I’m buying a car (1960 Rambler cross country with the 6cyl, automatic transmission, and under 70,000 original miles.) and it’s in overall very good shape for a VERY good price, but the differential whines some when you decelerate. No other times. I’m guessing that’s a failing pinion bearing. (Correct me if I’m wrong.) How can I make this differential last as long as possible? Or should I just pass on the car lol? It’s in really good cosmetic shape and in otherwise very good mechanical shape for a very good deal. What do you think Scotty? Thank you for any help you can give me.
The guy says he changed the fluid a couple days ago and it’s a bit quieter now than it was before.
Never believe what a seller tells you! As @imperator says, best to get it taken care of sooner rather than later.
From your description it sounds like the model is a "Rambler Six" (which became the "Rambler Classic" the following year). Be aware that there's a lot of technology in those cars that was ancient even by 1960 standards. The 195.6 six-cylinder engine is a 1950s OHV conversion of a 1941 flathead. You've got torque-tube drive, trunnion front suspension, vacuum windshield wipers, and the ancient Flash-O-Matic (Borg-Warner) automatic transmission to deal with, none of which at least 99.9% of today's mechanics have ever experienced.
For example, did you know that the factory called for regularly retorquing the cylinder head bolts and adjusting the valves at what today would be considered ridiculously short intervals?
https://theamcforum.com/forum/195-6-ohv-maintenance-important_topic48011.html
I'm not trying to dissuade you, these can be really fun cars to play around with, but you should go in with eyes open. If you buy the car I would highly recommend getting a shop manual (repros are available) and joining a club such as AMCRC.com for support.
I actually did know about the head bolt torquing schedule lol, doesn’t seem too complicated just a chore to add to the list lol.
A lot of people didn't even know about that back in the day, especially when the cars got into the hands of used car buyers. I used to have a '64 Classic Cross Country with that engine and replaced the head gasket shortly after purchase since the previous owner(s) had not adhered to the retorquing schedule.
I've read that regimen can be eliminated by replacing the stock head bolts with ARP studs and making mods to the cooling system to lessen thermal shock to the cylinder head.
https://www.ramblerlore.com/AMC/195.6ohv/HEAD/index.html
https://www.ramblerlore.com/AMC/195.6ohv/COOLING/index.html
Changing the gear oil might help a little, who knows how long it's been in there but chances are the diff needs to be rebuilt. (I've owned quite a few Ramblers over the years and still have a few.) If you're going to get involved with cars of this age inevitably there will be mechanical work needed unless someone else already took care of it all.
You might want to ask about it here:
https://theamcforum.com/forum/forums.html
The guy says he changed the fluid a couple days ago and it’s a bit quieter now than it was before.
I would get it serviced while it's still just a whining bearing. The longer you let it go, the more expensive the repairs become.
In the old days, they put sawdust to the oil in the diffs having these problems.
(I do not suggest you to do this too, rebuilding will be the way to go; easy, as you are saving MUCH money with that cheap price).
