Hot Rods 1963 rambler american question?

Hello, I am the proud owner of a 63 rambler american, it has the og running gear, 6 cyl and 3 speed, I was wondering if someone could answer a few question? I would like to put an automatic trans, and cant find much info about what will work or not, I have seen a few photos of similar cars with a two stick auto stick? not what im looking for, I also have found a few photos with a regular column shift auto that is kind of what im looking for? any swap info would be great, not really a purist and would just like something to cruse around town in with out a complete v8 swap? Thanks for your time. JEFF

 

A two stick auto would have likely been a Lenco Rambler never used such a thing.

I would imagine that the stock auto would be hard to find for that 6 but if you do it will probably be the Rambler equivalent to the power glide.

that motor driven like it should be with the 3 speed will last about forever. You will probably find tat about any auto you put in it will tax the old flatty a tone, if the 3 speed was good I would just run it, you may have to put new bushings in the shift mechanism but that's not nearly as much work as converting to an automatic.

A thing to think about maybe would be converting to a later American motors 6, I had one out of a gremlin once that was a pretty good motor in the old heap I stuffed it in.

 

That would be the Twin Stick 3 speed manual with overdrive. The left lever was the 3 speed, the right lever was controlled the overdrive.

 

and the automatic transmission would likely be the Borg Warner T35 3 speed automatic.

Does your car have a closed "torque tube" driveline? if so, it will make the swap even more fun.

 

Thanks for the quick reply's, Ya i dont want the twin type trans, and the car has a regular drive line. JEFF

 

My aunt Lila had two a 3 speed and an auto, the auto was a 2 speed. She sold the auto and kept the 3 speed. Both were wagons and maybe wagons were different.

I have yet to see a '63 rambler American with any kind of a floor shift factory. Doesn't mean that they didn't make one I have just never seen one.

 

good advertising propaganda, but not many were sold to little old ladies, is my guess.

 

Google rambler american 1963 auto trans, the twin stick is in the floor, the regular auto is a column shift, nice and clean?

 

or look at the photo above? LOL

 

Ok now I have seen one.

It must have been the V8 car I would guess?

 

I dont think the early americans had v8?

 

Nope, the American was only available with a six in 63.

 

I figured out the photos, lol there she is, in all her Rambglory

 

Lots of great info on the AMC Forum, and AMCRC. Both dedicated to the AMC Rambler enthusiast.

 

someone stole the springs out of that car!

 

I will look into the amc fourms, thanks ,,, and yes the front springs are in the trunk(for now) LOL

 

Correct just looked it up they didn't get a V8 until '66. For some reason in my mind the American was the big car not the little car.

 

****** I think you thinking of a Rambler Amb***ador

 

Never saw a 2 stick but I like it! I owned a '63 Rambler Cl***ic,,,it was a 3 on the tree. Had a '64 Rambler american but forget what transmission it had attached to the flat 6

 

Oldoval give the 3 speed a chance. You probably can drive a manual trans if you have old VWs, if not take a driving lesson. They are very easy to drive and do not require much shifting, once you get going in 3d you are set for the day unless you come to a stop. Only quite steep hills and slow speeds require second, you never need to shift down to 1st unless you stop.

Back in the day those cars were a favorite of old ladies and grannies. They drove them for years with no trouble.

There are a couple of reasons for saying this (1) the only auto that will fit, is the Borg Warner auto that they used with that engine from the mid fifties up to 1965. Good luck finding one, then you will probably need to rebuild it and get all the different parts to put it in the car. Steering column, gearshift, trans mount, radiator with oil cooler, possibly a drive shaft etc.

Your best shot would be to strip everything from a junked 63 Rambler, once again good luck finding one. All this work and expense, it would be SO much easier just to keep it as is.

The other thing is, the 6 cyl engine was only about 80HP and did not exactly have performance to burn even with a manual trans. The auto was even slower. So from a performance standpoint, keep it a manual

If you have some physical deformity or psychic brain fart that makes it impossible to drive a standard, you would be far better off to sell the car and buy one that has an automatic.

 

I'm not an idiot, of course I can drive a stick, my physical deformity is I'm 6'5 no tilt makes my knees up where shift is supposed to happen, I was hoping for an easy swap to cure the problem, if not I will deal, or crush the gem? Thanks for your input.

 

see how difficult it would be to move the seat back a few inches...might just take drilling some holes.

 

I had no respect for the amc products with auto trans 'till the '03 HAMB drags. Ok, so there we were, me and Hollywood Tuck in our ramblers...me in my 63 with flatmotor and a stick and Tuck in his 65 with OHV 6 banger with an automatic. I had a sneaky Pete nitrous setup on my 63 "just in case".
We busted off the line and due to Tuck never raced a car on the strip, I blew his doors off.
Next race: We came off together and after 2nd gear all I saw were tailights! And every race after that, he beat my ***.
signed: Wish I'd had an OHV engine and automatic.
PS.....nitrous with no additional gasoline doesn't work well in 105 degree heat...jus sayin.

 

Sorry but my current build is an O/T '83 AMC Spirit with a 400SBC and T56 Tremec. I searched the 'Net and found lots of places that sell parts for the AMC cars. A lot of NOS parts and there really is a few performance pieces available. Believe it or not but AMC would sell any powertrain combo the buyer wanted. Think Gremlin with a 401 V8 and four speed.

 

Wonder if converting to a floor shifter of some sort would make life any easier?

 

Floor shift would be great, any have any standard trans swap ideas? And the race photos above are very cool, thanks guys for your input.

 

Was wondering if 63 was last of the flat head? Just wondering cause my 63 is ohv? maybe 1/2 year or both options avail?

 

there were a few different sixes available in the early-mid 60s, looks like the flathead was available through 65? and the OHV was also available those years.

here's the 63 brochure, showing a few different sixes....the American got the smaller engines, the Cl***ic got bigger engines.

 

I had a 1960 Rambler Super, with the 199 and 3 speed and OD, actually went pretty good, the cars arn't as heavy because of the unibody. If you put a V8 in also put in subframe connectors.

 

Great car. I would love to have that as a stick shift for a good daily driver.