working to 50s' and 60's cars.

Take the spark plugs out and pour a cup of WD40 in each cylinder and let it soak a few days. Leave the spark plugs out and put a socket and breaker bar on the bolt on the front of the crank shaft. If the car has been parked in doors, it shouldn't be stuck too bad. Once you get it unstuck, turn it over by hand to clear the WD40 out. If you crank it with the starter, it will spray the WD40 all over the garage. The car will probably smoke and use oil for a while but unless it is real bad, I would drive it about 500 miles to see how bad it is before I tore it down.

You are wise to buy wheel cylinders rather that kits. Wheel cylinders are usually always pitted beyond repair. I would replace the brake lines too while you are at it and the hoses. Brake lines are cheap and old hoses have a bad habit of blowing out when you need them the most. Many people will tell you to use DOT 5 brake fluid for old cars like that. It costs around $9.00 a pint. From what I have been reading about brake fluid lately, I wouldn't recommend that anymore. Just stick with the DOT 3 and change it every 10 years or so.

It should have a very easy carb to rebuild. I've done hundreds of carbs. However, sometimes after they have been sitting a long time, they are too far gone to rebuild. I have had horrible luck buying rebuilt carbs. If you have to buy one, don't waste a lot of time trying to get it to work. If it leaks or floods or won't idle, take it right back. In fact, I would keep your old carb even if it isn't any good. The core charge isn't that much. You might get desperate enough where you need to make one good one out of two or you might get one with a different linkage set up. I've been there and done that.

Joel

[Billie Goodson]

Oh, that's one of the best years re Chevy ... at least the Impala ... that neatly swept "V" all across the back (recall, too, that in 60 it was split a bit, with a flat piece in the middle of the "V", sort of like "\_/"---best we can do on the keyboard ;), and then straight across for '61).

Yup, '59's the best Impala. Did like my '69 Camaro, tho', with a big spoiler I painted myself (in a then-friend's body shop long, long ago; no idea where they are now--don't even recall the name, it was that long ago) . ;)

Umm...we need to alert management that someone has stolen Gina's log in.... Gina, this is going to sound sexist no matter how I say it, but, I had to check twice to see that it was your name..then even went to your profile because I have never met a guy named Gina. Based on the preponderance of evidence, I am going to say that you have shattered a perception. Then again, only a woman would try to show what the "V" looked like.

Nice car Bruce -- great bonding time for you guys -- or is it bondo?

[Billie Goodson]

Take the spark plugs out and pour a cup of WD40 in each cylinder and let it soak a few days. Leave the spark plugs out and put a socket and breaker bar on the bolt on the front of the crank shaft. If the car has been parked in doors, it shouldn't be stuck too bad. Once you get it unstuck, turn it over by hand to clear the WD40 out. If you crank it with the starter, it will spray the WD40 all over the garage. The car will probably smoke and use oil for a while but unless it is real bad, I would drive it about 500 miles to see how bad it is before I tore it down.



Ever use that Marvel Mystery Oil?

Would PB Blaster be good for that? I have seen it work miracles on bolts/nuts.

[Joel Merrill]

Ever use that Marvel Mystery Oil?

Would PB Blaster be good for that? I have seen it work miracles on bolts/nuts.
WD40 is absolutely the best penetrating oil but there are many others that will work. You could use plain old kerosene. I think that is all Liquid Wrench is.

Marvel Mystery oil has been around for many many years but I don't think I have ever used it. Isn't it an oil additive? Penetrating oil needs to be very thin to penetrate. The actual lubricating qualities aren't that important. WD40 really isn't a very good lubricant but it is a good penetrating oil. The WD stands for "Water Displacement". It was invented to displace water. It works great for wet distributor caps. After it was invented they found out it is good for other things too. I know a mechanic that used it for starter fluid. You can remove tar from the side of your car with it. It's amazing stuff. I primarily use it as a penetrating oil.

Joel

[Joel Merrill]

By the way, I know people who will free up a stuck engine by putting the car in gear, then getting it rolling, and popping the clutch. Sometimes it works but it is pretty risky. You can break things that way. I would give the penetrating oil all the time it needs and try to free it that way. If you can't get a wrench on the front of the crank, you could put the car in gear and just try rocking it back and forth. I would be surprised if your car was stuck very bad.

Joel

[Lee Branum]

Ramblers were good cars. Many people had them and they were good on gas. They had a great seven main bearing six that Jeep used for years.

I enjoy my '60 Buick being the Buick nut that I am. Joel is a great one to have around for mechanical advice. I simply enjoy posting about great old cars!

LeeB

[Billie Goodson]

I used to be a big fan of WD-40 -- until an old guy in our church that worked on everything turned me onto PB Blaster. I could not get a nut off of a motor mount. Half a can of WD-40 and my impact wrench were not making a difference. Couple of sprays of PB Blaster, one tap with a hammer and I turned the nut with minimal effort. That convinced me! A shop I took my cars to in florida swore by it for exhaust system work. It is a penetrating catalyst -- whatever that means. I also know you should not get it on plastic. I still use WD-40 for those little jobs and spray lubricant, but, when a wrench doesn't turn, I go look for my little white can! (It also contains a low amount of silicone, so, if you have to paint a surface after you spray it, it does not have as much silicone in the product -- paint does not adhere to silicone).

[Gina Stevenson]

"Sexist alert! Sexist alert!" :laughing


Umm...we need to alert management that someone has stolen Gina's log in.... Gina, this is going to sound sexist no matter how I say it, but, I had to check twice to see that it was your name..then even went to your profile because I have never met a guy named Gina.

Oh, Billie! If you think this is good, ask me about when I took my carburetor apart piece by piece [drew my own Chilton's so I'd be able to put it back together], changed my oil [only once ... old, messy oil in the hair is not good! Could not get leverage to turn the oil pan plug far away, so kept getting closer, and then ....]; or how about changing a belt or two (actually, several; then learned one of the wheels had a nick in it that began eating into the belts rather quicky) ... or a few thermostats, or ... or replaced spark plugs (gapping them in an older one where they don't come preset ... long, long ago ... keep thinking of things ;)) ............

Don't do anything anymore! Newer cars are so much different, that the last time I did anything to one of them was the belt/thermostat-type thing on my '86 Laser. [OOPS! had to come back, b/c I forgot about buying one of those contraptions that you hook up to your A/C and a freon can & adding some of that.]

Based on the preponderance of evidence, I am going to say that you have shattered a perception.You're not too disappointed, having to readjust your sexist perception are you, Billie? :basic05 [yeah, I'm still the 'feminine musician' you read about in my profile, too; not one of those "masculine-type gals ;)]

Then again, only a woman would try to show what the "V" looked like.I dunno ... there's a mechanic on here that's also an artist ... were he talking about something, he just might try to explain it by drawing it ... maybe? [hey, Joel! do you do things like that, or keep your vehicle work & artwork separate?]

[Joel Merrill]

I used to be a big fan of WD-40 -- until an old guy in our church that worked on everything turned me onto PB Blaster. I could not get a nut off of a motor mount. Half a can of WD-40 and my impact wrench were not making a difference. Couple of sprays of PB Blaster, one tap with a hammer and I turned the nut with minimal effort. That convinced me! A shop I took my cars to in florida swore by it for exhaust system work. It is a penetrating catalyst -- whatever that means. I also know you should not get it on plastic. I still use WD-40 for those little jobs and spray lubricant, but, when a wrench doesn't turn, I go look for my little white can! (It also contains a low amount of silicone, so, if you have to paint a surface after you spray it, it does not have as much silicone in the product -- paint does not adhere to silicone).

BP Blaster must be a regional thing. I've never heard of it. I'll keep an eye out for it. The most important thing I've found with WD40 is to give it time to work. Tapping with a hammer helps.

Joel

[Billie Goodson]

BP Blaster must be a regional thing. I've never heard of it. I'll keep an eye out for it. The most important thing I've found with WD40 is to give it time to work. Tapping with a hammer helps.

Joel

I don't think it would only work down here Joel -- I don't see how location would matter. :basic02

See the product picture here (http://www.pbblaster.com/store/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=1)

I had never heard of it either until about 2 years ago. They carry it at AutoZone and Advanced Auto (at least in Alabama and Florida I have seen it). Their site says Lowes and Home Depot also carry it. If I was Bruce, I would be investing in a few cans to save some time!

[Cindi Hammons]

I found this image in our old slides. This was taken in 1968. The car on the right is a Chevy Corvair and the car on the left is a Rambler (I think). This was back when Dad's garage was still brand spanking new...which is why the photo was taken I'm sure.

I'm on the left and my brother Tim is on the right. I'm not sure why I'm playing in dress shoes nor why my brother's pants come halfway up his legs! Ha!

[Bruce Griffis]

Thanks everyone for the notes. I'm learning the joys of older cars in a newer age - by purchasing parts from NAPA, coming home, seeing the don't fit - and going back with the original and some part numbers. Did it for the brake shoes. Need to do it for the wheel cylinders and hoses. But, but - it's fun! I enjoyed scrubbing the grease and dirt off the old backing plate on one side, cleaning out the inside with brake cleaner, and trying to match up parts. Kind of like a great big Lego!!!!

I've been trying the crankshaft pulley with a strap wrench a few times a day, and the crankshaft bolt with a socket wrench. Don't want to pull too hard, don't want to strip threads.

Anyway - the plan is to use penetrating oil in the cylinders. Top it off every now and then. Try to move it manually whenever I pass it - and work on brakes and gas tank and all that fun stuff while the penetrating oil does it's trick.

I'm using Marvel Mystery Oil (that's what I used on my son's Chevy 350 - it took a little over three weeks to work). I'm seriously thinking of draining it and trying WD40!

Joel - I was seriously thinking of checking this '59 Chevy out down in Alabama. I'm also interested in campers - and thought this would make an excellent tow car for a small Shasta or Scotty. Right now - when I go camping with my son we use a tent and drive my Corolla. I'm thinking the Rambler would be for tent camping as well. It's on the small side (not much bigger than my Corolla!).

Here's the Chevy I liked from a distance:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/533038087.html

[Joel Merrill]

I don't think it would only work down here Joel -- I don't see how location would matter. :basic02

See the product picture here (http://www.pbblaster.com/store/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=1)

I had never heard of it either until about 2 years ago. They carry it at AutoZone and Advanced Auto (at least in Alabama and Florida I have seen it). Their site says Lowes and Home Depot also carry it. If I was Bruce, I would be investing in a few cans to save some time!

We have those stores in Iowa but not where I live. I go to Lowes in Des Moines once in a while. I'll look for it.

Joel

[Billie Goodson]

As I guy, I don't think you have lived until you have resurrected one old beaten down, rusted out, home to wildlife, vehicle. Nothing like thinking "this is junk", then one day -- long afterwards, with busted knuckles healed and frustrations forgotten, rolling down the road, arm propped up on and the wind flowing though your hair listening to that 327/357/ or 454!! motor purr like a happy kitten! One of my happiest memories is me and Dad high fiving each other when a 350 turned over under the shed one day... We had scrapped, hunted for, and robbed other vehicles to make that motor work.

Bruce -- thanks for the trip down memory lane...

Of course, as I write this, I am asking a mechanic to take out '92 camry off life support. 270k miles and it needs timing belt and water pump and too many other things to worry with.... I have watched many sweat drops roll down my nose or off my forehead and onto the engine -- but, sometimes, you just have to know when to let it go.

[Bruce Griffis]

Yep!!!!

Billie - I've got a clip from when my middle son and I got his car running. He was at a friend's house and saw it sinking into the dirt, forlornly sitting under a tree. He talked with the owner - and it had been there for 11 years. Hadn't been started in a LONG time.

I didn't take a movie of the first start-up (there were HUGE clouds of smoke!!!!) - but I do have a clip from after a friend cleaned the carb and my son and I set the timing.

Clip is here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2184979894890059244&hl=en

The Rambler won't be as cool, but I sure hope to turn it into a driver.

[Joel Merrill]

As I guy, I don't think you have lived until you have resurrected one old beaten down, rusted out, home to wildlife, vehicle. Nothing like thinking "this is junk", then one day -- long afterwards, with busted knuckles healed and frustrations forgotten, rolling down the road, arm propped up on and the wind flowing though your hair listening to that 327/357/ or 454!! motor purr like a happy kitten! One of my happiest memories is me and Dad high fiving each other when a 350 turned over under the shed one day... We had scrapped, hunted for, and robbed other vehicles to make that motor work.

Bruce -- thanks for the trip down memory lane...

Of course, as I write this, I am asking a mechanic to take out '92 camry off life support. 270k miles and it needs timing belt and water pump and too many other things to worry with.... I have watched many sweat drops roll down my nose or off my forehead and onto the engine -- but, sometimes, you just have to know when to let it go.
Yep, I've brought a lot of junk cars back to life. Not so much because I enjoyed it as much as it was all I could afford at the time. But you're right, there comes a time when it is time to stop pouring money into them. Sometimes we find that out after we've poured too much money into them. I lost a ton of money on a 62 Falcon a year or two ago.

Joel

[Joel Merrill]

I dunno ... there's a mechanic on here that's also an artist ... were he talking about something, he just might try to explain it by drawing it ... maybe? [hey, Joel! do you do things like that, or keep your vehicle work & artwork separate?]
I do a lot of mechanical drawings, wiring diagrams and so on. When I overhauled my van, I took pictures of everything before I took it apart. I have a very good memory for putting things back together but after a few days, I like to have drawings or photos. I also label all of the electrical connectors and vacuum hoses. There are just too many anymore to trust it all to memory.

Joel

[Joel Merrill]

Joel - I was seriously thinking of checking this '59 Chevy out down in Alabama. I'm also interested in campers - and thought this would make an excellent tow car for a small Shasta or Scotty. Right now - when I go camping with my son we use a tent and drive my Corolla. I'm thinking the Rambler would be for tent camping as well. It's on the small side (not much bigger than my Corolla!).

Here's the Chevy I liked from a distance:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/533038087.html

Wow!!! I'm drooling. My 59 was that same color of green. It was called "jade green." Mine had a white top like a lot of cars did back then. I should have kept it. It still ran great but I was 19 years old and thought I needed a V8. A guy offered me more than I paid for it so I sold it to him. He just wanted the engine and he parked the rest of the car back in the pasture. I know where it is at but it has been almost 35 years since I sold it. It's just a home for bees and field mice now.

Here in the upper midwest, rust is a car's worst enemy. You just don't see old cars like that unless they are from somewhere else. I have done a good bit of body work trying to fix up old rust buckets. It's very hard if not impossible to stop them from rusting once they start. It also costs way to much to paint them anymore. You are lucky to live in the south where you can still find cars like that with solid bodies.

Joel

[Joel Merrill]

I don't think it would only work down here Joel -- I don't see how location would matter. :basic02

See the product picture here (http://www.pbblaster.com/store/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=1)

I had never heard of it either until about 2 years ago. They carry it at AutoZone and Advanced Auto (at least in Alabama and Florida I have seen it). Their site says Lowes and Home Depot also carry it. If I was Bruce, I would be investing in a few cans to save some time!
I found some BP Blaster at Walmart. There are so many gimmicks out that don't do what they say that I am always a little skeptical, but I'll give thsi stuff a try.

Joel

[Billie Goodson]

I found some BP Blaster at Walmart. There are so many gimmicks out that don't do what they say that I am always a little skeptical, but I'll give thsi stuff a try.

Joel

Joel, I admit, my reaction was very similar to yours. Too many claims of miracle sprays and ointments. I trust you will find this is not a false claim. If your experience does not prove to be similar to mine, I would be truly surprised. Please let me know -- I don't like to make poor recommendations and will be very interested to see if your experience mirrors mine -- I am confident it will.

[Billie Goodson]

Ok -- I found a replacement for the Camry --

Say hello to my new toy -- A 1986 Toyota Cressida with barely over 79,000 miles. Garage kept, and really in tremendous shape. I am now the caretaker for this little jewel!

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n73/kilaz_greygon/cressida1.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n73/kilaz_greygon/cressida4.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n73/kilaz_greygon/cressida6.jpg

[Joel Merrill]

Joel, I admit, my reaction was very similar to yours. Too many claims of miracle sprays and ointments. I trust you will find this is not a false claim. If your experience does not prove to be similar to mine, I would be truly surprised. Please let me know -- I don't like to make poor recommendations and will be very interested to see if your experience mirrors mine -- I am confident it will.

I trust you. You are a real person. Those people in commercials are just actors reading a script. There are good chemicals on the market too. WD40 was new once and had to earn people's trust. Besides, I'm not out much if it doesn't work.

Joel

[Dennis M. Scott]

Hey, Joel. This thread is a little out of my line, but it is fantastic to see you posting again. I missed you! What are you using to color your beard and hair? It seems whiter than it used to be.

[Joel Merrill]

Hey, Joel. This thread is a little out of my line, but it is fantastic to see you posting again. I missed you! What are you using to color your beard and hair? It seems whiter than it used to be.
LOL, Well, all my life I have needed a hair cut. My hair was always in my face and it was hot. When I was a teenager in the late 60's and early 70's, I wouldn't have been caught dead in a butch, but styles change and I can change. Last summer was just too hot so I butched my hair. It was a lot of fun because my own family had never seen me like that. I got compliments too about how clean I looked. :cool: Waitresses started offering me the senior menu and people much older than me were asking me when I was going to retire. My family told me that my haircut made me look whiter and it apparently makes me look older, (I'm 53) but I don't care. It is much more comfortable and less trouble. My beard started turning white while I was still in my 30's. It's the short hair that is the difference. My wife didn't like it at first but she is used to it now.

Joel

[Gina Stevenson]

Hey, Joel. This thread is a little out of my line, but it is fantastic to see you posting again. I missed you! What are you using to color your beard and hair? It seems whiter than it used to be.

Not Joel, but I just couldn't resist jumping in here and calling it,

"grandfatherly mystique." HA! :basic05

[Joel Merrill]

Not Joel, but I just couldn't resist jumping in here and calling it,

"grandfatherly mystique." HA! :basic05



Thanks a lot

Joel

[Gina Stevenson]

Thanks a lot

Joel

But, Joel! I didn't ask, Dennis did, and I only answered. :eek:

Figured this sort of thing happens when grandpa spends more & more time with Ethan rather than on coloring his hair! :basic05

[Joel Merrill]

How's that engine coming, Bruce? Have you got it unstuck yet? I hope there is not more wrong with it than what they told you. Was it professionally rebuilt or a do-it-yourself rebuild?

It wouldn't be much of a job to pull the head off and get a better look at the cylinders. You could also get the penetrating oil in easier. Those old Ramblers break pistons pretty easy so be careful if you have to rock the car with it in gear. It would be nice if you could get the pan off but you just about have to pull the engine to do that.

Once you get it unstuck, here is an easy way to check for broken rings, if you have the head off. Stick a fine feeler gauge between the pistons and the cylinders walls. It should only go down about a 1/4 of an inch. If it goes in farther, that ring is broken. If it is rusted real bad, you are going to have to tear it down anyway.

When you put a head on, the instructions say to put the head gasket on dry. Get some Permatex Copper Coat and coat the head gasket with that anyway and you'll never have any problems with it leaking. We do that on all of our lift trucks and we never have any head gasket problems anymore.

Joel

[Bruce Griffis]

The engine is still stuck solid. I pulled it home the Saturday after Christmas, and started putting penetrating oil in that night. So it's been a while. I'm noticing that the oil seems to seep past the rings in 5 of the cylinders (or at least I am not seeing oil at the spark plug hole). On one of the cylinders, nothing is getting past the rings. I put penetrating oil in, and it does not go down.

I think I will have to take the head off and have a look-see. I've tried turning it with a strap wrench on the crankshaft pulley. No movement at all. I tried using a socket wrench on the crankshaft bolt with no movement. I tried rocking it while in gear, and nothing. My middle son and I put it in 3rd and pushed it (by hand, not using a car to push) - the car moved, but I had put a mark on the crankshaft pulley and there was no movement there (clutch must be slipping).

So - I'll let the penetrating oil work a little longer while I spend some more time on the brakes (got the rear brakes done, need to do the front, the master cylinder, the hoses and the parking brake cable). If it is still stuck solid, I'll pull the head at that point. I think I should anyway, just to make sure there's nothing else going on in the engine.

[Joel Merrill]

The engine is still stuck solid. I pulled it home the Saturday after Christmas, and started putting penetrating oil in that night. So it's been a while. I'm noticing that the oil seems to seep past the rings in 5 of the cylinders (or at least I am not seeing oil at the spark plug hole). On one of the cylinders, nothing is getting past the rings. I put penetrating oil in, and it does not go down.

I think I will have to take the head off and have a look-see. I've tried turning it with a strap wrench on the crankshaft pulley. No movement at all. I tried using a socket wrench on the crankshaft bolt with no movement. I tried rocking it while in gear, and nothing. My middle son and I put it in 3rd and pushed it (by hand, not using a car to push) - the car moved, but I had put a mark on the crankshaft pulley and there was no movement there (clutch must be slipping). So - I'll let the penetrating oil work a little longer while I spend some more time on the brakes (got the rear brakes done, need to do the front, the master cylinder, the hoses and the parking brake cable). If it is still stuck solid, I'll pull the head at that point. I think I should anyway, just to make sure there's nothing else going on in the engine.

Lots of times it is just one cylinder. Usually the one with the intake valve open, unless it's a tractor, then usually it's the exhaust.

If you buy new rings, don't waste your money on chrome rings, just get the case iron rings. The chrome rings take a long time to break in and sometimes they never do. You probably aren't going to put a lot of miles on this car so there is no need for them. Any good repair manual will show you how to gap the rings and do other things you need to know. You should hone the cylinders a little, even though it doesn't have a lot of miles in the overhaul. Of course you will have to hone the rusted cylinder a lot. Once again, follow the manual. You need cross hatching, don't hold the hone in one spot.

Then wash the cylinders out good with soap and water. Solvent won't get all of the grit out. Then spray some WD40 on a rag and wipe out the cylinder to see if it is clean enough. Clean them until you can wipe them out with that WD40 soaked rag and have the rag come out clean.

Joel

[Bruce Griffis]

It's no longer stuck!!! Someone had recommended Kroil, so I added some and let it sit. Not saying that's what freed it up (started with Marvel Mystery Oil, then put PB Blaster in, the put Kroil in).

I checked the stuck cylinder (#5) again this morning, and I could still see penetrating oil in the spark plug hole. I then put the car in 3rd gear (it's a manual transmission car) and gently rocked it back and forth for a good while during lunch break. I went back in the house to get back to work - then rocked it again a few hours later. This time I noticed that the car was moving further and further while I was rocking it. I popped the hood open - and saw that the crankshaft pulley was turning! WooHoo!

My son and I pushed it in and out of the garage a bunch of times (by hand, not with a car) - while it was in gear and with all sparkplugs out. We've got movement for the whole compression cycle.

We're a step further in getting it going! I better drain the gas tank quick and replace the master cylinder and pack the bearings (and change the oil and the coolant and ...) - I'm getting the itch to try starting it! I don't want to start it until I know I can stop it, and until I know the fuel (and tank) is clean.

(If I wanted to cheat - could I simply pour a little bit of fuel in the carb? I'm weighing trying that versus being patient.)

[Joel Merrill]

It's no longer stuck!!! Someone had recommended Kroil, so I added some and let it sit. Not saying that's what freed it up (started with Marvel Mystery Oil, then put PB Blaster in, the put Kroil in).

I checked the stuck cylinder (#5) again this morning, and I could still see penetrating oil in the spark plug hole. I then put the car in 3rd gear (it's a manual transmission car) and gently rocked it back and forth for a good while during lunch break. I went back in the house to get back to work - then rocked it again a few hours later. This time I noticed that the car was moving further and further while I was rocking it. I popped the hood open - and saw that the crankshaft pulley was turning! WooHoo!

My son and I pushed it in and out of the garage a bunch of times (by hand, not with a car) - while it was in gear and with all sparkplugs out. We've got movement for the whole compression cycle.

We're a step further in getting it going! I better drain the gas tank quick and replace the master cylinder and pack the bearings (and change the oil and the coolant and ...) - I'm getting the itch to try starting it! I don't want to start it until I know I can stop it, and until I know the fuel (and tank) is clean.

(If I wanted to cheat - could I simply pour a little bit of fuel in the carb? I'm weighing trying that versus being patient.)

Kroil is very good. We use that at work. I didn't know if you could get it so I didn't suggest it. I've been thinking. Since it has been parked indoors, it shouldn't have been that stuck. It may have a leaky head gasket. That can be difficult to detect, depending on how bad it is. You may want to go ahead and pull the head off anyway. If you use that Permatex Copper Coat, you will never have head gasket problems again.

If you pour a little bit of fuel in the carb, do not do it while you are cranking the engine. If it back fires while you are pouring gas in it, it will blow up in your face. Check and see if you have spark first. After that long, it might need points and condenser. You should be able to rebuild that carburetor if you are careful to follow the directions on the kit. Be careful turning the carb over once you have the top off. Many times there are little steel balls that will fall out and get lost. I would put an inline fuel filter on it if it doesn't already have one. I prefer the kind where you cut out a small section of the steel fuel line and attach the filter with a fitting. The fuel filters with the short rubber hoses are okay but the hoses don't seem to last.

I won't be on Naznet anymore. I wouldn't see this except for my email notification. You can still email if you like. Otherwise, there are other mechanical people on Naznet.

Joel :fav09

[Billie Goodson]

I won't be on Naznet anymore. I wouldn't see this except for my email notification. You can still email if you like. Otherwise, there are other mechanical people on Naznet.

Joel :fav09

Joel? Would you care to share more on that?

[Billie Goodson]

... rocked it back and forth for a good while during lunch break. I went back in the house to get back to work - then rocked it again a few hours later. This time I noticed that the car was moving further and further while I was rocking it. I popped the hood open - and saw that the crankshaft pulley was turning! WooHoo!

My son and I pushed it in and out of the garage a bunch of times (by hand, not with a car) - while it was in gear and with all sparkplugs out. We've got movement for the whole compression cycle.



So Bruce, a little rock to get a roll?

[Gina Stevenson]

I won't be on Naznet anymore. I wouldn't see this except for my email notification. You can still email if you like. Otherwise, there are other mechanical people on Naznet.

Joel :fav09

Aww ... looks like two good guys are needing a break ... first Walt posted he'd be taking a break, and now you're "gone" ... at least for now. We'll watch for you to return.

Joel? Would you care to share more on that?

Not Joel, but wondering if it had to do with a book review reply.