1973 Wagoneer

[W300]

Hey all, I’m looking at picking up a 1973 wagoneer as a project to work on with my son. Not looking for serious off-road use, just to build a reliable, pre-smog, V8 cruiser for the family.
It’s got the AMC 360, th400, Quadra-trac. Any concerns I should have with the drivetrain? Any watch outs on rust that I should look for?
Thanks!

[Eldog22]

Cool. I have a 73 also. Not sure about your drivetrain. Question as I swapped to all Chevy running gear.

[melford72]

Welcome.

You might have reasons, but I've gotta ask: Why a 73 in particular?

The Quadra-trac can be temperamental from what I've read, but I've never had one so can't speak from experience. https://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/t ... quadratrac

The slightly earlier Wags have a Dana 20, which is pretty bombproof and can be rebuilt. And (importantly) they're also pre-smog.

[tgreese]

The Quadratrac was optional in 1973, so a '73 with a TH400 could have had that or a Dana 20. 1974 is the watershed year for these vehicles, mainly with a new front axle, brakes, wheels, and the Quadratrac standard with the TH400. Mostly unchanged '74-79.

[CharliesHeep73]

I have a 73 also, mine has no Quadratrac on it with the 360 and th400 in it. My only gripe is the weak front axle .

Dumb question though … I’m guessing this isn’t the AMC though. Did all AMCs come stamped 360 or do some have 5.9L stamped also? Both sides of the block have that.




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[will e]

I believe some came stamped that way, not from the factory but as replacement blocks. Take a pick of the top of the engine and we can verify if it is an AMC.

[tgreese]

The 360 was produced through the end of the Grand Wagoneer (1991 IIRC), and I thought the last examples were given 5.9L casting marks instead of 360. I'd guess that's some internal thinking at Chrysler after they acquired AMC in the late '80s, to match their sales literature perhaps? Not related to service blocks AFAIK. A sop to modernity.

There's some discussion in old posts at IFSJA: https://www.bing.com/search?q=site%3Aif ... ting+marks

The reman plants take in engines and break them down to parts. They then build engines for stock or to spec from parts. Thus "remanufactured." To CHarlieHeep73, that's not your original block - likely a reman.

[CharliesHeep73]

well it’s a good thing I only paid 1400 for it. Leaves me money to build it up the way I want it. Maybe 401 now that I know it’s not the original engine .

Back to the original post.. keep us updated on your project I’m hoping it’ll help me out aswell


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[W300]

Actually, I passed on the 73 after checking it out, and picked up a 72 the next day!
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Just got it start and idle on it's own last night!