1965 Rambler American

Ok, being my new daily driver is a '65 Rambler American 330 4dr, I know that I'm going to need a few spare parts in the car, just in case it breaks down. I know I need a set of points/ a condensor ( 2 new sets came w/ the car ), a couple spark plugs and maby some starter fluid.. all in a box in the trunk.. is there anything else I should keep in the car, besides a basic set of tools? also, how do I tell bendix brakes from Wagner brakes? '64-'66 the American used both brake types, I know they look diffrent from eachother but I don't know what ither of them look like

Maybe a cell phone and a Triple AAA card.... That old of a car is going to have some driveability and reliability issues.....

if its the old 6 popper those things run forever bring the norm's liek you metnions but iw ouldnt sweat it. bring extra hoses and belts though. :D

I do have AAA and a cell phone. I know it will have it's quirks and stuff.. The mechanic in town is an AMC guy so if I get stuck and don't know what to do w/ somthing he can bail me out most likely... he has 2 AMC Concords, a summer driver and a winter beater, and a '63 Studebaker Larke, and hasn't really owned anything other than AMC's

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Originally Posted by gassersrule_196

if its the old 6 popper those things run forever bring the norm's liek you metnions but iw ouldnt sweat it. bring extra hoses and belts though. :D

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yeah, it's got the 196.5 6cyl.. I think it's the 8.7:1 compression 120 HP version. it has the automatic trans.

Also.. I have a new never used aftermarket tape deck radio, the kind that goes in from behind and is held in by the 2 knobs. the rambler radio appears to not use that method for attachment unlike anything else from that era I have seen... w/o cutting would this fit? the AM radio turns on but does not recive anything

extra hoses.. naw. Just put new hoses on it and you are good. An extra belt and fuel pump would be good idea.

those things run forever:D what are your plans with it? a stout 343-390? or turbo 6 popper? :D

Thanks for the diagrams..

now if I can only figure out the carb problems. it's got an old Carter RBS w/ a side mounted fuel bowl. car don't go any faster than 10 MPH now and it floods itself out over time at idle. revvs up fine but has no power

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Originally Posted by DennyW

Recheck timing, and make sure the float level isn't to high, or the needle is not leaking fuel through. :) Is the carb real dirty looking ?

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I was thinking of checking the timing, just too late to do it tonight.. needle crossed my mind, a rebuild kit came w/ the car in the milk crate full of spare parts in the back seat.. the carb does look very dirty on the inside

do you have a blowup of that old RBS by any chance.. the fuel bowl on the side has got me baffled..

thank you... there are letters and numbers on it on the drivers side but I can't remember what they are. I know it says Carter RBS

thanks, that should help w/ the rebuild

Make sure you go to www.kanter.com and get a print catalog. They got lots of stuff for old cars. Can't say they're heavy on AMC but take a look.

The lady that I got the car from keeps finding the parts she has for it and dropping them off to me.. today she brought a valve cover gasket, the original owners manual and an an original accessory booklet.

the carb kit that came w/ the car is an old Standard motor products " Jiffy " kit and unlike any carb kit I'v seen, it has specific dissassembly and reassembly instructions using corrisponding part letters on the blowup schematic.. should make it easy.

You'll have fun with it. People will be asking you what it is all the time.

Those old "Jiffy" kits are about as complete as they come. Rebuilt many a carb with one.

My Grandma had an old rambler forever! She finally brought it to it's demise one foggy night, when she hit two cars that had already got into an accident in the fog. Thank god no one was hurt. She was 88 then. We were releaved afterward, because we wanted her to stop driving, but she was stubborn as hell! About 6 months later, one of my numbskull cousins bought her a nova with a 350 under the hood. Half the family was ready to linch my cousin. About 3 months after that, she ran the Nova into a railroad crossing post. After that we took the keys away, and made sure the cousins who lived next to her, took her where ever she needed to go. That Rambler had the original 6 cylinder, and Grandma was a lead foot. She used to pass trucks doing 80mph, screaming " Damb truck drivers!":D
She lived to 94, only wonder what happened to the old Rambler!**)

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Originally Posted by stovens

My Grandma had an old rambler forever! She finally brought it to it's demise one foggy night, when she hit two cars that had already got into an accident in the fog. Thank god no one was hurt. She was 88 then. We were releaved afterward, because we wanted her to stop driving, but she was stubborn as hell! About 6 months later, one of my numbskull cousins bought her a nova with a 350 under the hood. Half the family was ready to linch my cousin. About 3 months after that, she ran the Nova into a railroad crossing post. After that we took the keys away, and made sure the cousins who lived next to her, took her where ever she needed to go. That Rambler had the original 6 cylinder, and Grandma was a lead foot. She used to pass trucks doing 80mph, screaming " Damb truck drivers!":D
She lived to 94, only wonder what happened to the old Rambler!**)

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She must have heard or played "Beep Beep" too much in her earlier days. :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

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Originally Posted by Twitch

You'll have fun with it. People will be asking you what it is all the time.

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When I first saw it for sale, I didn't know what it was, actually turned around and went back to look cause I thought it was a Polara ( headlights look very simmilar ), but it turned out to be a decent old Rambler American :)

The fact that the accelerator is cable operated supprises me, Chevy and Ford were still linkage operated at that time.. were Ramblers better cars? the trans kick down is also cable operated.. the cable is broke right now, just means I won't be passing anyone until I get it fixed.

Well I got a lot done on it today. put some new brake lines on, new brake hose on the rear, bled the brakes, but it has a weird pedal, it will pump up and hold good, but will not stay pumped. I think the brakes are out of adjustment, if it needs a M/C, I have a new 1 I can put in. whoever redid the exhaust was an idiot and I fixed that.. they used a Ford type muffler, that has the bracket that attaches to the rubber strap, which is ok except it was installed backwards.. the muffler was rusted out at the rear big time ( pipe end was gone ) so whail it was jacked up, I changed it, but to save money I used my home made muffler I built for the Falcon which is like a thrush magnum glasspack w/o the fiberglass. I might have to change it, cause it don't muffle much at all.. it really rumbles tho. I have a Thrush turbo I could replace it with.. going to order a new carb float and put the kit in it, tinkering w/ it the way it is, is just a waste of time