I have a very nice 1963 Rambler 990 cross country 6 cylinder wagon with a bad t96 3 speed trans. I need a new trans (impossible to find so far) or tips on how to swap in an automatic. The wagon has a torque tube which presents the problem. I would appreciate any help so I can get the wagon on the road. Mike 847-809-0008
I had one of those (trans) - couldn't GIVE it away. Big help - I know!!! Anyways I think the auto is somewhat easier to find. I have the Flash-o-matic in my convertible - I bought a spare at the swapmeet for DIRT - I've already had to scavenge a few parts off it. There's a "Rambler Guy" here on the Hamb - hopefully he'll see this post - he's a book of information !!!!! His name escapes me at the moment - drats!! But If I don't see him post - I'll try to dig it up - he's helped me before - maybe I can find an old email from him. Cool car - ESPECIALLY in wagon form - ya just ain't gonna find many of those anymore - much less a bunch of guys confident enough to drive one - kudos!
Thanks Hemi, Will the auto trans bolt in? My son is 16 and I would love for him to have an auto. Arnold from Minn. called and says he has a 3 speed available. I might hold out until someone tells me an auto will bolt in. Thanks all.
My buddy has a 63 rambler 660 4 door sitting on his farm.I beleive it has the 3 on the tree standard in it.I am heading ou there today and will check on it.
If you can't locate a Rambler automatic (and I hope you do), you could always contact Pat at Wilcap to see about an adapter to use one of the "Big Three" automatics in your car: http://www.wilcap.com/webdoc2.htm Good Luck, those are really cool looking wagons, really different.
I don't know how much help it would be but I have an "E-Stick" (I think that's what they called it) 3 speed from a '59 (if i recall right) that you are welcome to have for the hauling. I bought an engine/trans combo and all I need is the engine. The trans is complete including wiring harness(es). We'd just have to unbolt it from the motor, which is out of the car Do some research since I can't say for sure if this will help you. PM if you're interested.
there's a "Rambler Guy" here on the Hamb - hopefully he'll see this post - he's a book of information !!!!! His name escapes me at the moment - drats!! Contact FRANK SWYGART at amc-list.com, very helpful guy, the man is an expert on Ramblers and helped me with a ton of stuff on my 60 wagon.
You guys have been great, I have found out that going automatic is not going to work. Crankshaft won't mate to 6 cylinder. I have a couple options yet. I will keep all posted and post a pic soon. My 16 y.o., Jake, is already got this thing planned out.
ok here is an option but not an easy one. I put a set of 68 mustang rear torque boxes in my buddies 65 rambler ambasseder to get rid of the torque tube rear. then we put a set of leafsprings and posi rearend from an amx. Hes running an amc 360 but we bought an adapter to put a gm overdrive behind it. we took it to the mnca atlanta drags and I won the 15 sec true street class with it. check it out on the nmca website. It was alot of work but got rid of the torque tube that hindered his options. he is a die hard amc guy, having a Rebel Machine that has been on American Muscle, a 10.5 sec AMX that has been in countless mags, and the daily driver rambler we built. i can put you in contact with him and he will send you in the right direction. pm me for his number if interested.
I'm getting a '60 Rambler American with the I6/3spd that runs. I plan to er.....ah...... modify the car, so the drivetrain will be up for grabs, if it's the same as yours.
There is one on craigslist as we speak in the seattle area.Guy claims it is rebuilt and has listed it several times before and wants $300 obo and hasnt had any takers. Use studebaker as a key word and it should come up.
Too little too late, I had a rebuilt automatic that I couldnt give away, The scrapmetal guy finally took it.We pulled it and installed a 350/350 combo in my wifes 63'. Thats what i get for trying not to be a "hoarder". Heres a pic of hers.
hey, just a thought, how about dumping the whole torque tube rear and using some stuff off a late model camaro/firebird( or just fabbing some of the torque link idea)? then maybe a 5 speed? just throwing out ideas.....
[SIZE=-1]www.blaserauto.com tons of parts they bought out the remaining stock from amc when they went under and have a 10,000 sq ft wherehouse of rambler parts they have most everything n.o.s they got rambler parts no one else has but they know that and charge up the ass for some of it [/SIZE]
hey man I have a six cyl whith three speed that Iremoved for larger eng its out of 60 rambler two door but if trans will help you can have you ship
OK........ so my head is spinniung here. Can anyone tell me if an automatic AND a 6 cylinder (or V8) will bolt in to my torque tube driveshaft. Now thinking of changing motor and trans.
If anyone cares, I believe the site that Johnny posted is dry now. Frank's new site is: http://www.amcyclopedia.org/ I have the 196/auto/torque tube in my 63 sedan. Should match the same as your wagon. the biggest issue to me is the performance restrictions of the 196. IF you change away from this, the rear will need to be replaced. If your lucky enuff to find a 287/327, it should mate with the tube system. these motors up to 65 I think in the classics, ambos, and marlins...
The T-96 was used in ALL Ramblers with 195.6 sixes -- L-head or OHV. It was used up to about 71 or 72 in Gremlins and Hornets with the 199. Any of them will bolt right in. Stude and Ford used the T-96 (early Falcons and Mustangs w/six). Those versions should bolt in as well, but I don't know about the output shaft length. You really need a Rambler model trans so you can simply put your tailshaft housing on. All the Rambler models use the same output shaft, so even an American open drive trans will work on yours (just change housing to use the torque tube). Switching to an open drive does leave you open for other engine/trans combos, but is a bit of work. Not much for anyone who can fab a little though. A G-body "truck arm" suspension is easy to mod to fit (Hot Rods to Hell "Centerdrive" kit for G-body GMs). You have an E-stick? Manual transmission, but no clutch pedal?? Drop me an e-mail if you need help with it! It uses engine oil pressure to activate the "backwards" clutch. The slave cylinder doesn't disengage the clutch, it engages it! The faster you go, the more oil pressure, so the more pressure on the clutch. I know it sounds funny, but auto trannys work in basically the same way. As long as the engine has good oil pressure the E-stick will work okay, but the clutch doesn't last as long as a normal one would because it slips a bit on take-off and such. As long as there is good oil pressure you won't be going through clutches like crazy though! Those old engines would hold 40 psi or so hot at cruising speed, it ain't no Chevy! You'll need to hold around 30 psi hot for the clutch to work good.
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