<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0407</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-06-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000006176</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMPCO PITTSBURGH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001498290</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DiSanto Frederick D.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6060 PARKLAND</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44124</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-06-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.94</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>36860</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-06-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.94</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38860</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>491517</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>42774</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>484535</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>49705</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares represent open market purchases and the amendment of the total beneficially owned share amount.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares owned directly by Ancora Catalyst Institutional, LP. Mr. DiSanto, solely by virtue of his position as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ancora Holdings Group, LLC (&quot;Ancora Holdings&quot;), the sole member of Ancora Alternatives, LLC (&quot;Ancora Alternatives&quot;), the General Partner of Ancora Catalyst Institutional, LP, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares owned directly by Ancora Catalyst Institutional, LP, for purposes of Section 16. Mr. DiSanto expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares owned directly by Ancora Catalyst, LP. Mr. DiSanto, solely by virtue of his position as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ancora Holdings, the sole member of Ancora Alternatives, the General Partner of Ancora Catalyst, LP, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares owned directly by Ancora Catalyst, LP, for purposes of Section 16. Mr. DiSanto expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares owned directly by Ancora Merlin Institutional, LP. Mr. DiSanto, solely by virtue of his position as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ancora Holdings, the sole member of Ancora Alternatives, the General Partner of Ancora Merlin Institutional, LP, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares owned directly by Ancora Merlin Institutional, LP, for purposes of Section 16. Mr. DiSanto expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Shares owned directly by Ancora Merlin, LP. Mr. DiSanto, solely by virtue of his position as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ancora Holdings, the sole member of Ancora Alternatives, the General Partner of Ancora Merlin, LP, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares owned directly by Ancora Merlin, LP, for purposes ofSection16. Mr. DiSanto expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Fredrick DiSanto</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-06-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
