AMC Pacer Front End ? Anyone using it?

[FamilyBowTie]

I found a local person selling a AMC Pacer front end and was wondering if anyone has had experience with this front end?

Comes with
http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com...2-ton-pick-up/

[_Ogre]

you can't get the parts anymore
try finding a steering rack... not
stick with mustII

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

you can't get the parts anymore
try finding a steering rack... not..

This would be my concern too.

[paintman]

run for the hills on the Pacer front end. Impossible to get parts! Plus they weigh about 2-3 times more then say a MII front end. Trust me I know this.
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Ready to go off to the scrap yard............
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[FamilyBowTie]

Thank's for the input. Will stay away from the AMC.

[mr48chev]

The best thing about them is you can get one out from under a Pacer just by unbolting it and maybe taking one upper A frame off to clear the frame. Having done that when I was thinking about putting one under my truck about 25 years ago that is probably the main really good thing about them.

They are a bit wide for a lot of applications, parts have never been really easy to get even when they were new and a lot of guys have said they don't hold alignment well over the years. I aligned the front end on maybe two of them in all the time I did front end work and actually bought the front end I bought because they were easy to align with the bolts on the lower control arms like a lot of Mustangs had. My thinking was that I wouldn't have to fight my way into the upper control arms to adjust caster and camber. About that time I started reading (after I got the front end) that guys were having issues with them staying in alignment and already the parts were a bit hard to get (late 80's).

[Katrina/10]

The Pacers were very popular once upon a time. A friend of mine also put a Volare under his truck, and it's still there.

[OrrieG]

I agree staying with a more current setup with available parts is the way to go. Sure is nice to have a part go bad in say, Payson AZ and be able to walk into a parts store and buy what you need (done that) rather than have to wait for two days for a part to come from Salt Lake to Manti (done that too).

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

The Pacers were very popular once upon a time. A friend of mine also put a Volare under his truck, and it's still there.

I've noticed in Classic Trucks magazine that many of the Ford trucks they feature still have the Chrysler suspension. It was a good swap in it's day but there's too many better options available now. Not knocking the suspension, I've had five Mopars with them and never had any problems.

[Katrina/10]

Yep, it is in a 56 Ford.

[lv2tri2]

I ask a local rod shop for an opinion on workable front ends for a 49, 20+ years ago. He had used both pacer and Volare fronts. He prefered Volare for a couple of reasons. Stronger assembly and larger brakes. I put a mid 70s Volare in mine. It was not too difficult, even for a first timer.

[Tsunami]

Installed a Pacer front end in my 54 about 20 years ago and I've had absolutely no problems. I have a Mustang II rack and changed out the drums for disk. Drives very well and zero issues with alignment. My truck is a driver. It's been to Key West FL, Mississippi coast an few times, New York, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and quite a lot of other places for vacation and/or car shows. Chassis Engineering, at one time, made a kit to install these in early Chevy pickup's.

[57kansastruck]

I have a pacer suspension under my 57 3100. I only used it because it was already there and welded in very solid.

It works great, but the power steering rack was bad. I removed it and took it to NAPA. They sent it to a rack rebuilder and assured me they would call with an estimate of what it would take to fix it. Instead they totally rebuilt it to new specs and only called when it was ready to pick up at the local auto parts store. $471! I was shocked. But I went ahead and picked it up. I wanted power steering pretty bad as I really wanted an easy driving pickup. It steers amazing and is as easy to steer as a modern car.

My only complaint going forward is that the front of the truck rides very low. I wish I could raise it about 2 inches. But unless I can figure out a way, (air ride possibly?) its going to stay where it is. Since I'm ignorant to air rides it probably will.

As others have said, unless you have no other alternative, I would pass on it.


Jason

Good luck.

[Daze57]

57 kansastruck
what about spacers in the coil springs - do you think that would raise it a couple of inches?

[57kansastruck]

I don't know. Never had any experience there. ill google it. Thanks

[_Ogre]

@tsunami... tell us how you adapted the mustII rack to your pacer

[Tsunami]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

@tsunami... tell us how you adapted the mustII rack to your pacer

It's been awhile, but give me a short time to recall what I did. I know I used the cross member out of a 1976 Pacer. More to follow.

[Tsunami]

Update: Went through all of my receipts from the build of my 54, way back in 1993. Could not locate the receipt, but did have the phone number for Indy Rack and Axel (317 - 546 - 1140). I purchased my rack from them. I called them this morning and they told me that they could rebuilt my 76 Pacer rack for about $289.00. Also in this thread, I remember someone stating the the front end was to low. I did find my receipt for the new coil spring. I purchased them from Coil Springs Specialties located in St. Mary Kansas. I ordered the new coil 1-1/2 coil shorter that stock. Don't know if they are still in business. When I installed the cross member on top of the Chassis Engineering kit, I found that the front of the truck sat to high, so we cut the tac welds and let the frame rails slide down between the brackets and this gave me the overall ride height I liked. Hope this helps.