car talk

In another post on this community, partially just trying to generate a conversation, i asked about adaptable coil-on-plug modules. A couple folks were helpful, but it's still thin on the ground here, that's cool, it's all new, etc. Here it is: https://lemmy.world/post/1263808 (not much).

But I'm serious about designing and building a new ignition system for this ancient, forgotten engine that I'm kinda expert on by now (that expertise plus five bucks buys me coffee at starbucks). I've got two cars with this engine now, it's just barely tenable to drive now, parts are extremely scarce (eg. timing chain setups).

Anyway this engine, the Rambler 195.6 cubic inch inline 6, has roots back to the 1940's, AMC slapped a shitty OHV head on the old flathead engine, introduced a number of reliability problems, then solved those just as they introduced the brand new design engine, the 199/232/258.

It's got a once-conventional distributor, contact points and coil ignition. There's a Pertronix in there now. It works fine, but I hate them -- the distributor has to crank two rotations before it fires the coil, so the engine cranks for over a second each time, instead of firing right up on the first contact-point opening. I WANT THAT BACK.

So I'm gonna make new electronic guts for the distrib, drive some form of coil-on-plug, and do software spark control in the computer I've got already running the electronic carburetor.

ITT is chat about research, photos, etc. I'll make a web page for the project like I usually do. My Rambler Lore website is https://www.ramblerlore.com/index.html

Here's the page on this engine: https://www.ramblerlore.com/AMC/195.6ohv/index.html

I'm gonna convert an ancient engine from a distributor to coil-on-plug. I've done wasted-spark conversions but this time C.O.P. is the way to go.

The engine is a Rambler (AMC) 195.6 OHV, inline 6, 4500 rpm max, 3.2 liter/125 hp. Want to use available OEM modules, not expensive aftermarket.

Most COP modules are tall and skinny, for overhead cam engines. Mine's pushrod, so the plugs poke out the side.

What I need is short stubby modules. Anyone have any suggestions?

For the last 10 years or so angry faces on cars has been the thing. It's so fkn tedious and boring. It seems like maybe fading out a bit.

There's so little variation on car style now. Interiors are all the same, nicer materials if you spend more, but the wild stuff of the past is gone, now even a Panamera is world market grey.

What gives with styling these days?

Like the title says, tell the community which car you've had that was the one you loved most. I'll kick it off.

I'm on my sixth. I have driven a:

• 1981 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 4MT
• 2000 Honda Prelude Base 4AT
• 2016 Honda HR-V EX CVT
• 2019 GMC Acadia SLT-1 AWD 6AT
• 2019 Honda Accord Sport 1.5T CVT
• 2012 Honda Civic LX 5AT

Some of these cars are cars I've owned but we're daily driven by my wife. But they were my car too. So I drove them quite a bit. The two cars we have now are the Civic and Accord. Both are FANTASTIC cars. The Civic is my daily, and the Accord is hers. I love my Civic. It ain't quick, but the engine is right for the size of the car. I'd have loved my HR-V a lot more if they used the 2.4 from the Accord in it. That car with 180-something horsepower would have been one million times better to drive.

The old Yota was way more fun than it should have ever been. It topped out at 82 miles an hour downhill with a tailwind. Not that you'd ever want to go that fast in it because it could get a little dicey over 45, really. Nothing drives like an old Toyota 4x4. I loved that truck.

But my favorite in the list was my old Prelude. That was the car I drove in high school and college and a few years after. It was 16 years old and had 197,000 miles on it when I traded it in for the HR-V. My parents owned the car and they didn't feel comfortable with me driving it anymore. I was heartbroken to have to let it go. I was absolutely in love with that car. But looking at it objectively, it was having work done all the time. The drivetrain was fine. It was the rest of the car that was falling apart.

Absolutely legendary car. I still miss that stupid thing 8 years later.

The Civic has been in my wife's family since it was new. And it fills that itch for something small and light left behind by my Lude. I've been the daily driver of that car since 2019. I love it. My wife was driving it when we met and we kind of traded cars. I love that Civic. All of my favorite cars are paid off lmao

Anyway, if you've driven multiple cars, which one(s) have you loved the most?

As alot of us are new here and wanting to drum up content. Post you current ride.