The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Pacer IFS Question...or the topic I should let go of...

Just a quick question for those of you who have used the Pacer IFS-it seems to be a common complaint that there is a lack of replacement parts available. I went to a boneyard "out in the hills" today with my best friend, Colin, ostensibly looking for parts for one of his '76 Honda Civics (he has two). While we were there, I briefly looked at the front suspension under an AMC Pacer, and I noticed that the lower balljoints bolt in, quite similar in fashion to GM midsize car upper balljoints. The Pacer upper balljoints are rivetted in, also similar to GM midsize. Would it be possible to replace the Pacer lower balljoints with GM uppers? Would the upper balljoints be strong enough to use in the lower (or loaded) position? I've heard that GM midsize Malibu, Monte Carlo, etc. spindles would swap out for the Pacer ones...sounds like it may work. If it did, I could likely go back there and pick up the suspension cheap. Any input from you 'Bolters out there would be appreciated. Thanks In "Advance"

Wannabe

Don't believe everything you hear about lack of replacement parts for Pacers...

You may have to look a bit, but NOS
Pacer parts are out there. Auto Zone lists new lower ball joints, steering racks, shocks etc, Kanter has about everything else. Many Jeep/Eagle dealers still have a ton of AMC parts.

GM spindles - done by a friend but it ruined the truck, took about a square block to turn the thing and caused lots of bump steer. Don't do it.

Hey, sixpack-thanks for your response. Nice to hear something POSITIVE about these things ...The boneyard I was at yesterday not only just deals in old stuff, but they had 3 or 4 Pacers . The prices seem like they might be reasonable, too, if I can't find one cheap closer to home (the trip to the yard took 2 hours!) Looks like Kanter might be a good source-never thought of them in the first place, but shoulda, since they DO deal with scarce type stuff.

Thanks again, buddy.

Wannabe

Just to confirm, I checked with Kanter and they still stock complete front end kits for AMC Pacers, these include upper & lower ball joints, control arm bushings and tie rod ends. Price is $175 which is not bad if you price out all the individual parts. I also checked Auto Zone again and find that they still have replacement rotors, calipers and hoses available at decent prices.

Be careful swapping parts from different year/models of Pacer (or any AMC) - they used a lot of outsourced components from **** and Chrysler, and you can run into problems trying to mix and match spindles, bearings and brake parts from different years.

FYI my writeup on the Pacer swap can be found at
Pacer

Ahh.. NOW I know who you are, Jack! Nice to be talking to you in "virtual reality!" Your article (which I first read at Chevytrucks.org) was what got me going on this crazy idea in the first place! Looks to me like it might be a winner. By the way, any updates or further modifications since you wrote the article?

Wannabe

Not really - I test-fitted an 11" rotor and caliper from a Matador and it fit the spindle OK, but won't clear the back of the rim so I'll need to pop for new rims which aren't in the budget right now. My truck has been off the road for a couple years now, first due to a blown engine and then to an extended bout of "might as well disease" -

- nice new 302 deserves a good home, so...
- might as well patch up all these holes in the firewall
- might as well freshen up the interior
- might as well rewire it
- might as well throw a new bed on it

etc, etc...including a T5 tranny, new glass, everything re-chromed, new instruments.. well it's been in the body shop for several months now...way more time and $$ than I had planned on but it should be home soon. Guess I got a little carried away. I managed to get about 20K miles on the Pacer IFS before the motor puked, and will probably cut a coil out of the springs to drop the front a little more. The ride is pretty soft now so a little less spring should be tolerable.

I hope I won't be reluctant to hit the road in my "new" truck - it was always pretty much a beater (on the outside anyway) but a real joy to drive. I miss the road trips.

Jack, your article kinda kick started me to the rod side of life on my '51. I've completed the Pacer IFS, installed a small block Chev, TH400, 9" Fjord. I have been able to add my own twist to the cause, with my Toyota gauges. Just wanted to thank you for the insight on the Pacer IFS. I found the Pacer IFS to be dead even with the stock stance of the original I-beam axle. I'm not done yet but I'm very close.

Hey Fatfenders, I just had a thought on the ride height. Jack's article says the Pacer lowered his truck about 2". Yours has left it about stock height. I'm sure I read somewhere that the inline Chevy/GMC six cylinders weigh a fair bit more than a smallblock. This might be the contributing factor to your higher ride height. Why not try four cylinder Pacer springs? Might get it down a couple of inches, if you're so inclined.

Wannabe