Current Classifieds

1971-1975 Pinto
Date: 01/09/2017 04:14 pm
78 wagon instrument y
Date: 04/30/2018 07:41 pm
Front sway bar frame brackets
Date: 07/13/2017 01:05 am
Interior Parts
Date: 08/07/2017 03:59 pm
2.3 engine mounts,glove box parts,emblems,hatch,doors,hinges etc
Date: 08/26/2018 06:35 pm
2.0 performance parts, 2 intakes, header, ported head, more
Date: 10/25/2019 04:05 pm
1976 (non hatchback) pinto (90% complete project)

Date: 07/10/2016 10:17 am
Leaf Spring Mount Rubber Insulator
Date: 08/05/2018 01:58 pm
Various Pinto stuff for sale.
Date: 11/21/2018 01:56 pm
Early 2.0 engines
Date: 05/09/2018 12:45 pm
Pinto sales literature / magazine ads/ owners manuals
Date: 03/21/2017 07:47 pm
1972 Runabout (GOING TO SCRAP BY 5/28)

Date: 05/21/2019 11:50 am

Author Topic: 71 Front Suspension  (Read 4119 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Brian Walsh

  • Vintage Pinto Racer Legend
  • PCCA VIP
  • Pinto Driver
  • ***
  • Posts: 6
  • FeedBack: +0/-0
  • Gender: Male

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User Webmaster Fifth year Anniversary Photographer
71 Front Suspension
« on: April 01, 2008, 10:33:13 PM »
I have received different answers to this question. I have a 71 Pinto and want to convert to 74-up front suspension, what needs to be done? is this as easy as swapping or is this a major undertaking ? any help would be great. thanks
1971 Road Race Pinto (the original)

Pintony

  • Guest
Re: 71 Front Suspension
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2008, 10:42:18 PM »

 Hello Brian,
 I Know the upper and lower arms are more than 1 inch longer
 and the spindle is more than 1 inch taller on the 74-up Pinto.
 I say it won't work.
 BUT I have not actually tried it.
If you have a parallelogram the even sideds must move parallel to the plane of movement.
 If the upper was space up or the lower was spaced down to make the distance between the frame and the spindle the same then it should work.
 You will still have to deal with the wheel offset problem as the tires will stick out further.

 From Pintony

Offline Chris

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 93
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Gender: Male
    • Buffalochris.com

  • Total Badges: 6
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Webmaster Poll Voter Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: 71 Front Suspension
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2008, 11:00:30 PM »
i know for a fact the bushings are different sizes on the control arms.

Not sure what that means to you

i'm looking to convert to a 74 too. I was gonna buy an after market crossmember and go from there.
1971 Pinto

Offline dick1172762

  • Vintage Pinto Racer
  • PCCA Management Board
  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ******
  • Posts: 2623
  • FeedBack: +362/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • I'm a llama!

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User 1000 Posts Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: 71 Front Suspension
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2008, 08:58:04 PM »
I have received different answers to this question. I have a 71 Pinto and want to convert to 74-up front suspension, what needs to be done? is this as easy as swapping or is this a major undertaking ? any help would be great. thanks
Its better to be a has-been, than a never was.

Offline dick1172762

  • Vintage Pinto Racer
  • PCCA Management Board
  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ******
  • Posts: 2623
  • FeedBack: +362/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • I'm a llama!

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User 1000 Posts Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: 71 Front Suspension
« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2008, 09:10:37 PM »
Brian! It hard but not that hard. Use a 74/80 spindel with the stock lower control arm. You'll need to build tubelar upper arms to get the right spaceing along with the proper ball joints. Late tie rod ends are bigger so you'll need to adapt there, or go to a later rack. You'll double the stoping power when you do this. My old red Pinto that was pictured in Grassroots Motorsports along with your dads old car had this mod, (I think) (was built 30 years ago). I've seen at least two others with this mod, so it can be done, and it is well worth the trouble.





I have received different answers to this question. I have a 71 Pinto and want to convert to 74-up front suspension, what needs to be done? is this as easy as swapping or is this a major undertaking ? any help would be great. thanks
Its better to be a has-been, than a never was.

Offline 77turbopinto

  • PCCA VIP
  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ***
  • Posts: 2762
  • FeedBack: +99/-0
  • No good deed goes unpunished…..

  • Total Badges: 6
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Tenth year Anniversary 1000 Posts Fifth year Anniversary
Re: 71 Front Suspension
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2008, 07:19:22 AM »
Brian! It hard but not that hard. Use a 74/80 spindel with the stock lower control arm. You'll need to build tubelar upper arms to get the right spaceing along with the proper ball joints. Late tie rod ends are bigger so you'll need to adapt there, or go to a later rack. You'll double the stoping power when you do this. My old red Pinto that was pictured in Grassroots Motorsports along with your dads old car had this mod, (I think) (was built 30 years ago). I've seen at least two others with this mod, so it can be done, and it is well worth the trouble.


I never did this, but could someone splice an early and a late upper arm? Would that be easier than building them?


Bill
Thanks to all U.S. Military members past & present.

Offline Pintosopher

  • 33yrs SCCA, 19yrs Egroups/PCCA ,40yrs enlightenment
  • PCCA Charter Member
  • Pinto Master
  • *
  • Posts: 2000
  • FeedBack: +383/-1
  • Gender: Male
  • Essses my Nirvana , Liberty to play, my mission

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter 1000 Posts Windows User Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary Photographer
Re: 71 Front Suspension
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2008, 07:50:43 AM »
Hi group ,
 My question would be , since the Rack types are different for these: 71-72, 73 has its own unique mounts and rack and column, and 74 up is a similar to mustang 2, just how unique is the actual Chassis crossmember and the mounting points for the upper and lower control arms? Couldn't you just swap in parts from a complete 74 and change the rack spindle ends for a 74 on the 72 rack?

 Pintosopher
Yes, it is possible to study and become a master of Pintosophy.. Not a religion , nothing less than a life quest for non conformity and rational thought. What Horse did you ride in on?

Check my Pinto Poems out...

Offline dick1172762

  • Vintage Pinto Racer
  • PCCA Management Board
  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ******
  • Posts: 2623
  • FeedBack: +362/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • I'm a llama!

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User 1000 Posts Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: 71 Front Suspension
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2008, 03:24:01 PM »
The late tie rod ends have a threaded hole that is about 1/16" larger than the 71/73 tie rod ends. You wold have to sleave down the hole in the spindel or put a threaded bushing inside the 74/80 tie rod ends to make it all fit. The late rotors will fit on the early spindels, BUT it places the rotor too far to the inside to line up with the caliper. If you have a machine shop at hand, this just might work, as its only less than 1/8" misalignment. With all the aftermarket street rod brake kits out there, why worry.
Its better to be a has-been, than a never was.

Offline Pintosopher

  • 33yrs SCCA, 19yrs Egroups/PCCA ,40yrs enlightenment
  • PCCA Charter Member
  • Pinto Master
  • *
  • Posts: 2000
  • FeedBack: +383/-1
  • Gender: Male
  • Essses my Nirvana , Liberty to play, my mission

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter 1000 Posts Windows User Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary Photographer
Re: 71 Front Suspension
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2008, 03:58:44 PM »
Dick,
 For my purposes, and maybe Brian's too, I would consider an aftermarket front upper& lower w/ spindles, rotors and calipers. But we must use the 71-72 rack to avoid changing the crossmember (Lots of cutting and welding) and there's the issue of being able to Shim the rack for bump-steer for a proper race height and geometry. SCCA and SVRA might not allow for too much in Vintage trim rules.
 Otherwise we fall into the money pit of Tubular front clips, etc... The old GT vs Production preparation paradox.  Anyone building custom / drag Pintos won't be too concerned with this. Pintony ... well ,he owns all the NOS 71-72 stuff in the country :smile:

 Pipe in with your thoughts,
 Pintosopher
Yes, it is possible to study and become a master of Pintosophy.. Not a religion , nothing less than a life quest for non conformity and rational thought. What Horse did you ride in on?

Check my Pinto Poems out...

Pintony

  • Guest
Re: 71 Front Suspension
« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2008, 07:48:10 PM »
Dick,
 For my purposes, and maybe Brian's too, I would consider an aftermarket front upper& lower w/ spindles, rotors and calipers. But we must use the 71-72 rack to avoid changing the crossmember (Lots of cutting and welding) and there's the issue of being able to Shim the rack for bump-steer for a proper race height and geometry. SCCA and SVRA might not allow for too much in Vintage trim rules.
 Otherwise we fall into the money pit of Tubular front clips, etc... The old GT vs Production preparation paradox.  Anyone building custom / drag Pintos won't be too concerned with this. Pintony ... well ,he owns all the NOS 71-72 stuff in the country :smile:

 Pipe in with your thoughts,
 Pintosopher
Not YET!!!
 But if I stayed home and just bought parts instead of burning fuel trying to make all the shows I would have them all!!! ;D
 From Pintony

Offline dick1172762

  • Vintage Pinto Racer
  • PCCA Management Board
  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ******
  • Posts: 2623
  • FeedBack: +362/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • I'm a llama!

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User 1000 Posts Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: 71 Front Suspension
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2008, 09:20:59 PM »
TSM / 4321E Willow Creek Rd / #16 / Castle Rock, Colorado / 303 -688-6882 has or did have a big brake kit for 71/73 Pintos.
Its better to be a has-been, than a never was.

Offline oldkayaker

  • Pinto Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 758
  • FeedBack: +114/-0
  • Gender: Male

  • Total Badges: 5
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Windows User Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: 71 Front Suspension
« Reply #11 on: April 05, 2008, 05:17:33 AM »
If you are just after bigger brakes for the early models, this detailed post from TurboPinto72 should help: http://www.fordpinto.com/smf/index.php/topic,1103.0.html   He uses the 5 lug 11" Granada rotors, GM metric calipers (lots of after market support), and a modified caliper mounting bracket.  Note that this modification requires 15" wheels for clearance per the post.
Jerry J - Jupiter, Florida