Replacing AMC 304 with AMC 360 in 78 Pacer

Ask cadipacer...he did this years ago.

Boycot the "Unfortunate History of AMC Pacer" video on YouTube because AM Pacer was rather a smash hit success for AMC (the title of the video is new misinformation) eg: AM nearly made and sold as many Pacers in it's first year as the total Javelin production number from '68 to '74! (but Javelin is considered to be 'successful'/not 'unfortunate') Moreover, where Pacer was AMC's last all new car ever made, it is important to note AMC sold more Jeeps than cars in '77 so it would have been stupid (irresponsible to AM stockholders) not to transform the corporate image into Jeep Eagle instead. (nine more years Jeep would release very successful XJ Cherokee and AM General would release the very successful '85 Humvee)

Even if we ignore Pacer's very impressive first year production numbers (by AMC's standards anyway) Porsche even admitted copying Pacer's styling for their 928! ...nothing unfortunate there either.

IMO, the GM wankel engine was always a publicity stunt for Pacer and never was anything more; AMC used 'the gossip factor' wisely! and GM wrote off all the US Fed funded $ from their wankel R&D project cost off their taxes! (how's that for 'pork barrel politics'?)

The AM Pacer is related to AM's '66 AMX Project IV cars by reason of making practical what non-symmetrical '71-'74 Javelin styling made use of -compared and contrasted to '66 Cavalier all symmetrical styling exercise. -where Javelin's non-symmetrical inner door panels translated into a more practical/useful combination of unequal length doors instead (albeit with non-symmetrical interior panels like '71-'74 Javy all over again of course) -how to say it right...

AMCers must continuously stand up against the mainstream fallacies fabricated by creative writers posing themselves as 'real' automotive historians.
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Assuming the 360 is in good running condition, you will 'feel' a big difference from the 304.
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Always try to keep the original harmonic balancer and flexiplate that came with the engine from the factory -because they were 'final balanced' on a fully assembled engine ...and there was variation among rod weights due to 'fast build'/high speed assembly line construction methods.

-the harmonic balancers are most important; where the 'finish balance' holes were drilled... but they can be interchanged from 304 to 304 or 360 to 360 but this 'rolling the dice' because the different rotating weights amongst the engines could be closer or further away from the rotating weight inside your particular engine (AM TSMs tell it better than I do when discussing the service replacement harmonic balancers for these externally balanced engines) 

Yes it will fit with the flex plate on and its a fairly sturdy stand.The only issue I had was removing the crankshaft with flex plate and rear engine plate still attached. The engine stand bolts went through the rear engine plate and into the engine and i couldn't lift the crank out. It's an angled opening on the spacer plate and has to be removed (or rotated but I had bolts in it) so back on the hook to unbolt the engine stand. But yes it physically fits and if you're not removing your crank no worries.

Edited by steinercj5 - Feb/23/2018 at 1:41pm