Author Topic: 80 Pinto - Another One? (Read 2543 times)

Cookieboystoys · « **on:** December 10, 2006, 07:58:22 PM »

Yep! I got another one.. since my last "beater" turned into "my project" I found a different beater.

1980 Pinto w/2.3, C4 auto and 8" rear end. Runs and drives good, drove it home 90 some miles from Superior Wi. Previous owner rebuilt the motor about 30,000 miles ago and claimed to have had the tranny rebuilt. Plus he swapped in the 8" rear end. Starter skips sometimes but a new one was included. Driver door handle has issues and work best from inside, still works but needs help soon. There is supposed to be a radiator leak but I haven't seen it yet. I did find out the tranny is leaking and looks like it's from the dip stick tube. I need to change out the top radiator hose, no timing cover and the top pully bolt was rubbing on it.. almost all the way through. Body looks to have lots of filler and a really bad sanding job. It all looks solid but kinda sloppy work. I don't care.. makes for a perfect beater. I will have to at least spray it all the same color.. to many shades of grey and silver. Interior is a little rough (dash) but the seats are pretty good. No carpet on the driver side, floor has some new sheet metal and it was done well - very solid.

I'm happy, it runs and drives good and seems to only need minor attention to a few areas. This should be fun and I'll get to do the work to this one myself

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2006, 07:59:21 PM »

Interior pics

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2006, 08:01:45 PM »

headlight buckets and grill before paint.. they were rough looking and I think flat black looks better on this body style.

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2006, 08:03:26 PM »

grill painted black and some of the parts I need to install

Pintony · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2006, 09:26:44 PM »

Hey Cookieboy,
Not too bad!!!!!
Looking at the seats... Wonder if that Pinto was made that way or somebody changed them?

Many years ago a friend bought a BRAND-X NEW in 1984 grey interior the pass bucket was totally different than the drivers and the rear seat did not match at all. My friend never noticed untill pointed it out.

The dealership strightened it out so all the seats matched. TOO FUNNY!!!!
From Pintony

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2006, 10:35:33 PM »

front seats must have been swapped... they are cloth and are more of a redish brown vs red.

just got done swapping out the top radiator hose and one of the heater lines.

took it for a real long drive today to heat up the tranny... it's leaking from the dip stick tube... I am so happy, I didn't want it to be the front seal. I will look at that closer and see if I can fix it when I swap out the starter.

I'll start driving it tomorrow I think... freezing rain tonight so I may not. I get no traction w/the rear tires on slippery stuff. Already did a 180 about a block from the house when I hit an ice patch I wasn't expecting. That was both scary and fun at the same time... glad there was no traffic at the time.

douglasskemp · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2006, 12:12:36 AM »

I have seen those style of seats in Pintos before, but only the later cars. I saw a dark green set in a 77 cruisin' wagon a few years back in a bone yard, and an orange set in a 79 Bobcat hatchback. They are nearly identical to the ones used in all the Mustang IIs, matter of fact, I don't know if there is any difference at all (maybe the brackets?)

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2006, 10:11:50 AM »

here's a picture of the engine area after the new hoses and I cleaned up the air cleaner top. Starter replacment and try to stop the tranny leak are next on my list.

I did notice the seats do look very similar to the Mustang II seats but I have seen pictures of these seats in Pintos too, and like you said Douglass in newer Pintos. I like the high-back buckets offered in the early Pintos best.

cromcru · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2006, 04:32:20 AM »

from the motor pic. i did not see a smog pump on your car. also i noticed that the cam cover on the car is from a late model fox body mustang 2.3 . on your leak from the trans. did by chance. the previous owner over fill the transmisson with fluid.

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2006, 07:24:58 AM »

Cromcru... yes I think it's a very real possibility. Tranny and rear are not origional. I did notice the dip stick for the tranny doesn't "fit" well and looks overfull. I was thinking of draining and refilling the tranny to check.

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2006, 10:39:46 PM »

Drove the new pinto all week back and forth to work plus took a 60+ mile round trip with it yesterday. All is good! took it in Friday morning to a local transmission shop for them to look at the tranny leak and such. They drained the fluid and removed the pan to inspect and all looked excellent. They said they could tell it was leaking from the pan gasket and that it looked like someone had used "bathroom caulk" on the gasket. They changed the filter and filled it back up and confirmed the dip stick is correct.

Installed some new speakers and temp fixed my sagging headliner. I replaced the crappy little box speakers (almost no sound came from them) and installed some 6" Pioneer's I had, they sound much better. I even used my tape adaptor for my MP3 player and was very happy with the tunes when done. The speakers are a perfect match for the cheap tape player in there. Hard to tune in a radio station but now I know I can use my MP3 player in there and the sound is OK with the new speakers.. need more bass though.. may have to go get that sony kit I saw at walmart last night.. 2-6" speakers, 2-6x9" speakers and a basic CD player for $85.00

I removed the safty pins that were holding the headliner together to see what could be done about it. After removing the pins I looked that the support rod that used to hold up the headliner and found I could move it back and fourth quite aways so I figured what the heck.. get out the duct tape! I moved the rod forward as much as I could and taped the rear part first. Then moved the rod to the rear and taped the front up too. Then I moved the rod back into positition and it was now holding the headliner up. Then I used a bit more tape to clean up the look and hold the rod in place. Red Green would be proud. Now just have to see how long it holds

Oh yea! almost forgot.. someone came in to work the other day and asked if I was willing to sell it. Told him I had just got it and then he offered to sell me an 80 parts car. I got the instructions to his place to go look at it (the 60+ mile trip I took) and yep it was a parts car. Motor, brakes, carb, running gear all junk. Radiator looked very useable.. worth considering since mine is green and looks like it could start leaking any day. The all black interior looked real good.. standard door skins looked good/no rips, clean looking arm rests, seats didn't have any rips, rear plastic all looked good. Body was shot - dents and rot but the chrome looked ok. Now I just have to decide how much to offer ~ if~ I decide it's worth it for the parts and then dispose of the rest later. He offered to deliver to a location of my choosing.. just may have to get it for the parts and have the fun of stripping it.

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #11 on:** December 18, 2006, 06:52:22 PM »

Well.... Pinto #5 ------ somebody shoot me and take away my money

I called the guy about the 80 parts car... shot him a low price and he delivered so it's sitting in my garage. This thing is rough and I'll have to strip it ASAP and get it the heck out of here soon. Body is shot and rusty. I guess I'll have to wait till after the holidays before I can really go to town on stripping it but looks like there are a few parts I'll be happy to get

for now I'm excited about the all black interior parts, the radiator "looks" good, some door mechanicals, minor stuff but handy stuff to have around.

crazyhorse · « **Reply #12 on:** December 18, 2006, 08:01:00 PM »

MORE pics of the '80 parts car.... :text_yb_please: I THINK that's my old car!!! black & gold inside & out... does it have gold stripes @ the bottom painted over? & does it have the original front seats? BTW where are you located?

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #13 on:** December 18, 2006, 08:29:03 PM »

let's see... distinguishing marks to help identify.

William (Bill) Du Long is the name of the guy who sold it to me... has Illinois title in his name purchased 6/12/91 and VIN # 0X11A200627

POW/MIA sticker in the rear window / has defrost option (see pic)

stearing wheel is perfect w/no cracks (missing horn button)

Black w/gold stripes painted over on bottom and top (see pics)

seats are origional but someone painted the gold part on the front seats black (wearing off now) and there are no rips in the seats or door panels.

I'll post a couple more pics...

BTW I'm in Norrthen Minnesota

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #14 on:** December 18, 2006, 08:30:42 PM »

more pics

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #15 on:** December 18, 2006, 08:32:19 PM »

more...

crazyhorse · « **Reply #16 on:** December 18, 2006, 09:04:57 PM »

UMMMM UHHHH YEAH that's my old car! HOLY SMOKES!!!!
It's nice to see an old friend again even if she's not what she once was. What WAS she? A $75 wreck I drug in & redid. She was in almost as bad shape then as she is now. But a few hundred $$$$ made this outta her....

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #17 on:** December 18, 2006, 09:09:41 PM »

the one in my garage doesn't have a sunroof... are you sure it's your old one...

crazyhorse · « **Reply #18 on:** December 18, 2006, 09:43:58 PM »

It must not be... The sunroof was in it when I bought it. but GEEZ the details are all there! the painted over stripes, the repainted DS fender (with red primer) all the black spray paint... it's her virtual twin, right down to the rough life it had!
Dang it & I was STOKED too. LOL Either way it brought back some memories... Drove my wife to the hospital to deliver our daughter in that car. (Drove the current one to the hospital to deliver my son)

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2006, 11:36:10 PM »

sometimes a memory is just as good..

kids and pintos.. drove my wife to deliver my son in may of 92 in my green station wagon. had that car for a couple years, drove the stuffing out of it. The trips, memories and fun i had in that little wagon.. couldn't imagine what it would be like to find that car..

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Author Topic: 80 Pinto - Another One? (Read 2543 times)

Pintony