Last 12 Shouts:

 

Cookieboystoys

Today at 08:02:02 AM
I know of one person that was able to get 77 material from them. something like this is best to call. could also do a search on google for factory or oem vinyl material reupholster auto. there are other sources and no... materials changed throughout the years
 

RSM

Today at 07:52:15 AM
looks like SMS only goes up to 1975. Would the colors be the same for the later models?
 

Cookieboystoys

May 18, 2012, 09:54:48 PM
winsor351 - google sms auto fabrics - you will have to match your material and have a local reupholster them for you. no place to buy nos/repop covers for pintos

windsor351

May 18, 2012, 08:43:55 PM
I've got a 78 wagon.Anybody know where to get nos/oem seat replacements?

Okiepinto

May 18, 2012, 11:57:00 AM
Racer99; You talkin to me? I read your PM and responded to it. ;D
 

racer99

May 18, 2012, 09:36:38 AM
Brian,have you checked your pm box lately?

Reeves1

May 18, 2012, 04:17:25 AM
Morning Brian !

Okiepinto

May 17, 2012, 11:01:17 PM
Tinson: Guess Fred morgan knew it but I had no clue of how hungry people are for Pinto parts. Running me ragged but it's a good ragged. ;D Holler if I can help with wagon parts
 

Fred Morgan

May 17, 2012, 09:48:25 PM
Keith what freeway are U on now dude you keep me laughing !!
 

Tinson

May 17, 2012, 09:07:23 PM
Hello everyone. How have things been in the pinto world?

Reeves1

May 17, 2012, 08:44:05 PM

Reeves1

May 17, 2012, 07:40:15 AM
Dyno tomorrow !
Time seems to have slowed down for me !

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Author Topic: Bobcat in a Barn  (Read 1073 times)

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Offline Cobra Commander

Bobcat in a Barn
« on: January 22, 2012, 11:03:57 PM »
Hello. I just started working on my Bobcat and figured I'd share my project.

My first car was a 1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout I bought from an old lady after her husband passed with 41,000 miles for $825 dollars in 1998. By 2001 I was on the 2nd transmission, 2nd rearend, and I overheated the engine so I pushed it into my old man's barn where it hasn't moved since. I've recently came to a point in my life where I can finally do something with the car. I'm just replacing the engine with another naturally aspirated power plant out of an '86 Mustang so I can focus on other areas on the vehicle.

Here are some pictures back when I still drove it:








Fast forward to this weekend where I pulled the tarp off the car and yanked it out of the barn. Paint is a little damaged, rust has started in a few areas down low, and the suspension is shot.































Today I cleaned the paint back up and vacuumed the mice skeletons out of the interior.




















This week I'll get the old motor out and see where that takes me.
 
1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout


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Offline joebob

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2012, 11:30:00 PM »
Those seats look so bright they look like candy. Is it as good as it looks?
yellow 77 bobcat hatchback

Offline dga57

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2012, 11:44:12 PM »
Your Bobcat certainly looks like a great foundation for whateve project you want to make of it!  Why couldn't we all have something that nice sitting in a barn somewhere?
Dwayne :)
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Offline Srt

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2012, 03:14:27 AM »
good looking car! it is definitely RED
the only substitute for cubic inches is BOOST!!!
Of course money helps too!!!

Offline RSM

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2012, 07:52:46 AM »
Definitely RED is an understatement lol.

Offline Cobra Commander

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2012, 08:18:28 AM »
Is it as good as it looks?

No. The paint below that molding is rough, the driver's rear quarter is bent up from when I blew a tire, and there are a lot of big defects in the paint throughout the car. But It could be worse I guess.

I'm not sure where to start on this suspension. Obviously it needs shocks all around, but those leafs are shot also. Does anyone make reasonably priced leaf springs for the Pinto?
1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout

Offline 75bobcatv6

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2012, 11:04:15 AM »
talk to fred Morgan, hes the pinto parts guy on here for used parts. New i wouldnt have anyone to recommend. lol it is a very nice car tho from the pics.
I has no pinto's/bobcats of my own now. Just have a 2003 Caravan. Wife has a 1978 mercury bobcat im restoring. looking for a V8 conversiokn gone Awry that i can fix up

Offline bbobcat75

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2012, 03:06:26 PM »
man that is one RED bobcat!!! red everything, looks like a red version of my 75 orange bobcat hatch, 38,000miles with a v6!!!
 
if you are looking for other odds and ends let me know!! car looks great!!!
 
 
1975 mercury bobcat 2.8 auto like new my baby
1978 mercury bobcat wagon soon to be a 2.3 turbo!
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Offline 80_2.3_ESS

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2012, 08:56:12 AM »
Well, it definitely looks like a really nice car in the pics.

Would be a great project to work on. Looks like a really solid base.
Nick in CT

1980 2.3L Pinto ESS

Offline Cobra Commander

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2012, 09:11:11 AM »


1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout

Offline Cobra Commander

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2012, 09:11:51 AM »













1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout

Offline r4pinto

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #11 on: January 27, 2012, 11:29:07 AM »
Nice work! I guess it is really easy to yank an engine out of a Pinto. Are you gonna rebuild this one or just replace it?
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom
2006 PCCA "Most Potential" award winner

Offline Cobra Commander

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #12 on: January 27, 2012, 01:15:43 PM »
All I'm doing is swapping the oil pan, oil pickup, distributor, and axuillary shaft, then replacing any leaky gaskets and calling it good. Oh, I'll probably toss in a Ranger roller cam and get a cheap header. Nothing crazy, obviously. Keeping it cheap.

Tomorrow I'm towing the car down to the local car wash and powerwashing off all the oil within the engine compartment. I'd like to keep the paint original in there, but I'll have to touch up the passenger side where a battery exploded. Then I'll start painting up the new engine so it "looks" nice.
1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout

Offline blupinto

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #13 on: January 27, 2012, 08:21:28 PM »
WOW! What a difference TLC makes! Your Bobcat is beautiful! That interior is so red and delicious I need sunglasses to look at it! May your 'Cat give you years of joy and compliments.  ;D
One can never have too many Pintos!

Offline Cobra Commander

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #14 on: February 01, 2012, 10:06:51 AM »
No real updates. I tore down the old engine and robbed the distributor, auxiliary shaft, oil pan and oil pickup. Also received my new engine this weekend. That's about it.










1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout

Offline blupinto

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #15 on: February 01, 2012, 06:32:38 PM »
What an adorable co-pilot!  ;D
One can never have too many Pintos!

Offline Cobra Commander

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #16 on: February 10, 2012, 11:05:52 PM »
Stripped down the pan, valve cover, timing cover, and intake.





Painted









Unbolted the accessories.







Painted the block.














That's it for now. This weekend I'll be doing all of the gaskets, roller cam, and start bolting stuff onto the block.
1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout

Offline Cobra Commander

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #17 on: February 11, 2012, 10:49:05 PM »
Pulled the slider cam out.


Installed the Bobcats auxiliary shaft, inner timing cover, and a new timing belt.


Installed a roller cam and new springs.


Installed the Bobcat's distributor, then mocked the intake up.




Not quite ready for the carburetor yet, but close.
1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout

Offline dave1987

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #18 on: February 12, 2012, 12:16:26 AM »
Love it! :D
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new
1973 Ford Pinto Station Wagon - Second Owner

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline Scott Hamilton

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #19 on: March 01, 2012, 11:01:41 PM »
This is a real nice build- good stuff!
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Offline r4pinto

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #20 on: March 17, 2012, 06:33:29 PM »
Nice job on painting up those parts man... Any update on the car?
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom
2006 PCCA "Most Potential" award winner

Offline Cobra Commander

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #21 on: May 02, 2012, 11:53:55 AM »
It's been a while since I've updated. Progress is minimal since I have little free time.

First off, here is the old and new engine side by side.




Got the car outside and hooked a chain up to it so I could tow her down to the car wash and powerwash the engine compartment in hopes of salvaging the paint.









Yeah, that didn't work out so well.







So I said screw it and started grinding.







Meanwhile, discovered the problem on the old engine. Haha











Back to the engine compartment.









Threw the new engine in.











And that's pretty much where I'm sitting right now.
1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout

Offline mrskydog

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #22 on: May 02, 2012, 12:08:17 PM »
Nice Job!! I like the time to detail it all out you took. Looks Great!
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Offline popbumper

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Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #23 on: May 02, 2012, 09:36:19 PM »
Having done what you did, I can certainlly appreciate the time/effort/labor/love that went into redoing your motor and engine compartment. It's a lot to do, but the results are definitely worth it. Work well done, congrats!!
Chris
Restoring a 1976 MPG wagon - purchased 6/08

Offline Cobra Commander

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #24 on: May 03, 2012, 08:58:06 AM »
I cut a lot of corners, and now that the engine is in the car I wish I would have been more detailed. It isn't as nice in person. Oh well, neither is the rest of the car I guess.
1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout

Offline Cobra Commander

1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout

Offline Cobra Commander

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #26 on: May 17, 2012, 09:57:12 AM »
Small update. Exhaust is on, everything is bolted up, accessories are on, pretty much everything is ready except the rear suspension and carburetor. Got the battery hooked up and all the lights seem to work except the cluster for some reason. Oh well.






Also got my vintage plates on, which are era correct.




1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout

Offline Cobra Commander

Re: Bobcat in a Barn
« Reply #27 on: Today at 08:23:24 AM »
Installed Speedway Mini-Stock Pinto leaf springs and a pair of new shocks lastnight. Busted some bolts off, but other then that everything bolted up good. I also tried draining the tank, but only a small amount came out. Tomorrow I'm going to crank on it and see if it starts. That's pretty much all that's left.

Old vs new


They were shot


New springs on, painted black.




Back on the ground for the first time.


1978 Mercury Bobcat Runabout


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