I guess I'm the new guy

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   Hello All!   A while back, my 15 year old son suggested that we buy a classic car and have a father/son project. I believe he thought we would get a muscle car with plenty of horses, which would be his when he gets his license in a year, but I love my son a lot, so we ended up with a 1964 Rambler American 330 with just under 80000 miles. The gas and temperature gauges don't work, so that will need to be addressed pretty fast. It was leaking antifreeze around the thermostat, so we replaced the gasket, but now I am looking and it seems to be leaking from around the head gasket. I have seen several posts here about re-torquing the head bolts every 2 to 3 years/12000 miles, and was wondering if that might be the problem...? I already ordered a head gasket, and I am thinking I might change it anyway, and I was wondering if there is anything else I should do while I am in this process. I grew up working on cars, back when you could actually work on them, and while I would much rather go fishing, I am fairly comfortable doing this job.
   Also, the blinkers work, but the you have to hold the left one down, and they don't go off when you make the turn and straighten the wheel, and someone suggested it might be the turn signal cam....? If I wanted to replace that, how do I get the chrome horn assembly off so I can access the nut that holds the steering wheel on? All I know for sure is that I DO NOT want to break it...LOL
   Any and all help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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Kennedy9154 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Apr/07/2017 Location: Cleveland Ohio Status: Offline Points: 48	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kennedy9154 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: I guess I'm the new guy Posted: May/04/2017 at 10:50am
	Hello All! A while back, my 15 year old son suggested that we buy a classic car and have a father/son project. I believe he thought we would get a muscle car with plenty of horses, which would be his when he gets his license in a year, but I love my son a lot, so we ended up with a 1964 Rambler American 330 with just under 80000 miles. The gas and temperature gauges don't work, so that will need to be addressed pretty fast. It was leaking antifreeze around the thermostat, so we replaced the gasket, but now I am looking and it seems to be leaking from around the head gasket. I have seen several posts here about re-torquing the head bolts every 2 to 3 years/12000 miles, and was wondering if that might be the problem...? I already ordered a head gasket, and I am thinking I might change it anyway, and I was wondering if there is anything else I should do while I am in this process. I grew up working on cars, back when you could actually work on them, and while I would much rather go fishing, I am fairly comfortable doing this job. Also, the blinkers work, but the you have to hold the left one down, and they don't go off when you make the turn and straighten the wheel, and someone suggested it might be the turn signal cam....? If I wanted to replace that, how do I get the chrome horn assembly off so I can access the nut that holds the steering wheel on? All I know for sure is that I DO NOT want to break it...LOL Any and all help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

purple72Gremlin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Charter Member Joined: Jul/01/2007 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 16611	Post Options Post Reply Quote purple72Gremlin Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: May/04/2017 at 11:00am
	1964... will have the 196. have the head checked for cracks. do you have a 1964 TSM? (Technical Service Manual) >> worth every penny<< if both gauges dont work, I would assume the voltage regulator for the gauges doesnt work...........not sure on the horn button.....

Kennedy9154 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Apr/07/2017 Location: Cleveland Ohio Status: Offline Points: 48	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kennedy9154 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May/04/2017 at 11:07am
	Sorry, yes it is the 196. No I do not have that manual, but I think you're right. I will see if I can find one. I will look into the voltage regulator suggestion. Thanks for your help! I know a little about cars, but not much at all about the intricacies of the AMC Rambler.

rocklandrambler Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Feb/09/2013 Location: Nanuet, NY Status: Offline Points: 3953	Post Options Post Reply Quote rocklandrambler Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: May/04/2017 at 2:13pm
	To remove the horn button/ring just push it in and turn counter-clockwise 1/4 turn. HINT: disconnect the battery first so you don't disturb the neighborhood.
	Past AMC's 1974 Hornet X (new) 1975 Gremlin X (new) 1964 Classic 660 Cross Country 1965 American 440-H

graewolf Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Feb/25/2012 Location: Richmond Va. Status: Offline Points: 135	Post Options Post Reply Quote graewolf Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May/04/2017 at 2:20pm
	Horn button- push STRAIGHT in on button & turn C.C. Voltage reg- there are posts on changing to an electronic VR for the dash gauges. I've done a couple but I printed it out 'cause memory 'aint good. simple search will bring it up..... Perk
	Americans, 65 Convertible, 64-65 Wagons, 64 220 2Dr, 66 2Dr Hardtop..... They follow me home!!!

mixed up Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jun/16/2015 Location: Monroe mich Status: Offline Points: 2177	Post Options Post Reply Quote mixed up Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: May/04/2017 at 11:48pm
	welcome to the world of amc my 65 220 was my first car at 16 still have it very fun car to drive ride is very smooth loved it now its a hot rod v8 you and our son could enjoy the car as is and start the quest of getting all the parts to go v8 nice project good luck once you learn these car the very easy to work on but these fine people on here will give you any advice on repairs
	69 amx 290 auto 65 220 290 4spd 80 ford fairmont

Kennedy9154 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Apr/07/2017 Location: Cleveland Ohio Status: Offline Points: 48	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kennedy9154 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May/05/2017 at 4:12am
	Thanks for all the input! We are excited about having it, and we love driving it! Its in great shape except for a bit of rust behind each rear wheel. I dont know much at all about body work, so I will probably get a pro to do that part.

one bad rambler Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/09/2008 Location: On The Island Status: Offline Points: 2007	Post Options Post Reply Quote one bad rambler Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: May/06/2017 at 7:59pm
	64 is my favorite American year....Enjoy it!!!!!
	68 AMX 390 4 Speed,68 American,64 American 2 Door Wagon Altered Wheelbase,78 Concord Build 360,727,8.8

farna Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 19676	Post Options Post Reply Quote farna Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: May/08/2017 at 8:53am
	The 196 OHV is bad about cracking heads. This happens because the head bolts work loose over time -- retorque every 2-3 years/10-12K miles. The TSM says check torque at 4K, retorque at 8K, IIRC, but newer head gasket material seems to last longer... or the AMC engineers were just being conservative. If you change the gasket I'd send the head to a shop to be checked for trueness and cracks. If they find a few hairline cracks don't worry much about it -- you can still run it like that, just keep a close watch on engine temp and don't overheat it again. I ran one three years like that, but didn't know it had cracks in the head -- just a "traveling" skip that I assumed was a worn distributor and/or carb... but not bad enough to worry about replacing. On a hard run (moving... pulling a trailer, cross country, through a blizzard in the Rocky mountains...) the head finally had enough, and had more cracks than I've ever seen in one when it was pulled. I had it checked for trueness and it needed 0.020" cut off to level it up, but didn't check for cracks when I first got it. Never ran it hot again, not that I can recall anyway (got it in 84, head incident was in 87!!). Replaced the head after that and drove the car until 1999. When you get another head gasket it will say "no retorque" and "no sealant" required. That means you don't run it a few hundred miles then retorque as you would have with a pre mid 60s or so head gasket. The 196 has narrow sealing surfaces on the right side (distributor side) and needs sealant. Most use a spray on copper or aluminum based sealanat -- a couple light coats -- or you can use the old "Indian Head" shellac -- just brush a light coat on both sides. It may still seep some oil on that side, but not enough to hurt anything. TomJ has lots of good 196 info on his site, and has the voltage regulator (temp/fuel gauge) fix. http://worldpowersystems.com/AMC/index.html 196 stuff is first, scroll down to the "How To" section to find the instrument voltage regulator.
	Frank Swygert

vinny Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jan/05/2012 Location: Calgary Status: Offline Points: 2837	Post Options Post Reply Quote vinny Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May/08/2017 at 9:38am
	If the horn ring with the three nylon tabs is the same as on the Classic a Mustang retainer will fit. I looked for days on the Internet before finding reference to the Ford part. Picked it up in town here at the Mustang shop for under $3. About the signal cam I don't think I had to replace that yet. Any head gaskets I ever used on the 196 needed a second torquing. After about a week of driving I could get another half turn on the bolts (60 ft lbs). I have used Bars leak on a lot of vehicles over the years with good results. Every year I needed a jar of it in my Astro van due to coolant leaking into the back left cylinder. One day the hub came off the water pump and the fan went through the rad. I was surprised it was so clean and not clogged up. I got another ten years and 250,000 more kilometers out of that engine. Bars leak sure does make the overflow tank look all yucky though. Further to that I used something on another engine (not the 196) that said something to the effect that if this doesn't seal it nothing will. That one did clog the radiator but also fixed any leaks, wherever they were. If the head still leaks after a gasket change and you can't find another I would try the sealant. You might get a lot more years use out of it.