What year is my Wagoneer REALLY?

[Tubro]

The title says 79, the door tag says Aug 79, it has a TH400, QT, but an AMC 20. I have never been able to get the starter and flywheel to work right either. I am putting the 360 in my J10 backed up by a 700R4. My real question is, the adapter to do this (along with many engine parts) are for 360s up to 79. Being a late model 79 (Already has an AMC 20) it may also have an 80 engine. Will I run into problems? How do I know if it is an 80 engine? I can't find a tag on the valve cover. What is the difference between the 79 and 80+ engine?

Thanks
Brian Renfro

[joe]

The only real differences in the motors were the flexplates or flywheels. 80 used a TF727 flexplate where a 79 used a TH400 plate. The 79 crank would have a pilot bearing in it too where an 80 won't.
Your having starter/flexplate probs could be something as simple(and common) as a cracked flexplate and/or worn out ring gear w/some teeth missing.
Granted AMC was known for using next/last year parts during cusp years but there is no way AMC would have installed a centered diff AMC20 rear behind a right-drop BW/QT x-case. Just too great an angle to deal with. If anything they would have put all the 80 running gear in with it including the Chrysler AT trans and an NP x-case and 80 front D44. And kept the 79 stuff not used for sales as replacemnts.
I'd bet anything the DSPO blew the rear end and installed an 80 up axle...a Wag is a Wag right? That's why they're called Dip Great Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley Moogley Previous Owners. Just to save you some grief later I would make "sure" both ends are geared alike too. A 79 would have come with 3.07's or 3.54's and an 80 up with 2.73's or 3.31's.

[Tubro]

Actually the AMC20 is offset. It is a Qt and TH400 in it. On the flexplate deal, I have replaced both and it still just grinds and wont turn over. The wag is a donor vehichle so after I get what I need, its out the door.

[typeO]

ive recently found that the 90 and 81 have a diff flywheel for 727 the 81 has a deeper "offset to the gears making it futher away from the motor than the 90 was???

all in all i know they are suppose to be the same.. but these are visually diff dont even have to hold them up to one another to tell

[porkchop]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tubro:
Actually the AMC20 is offset.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Is the housing on the rear perfectly round? The AMC 20 was never an off set axle. The AMC is easy to tell because it is in center diff that is perfectly round and does not have a fill plug on the back plte. Does yours look like this?

[andy d]

the difference between the 81 and 90 ring gears is to accomodate the mitsubishi starter introduced some time in 88 or 89

[Tubro]

Yes it is an Offset AMC20, Round Diff, no drainplug in cover, NOT A DANA 44, I know an AMC20 when I see it, I've got the one laying in my yard I yanked from my CJ to put in a Dana 44. It is offset, it is original and unmodified. If it were not raining I would takes me a picture of it.

So from what I get, the advance adapters flexplate will work even if my engine is an 80 model and it says Somethingorother-79 on the chart?

[scotty]

i should think it would still work. the pre80 360 will have a funky pilot ushing in it for the th400 convertor.in 1980 the 727 convertor does not use this pilot bushing. the year specification prolly has something to do with the crank pilot.

the cranks should be the same if you remove the pilot busing,so i cant really see how it would matter too much waht year the engine
is.

in a worse case scenario,maybe you have to remove the crank pilot? if you figure out for sure why theydraw the line a 79,please let us know! smile.gif

that is very strange bout your offset amc 20.how much is it offset?just barely,or is it the same offset the QT 44 would have? would like to see some pics of it if ya get a chance...

its hard tellin,maybe it was factory modified for some reason? to test somethin or another?

[Tubro]

Maybe I will just call em up and ask. On the AMC20, the right (pass) tube is about a foot long and the left (driver) is about 3 feet long. So the starter and the flywheel, will probaly line up alright? My whole problem about this is I don't know a think about anything chebby. I am a staunch NO CHEVY man myself. I pride myself in being different. Thats why its AMC 360/Chevy 700R4 instead of the easy Chevy/Transmission Swap.