AMC Pacer Buying Guide: Six, Exhaust and Automatic Checks

A Pacer is easy to keep running if it is complete and driveable, but a cracked exhaust manifold or a burnt-smelling automatic can erase the bargain. Check those two items before you fall for the wide glass and short wheelbase.

For this November 5, 2026 guide, I used the American-Motors.de Pacer engine guide and its transmission buyers guide. So, the mechanical checks below follow those pages; U.S. title steps are covered separately.

Know the common engines

The engine guide says most Pacers use the 4.2-liter 258 inline six, with a smaller 3.8-liter 232 also used, and that the 258 with a two-barrel carburetor is the better power-versus-economy choice. Mileages beyond 250,000 are described as realistic if the engine is not over-revved.

Expect rear crank seal seepage

The guide says AMC sixes commonly leak from the rear crank seal, which requires crank removal to replace properly. A light drip that the seller discloses is different from a pool of oil under a warm car. Ask when the seal was last addressed.

Treat a cracked exhaust manifold as real work

The page calls the exhaust manifold one of the Pacers evil parts, saying it tends to crack and that used replacements fail soon. If the engine is loud and you smell fumes inside with the ventilation on, do not accept a claim that it only needs a gasket.

Check warm idle and ignition

Stalling when warm is often the carburetor, according to the guide, and the ignition module is a wear item. A cheap tune-up kit does not fix a cracked manifold. Ask for recent carburetor and ignition work with receipts.

Drive the Torque Command automatic

The transmission guide identifies the automatic as the Chrysler 904 Torque Command. Check for smooth shifts, working kick-down and no slipping under load. Burnt-smelling fluid points to a rebuild, and a clunk into reverse can be worn mounts.

Buy a complete car

The same site notes that mechanical parts are generally available through the wider AMC and Jeep parts world, while finding complete Pacers is harder. A driveable, complete car is cheaper to keep than a parts hunt.

Use the history report for the right questions

Read title brands, dated odometer entries and changes of registration state before looking at service entries. Compare those events with the seller file and ask about gaps; a Pacer that sat for decades can show long silences that are normal, while a sudden mileage drop is not. The federal NMVTIS program explains its title, salvage and junk data role; it does not replace a workshop inspection. Our rust-and-history explainer helps you separate a recorded conflict from proof of a particular fault.

Keep ownership paperwork separate from condition

Match the seller name to the title and request a written lien release where needed. Our lien-release checks explains the paperwork sequence. Federal odometer disclosure rules are summarized at Cornell LII, though older vehicles can be exempt from some disclosure requirements, so the absence of a mileage statement is not proof of anything by itself. Our service-record explainer covers what a missing service entry can and cannot tell you.

Set the offer after the inspection

Ask for separate estimates for safety work, overdue servicing and cosmetic improvements. A hypothetical $1,500 repair reserve is only a planning example; it can be inadequate on an older collector vehicle. A seller PDF can be edited, so obtain your own report using the identifier stamped on the vehicle. Look, a wide glass hatch that seals poorly will soak carpets; lift the mats before you talk money.

We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Recent advertised pricing has been about $5.50 guest, $4.50 member or $6.75 for a bundle; confirm the price and included reports at checkout. Buy the report before committing, then keep it with the inspection findings and signed sale documents.

Ask for photographs of the exhaust manifold and a recent transmission service receipt. Smell for fumes inside with the fan on before you drive away.

Book the inspection with a shop that has worked on this model before, and ask for a written report with photographs from underneath. Agree in advance who pays for the visit and what happens to your deposit if the findings are serious.

If the car has been converted to a later Jeep 4.0 or a different automatic, ask for the parts list and who did the work.

Sources checked November 5, 2026

• American-Motors.de: Pacer engine buyers guide
• American-Motors.de: Pacer transmission buyers guide
• NMVTIS program
• Cornell LII: federal mileage disclosures