Author Topic: 1978 pinto runabout almost done. (Read 2801 times)

Oddzball · « **on:** February 22, 2010, 11:21:50 PM »

Ok thought I would load the picks of my pinto, it is rust free, beautiful paint (just dusty) and almost have the motor done to go back in. Interior is the hunter green with yellow checkered seats.

Oddzball · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2010, 11:22:55 PM »

Spun a crank bringing it home from tucson. So rebuilt engine. New everything except the block. Even sprung for a new head.

Oddzball · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2010, 11:30:44 PM »

Working on cleaning up old parts like intake and exhaust. all the brackets. Did a lot of painting and little detail work on the engine.

Oddzball · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2010, 11:33:16 PM »

Started putting it all back together..

Oddzball · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2010, 11:33:49 PM »

Poor car sitting out here getting dusty.

Oddzball · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2010, 11:34:58 PM »

Well engine is almost done except that stupid busted bolt for the fuel pump. SHould have it out by the end of the week. Oh and debating if i should put the Air conditioner back on. Worked when i took it off, but will need to be converted..

rctinker · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2010, 12:02:35 AM »

Better dusty then Rusty! Lol

dave1987 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2010, 02:17:54 AM »

Great progress! Love the paint, she should be super fun to drive once finished!

Oddzball · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2010, 07:36:13 AM »

Yeah fun to drive. Gotta replace the tranny lines and a few minor things as well while the motor is out. I figure why not. Would be a lot more work to do the tranny seal and lines once the motor is back inside, so it is kinda a premptive strike.

dga57 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2010, 10:59:01 AM »

Quote from: rctinker on February 23, 2010, 12:02:35 AM

Better dusty then Rusty! Lol

Amen! :angel:

Dwayne :smile:

Oddzball · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2010, 03:32:34 PM »

Yeah well, It is a little upsetting I will admit. I have had the car for 6 months, and its been sitting for so long I think I might have to buff the paint to get back the old shine. Also those crome door guard strips on the side? Well, in the center they have this rubber part that popped off, probably due to all the hot/cold changes here in arizona over the past few months. I would like to just remove the door guards but I dont want to have to do body work to fill in the holes where the crome goes.

dga57 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2010, 04:34:48 PM »

Oddzball,

I had that same problem with the bodyside molding inserts on my '79 Continental Mark V. Assuming you have the pieces that have popped off, I found that a silicone adhesive works well for holding them in place. Hope this will be of some help!

Dwayne :smile:

Oddzball · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2010, 03:35:01 PM »

Alright, got the bolt out, now just gotta drop the motor in.

blupinto · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2010, 03:53:18 PM »

YAY!!! That bolt was probably the biggest bugaboo of the whole project!!! Hopefully it's smooth sailing from now on!
BTW, If I were you I'd keep the bodyside molding. It gives the car a classy touch, and it REALLY does protect the sides a little from shopping cart contact, trash can contact (ok that's me! lol), etc.

rctinker · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2010, 09:36:41 PM »

How did you get the bolt out?

discolives78 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2010, 01:24:22 AM »

Not to mention the post on the drivers side of my carport

I couldn't swing the real stuff, I got the stick on 3/4 chrome from Autozone, $13.99 for 13 feet.

She's cute as a button, Oddz! I do love the 78's. Hope you're on the road soon!

Chuck

Oddzball · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2010, 09:09:04 AM »

I drilled the bolt out. Easy-out didnt work.

Now I need to rethread the bolt hole, but i didnt damage the hole as far as I can tell.

Oddzball · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2010, 10:58:34 AM »

Sad thing is I almost gave up on this car.

I just couldnt get the darn bolt out, had trouble getting my friend lend me a hoist to get the motor back in, and in general no help from anyone really.

I even put the thing on craigslist I was so distraut.

I really hope I can get this car out and on the road. If only my friend wasnt so stingy about his darn hoist.

Oddzball · « **Reply #18 on:** June 08, 2010, 01:54:55 PM »

Ok folks.. 4 months later.. and in the motor goes. everything is put back together, just need to do a little wiring work... annnnd find a new damn radiator...

But overall, considering how incredibly slowthis has been going, I'm not super concerned..

Pics are...

dga57 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 08, 2010, 07:56:36 PM »

Glad to know you didn't actually give up!

Dwayne :smile:

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 09, 2010, 09:15:41 PM »

4 months is nothing.....Iv e been trying to put a V8 Pinto together for 25 years. Keep the faith.

Oddzball · « **Reply #21 on:** July 21, 2010, 11:02:14 AM »

HA! DONE! Unless I have any major problems should be driving this weekend.

blupinto · « **Reply #22 on:** July 21, 2010, 11:06:42 AM »

I'm glad it all worked out! Congratulation s!!! I hope you have fun with her!

Oddzball · « **Reply #23 on:** August 06, 2010, 12:24:10 PM »

Ok, so I took the pinto for a test drive...

Had to fix a fuel leak, cross threaded the line where it goes into the pump to carb.
Replaced that.

Couldnt get my accessories to work.... radio wouldnt turn on, no interior lights... pulled the gauges and found that the cluster with the circuit printed on the back had crumbled to dust.

Well, pulled the cluster out, minus the speedo, which is analog... so no I have the speedo, but no fuel gauge, and still no interior lights, radio or horn..

I can drive it, but it annoys me...

What could be wrong? Something witht he fuse box that would make all this bad? All the exterior stuff works, IE turn signals, lights, reverse light... wipers.... heater fan...

I know I need a new gauge cluster, but does all that other wiring run through that circuit board as well? The radio? Horn?

r4pinto · « **Reply #24 on:** August 06, 2010, 01:40:05 PM »

That shouldn't affect everything else. The best thing to do is to see what is getting power. For the radio remove it & using a 12 volt test light or volt meter check the connector with the yellow wire. That wire is 12 volt switchable, so when the light is grounded it should turn on when you probe the plug. You can check at the fuse box as well to see if there are any issues. I would remove the fuses themselves & probe all the terminals. Be sure to do this one at a time so that you don't mix up the fuses since they are different ratings.

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Author Topic: 1978 pinto runabout almost done. (Read 2801 times)