Author Topic: Meet Dolly (Read 5203 times)

tinkerman73 · « **on:** February 02, 2011, 06:52:42 PM »

Alright. Growing up I always dreamt of haveing a cool car to work on with my dad. When I was 15, we had a Olds 98 Regency. They promised when I turned 16 they would buy a new car and give me that one. Well two weeks before I turned 16 I got home from school and there was a new car in the driveway! YES I was thinking to myelf. It was a baby blue with blue interior. Kinda classy. So I was thinking sleeper! Well 2 days before I turned 16 and I got home, the Olds was gone. To my dismay, they junked it. I was so let down! A year later we were at a park for a family reunion. I saw a flyer for a car show and had to show my dad the flyer in hopes of going. Well someone asked us if we like old cars. Well chat lead us to buying a 53 Belair for $500 and taking it home. I was very happy again. Yeah right. IN the year we owned it I was allowed to drive it up the driveway once! Big freakin woop! So I have always wanted a project for ME! Something I could enjoy. Something I could toy with! Now having two boys I want something I can get them into enjoying too! Well this saturday I am supposed to bring home a 77 Pinto Pony wagon.Cheap and driveable. Needs some work like floor boards. But a nice looking car all of the same! So I am seriously hoping all goes well! LOL. May even make this chevy guy a ford lover? LOL. So stay tuned for more! It does have a 78 front clip on it as the guy wrecked a fender on it before this person. Supposedly he could never find a 77 fender, so he used the front clip off of a parts 78. Sometime I hope to return it to the 77 metal work! My goal for now is to lightly restore it. Eventually when I have the money, would love to do a turbo 2.3 swap in it. Thanks for looking.

blupinto · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2011, 09:21:19 PM »

That is a really neat-looking wagon Tinkerman!

The front end looks like it's '79-'80.

I love that green interior!!!

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2011, 06:37:15 AM »

Thanks. It may be.? I am liking how decent the interior is looking! Body is not a rust bucket either. So I am very excited!

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2011, 06:44:28 AM »

Well, today is the big day. I slept like doo doo last night. Kept waking up and thinking about the car! LOL. Finially up for the day and getting ready to head out to look it over and see if we can make the final deal. I am all set to bring her home! Have never had a hard time trying to name a car before though? Cant think of a good one for this girl? Anyways, will get some new photos of it and post later. Wish me all good luck today!

blupinto · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2011, 12:34:22 PM »

How about "Spring", for her spring green color? (think Crayola 64 colors. lol)

Hoo boy I do know that feeling... the anticipation, the worry that you've got your spiel and cash ready... and it'll already be sold... or the seller will be firm and you won't have enough... what you're gonna do when you get your wagon home... Yeeeh! I'm pulling for you! She's a real beauty!

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2011, 07:47:27 PM »

Well, our round trip turned into a twelve hour day! The last hour leg of the trip back home turned into three hours due to freezing rain! Then our usual 40 minute round trip to town to drop the trailer off turned into another 1 1/2! LOL.Otherwise the first 5 hours of the trip up and back was great! Van did well too! Had a mishap the last time I towed a car with it and blew a tranny! This time went very smooth! Well, other then the freezing rain! LOL. But here she is! Meet Dolly!

dga57 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2011, 07:49:50 PM »

CONGRATULATION S!!!

Dwayne :smile:

Bigtimmay · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2011, 07:51:33 PM »

Grats on the new car!

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2011, 07:57:07 PM »

Thank you. I forgot some details! LOL. She has new tires, new brakes(including the Ebrake), new seleniod a extra set of stock rims and tires, two hoods and four fenders along with the spare motor and tranny. Was inspected three months ago. I rolled her home with trailer rental and gas for $1,000

dga57 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2011, 07:59:06 PM »

Quote from: tinkerman73 on February 05, 2011, 07:57:07 PM

Thank you. I forgot some details! LOL. She has new tires, new brakes(including the Ebrake), new seleniod a extra set of stock rims and tires, two hoods and four fenders along with the spare motor and tranny. Was inspected three months ago. I rolled her home with trailer rental and gas for $1,000

I'd say you did just fine on that deal!!!

Dwayne :smile:

larjohnson · « **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2011, 07:47:05 AM »

Well HELLO DOLLY!!!!!! congrats, she looks like a great car. Hope you and the little ones have fun with her. I'm sure they're going to become Pinto lovers too!!!!!

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2011, 04:35:15 PM »

Well today Dolly and I got better aquanted out back in the barn. My hands were everywheres. LOL. J/K. Anyways, took many pics of various things. Made a exstensive list of what needs to be fixed/replaced. Things I want to do. Ill list it here and maybe anyone along the way reading it can contact me if they have something in the right color? Thanks. I do actually have the color mixture forula for the interior metal work. Need to find it for the yellow exterior.

1.Replace fan blower motor. One works now, want new one later.
2. Replace coil. Works now. Eventually want a new one.
3. Replace Upper and lower hoses and hoses to heater core. Works now. Replace eventually.
4.** NEED rear license plate light bracket**
5.** Replace front drivers side marker lense. Is cracked in two! **
6. cut off and weld on new passenger side front fender bottom mount.
7. Look into the optional passenger side dash gauges?
8. Replace tissue box with radio kit.
9. Replace gear shifter selector trim.
10. Weld in new floor pans.
11. replace carpet.
12. Decide if stay with rubber in cargo or go carpet?
13. Fix drivers side seat uphoulstry
14. Lets get hitched. Need to find a hitch to tow small trailer with for camping.
15. Replace passenger seat lift pin trim.
16. Get new drivers seat belt hanger cover.
17.replace drivers side mirrow with two sport mirros( for both side DOH! LOL.)
18. Get black seat belt for rear seat. (cram another kid in why dont we?)
19.Replace passenger side sun viser(plastic pin broken)
20. Find a R for Ford on the rear hatch.
21.fix/replace rear roof trim in cargo area above the hatch. (is cracked from the screw out.)
22. **get and install gas tank and filler neck recall kit!!** Or
22A replace tank with ABS fuel tank
23. massage out dent on passenger door.
24. fix surface rust around edges on wheel wels and behind the rear wheels
25.** Get new light bulb for passenger side front marker**
26. Replace dash pad or get dash pad cover.
27. Install aftermarket rear window defroster for winter time.
28. Replace starter selenoid.
29. Replace coil.
30. Engine tune up.(plugs rotors wires)
31. New valves in the new head.(motor has new heads. Guy put in old valves and lifters.)
32. replace battery to block ground wire.(insulation starting to crack. Starting to corode at the battery)
33. Get new battery
34. Replace heater core.
35.**Replace Fan Belt** ( seems solid but shows signs if slight cracking)
36. Repaint.( Have green formula for interior. Need formula for yellow exterior)
37. Tranny fluid and filter change
38. Rebuild parts motor and or swap for 2.3 turbo. If no turbo swap, then are there hop up options for this motor?

blupinto · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2011, 12:02:03 AM »

If you're worried about the gas tank fire thing, don't be. That was an issue with '71-'76 sedans and Runabouts. '72-'80 wagons were never recalled for that, as they were longer and therefore didn't have the same problem with gas tank ruptures when hit from behind.

By the way... congratulation s on getting Dolly! I had a feeling it would work out.

postalpony · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2011, 07:34:38 PM »

Hello Tinkerman73 Looks to me like you have scored a winner.
I am happy that you got her at a good price. (my opinion, which
with a $10 bill might get you a cup of coffee)
I like the interior also. Have fun with your young helpers as
this will be something to look back on & be proud..

Best of luck with your build! Dick Mathias

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 08, 2011, 02:07:32 PM »

Alright. Took her for about a 2 mile spin today to go get gas. Was pleasantly surprised to get half a tank for $20!! Anyways, when I got back, I checked her all out. To me, it seemed to be a little hot in the fluid for such a short distance considering it is only about 10 degrees out and who knows with the windchill. I did stop half way for about 3 minutes to get the fuel. Is this typical? I opened up the radiator cap. It did not appear as the the fluid was circulating? Supposed to be a new head on the motor and a radiator flush and fill when that was done. I went to squeeze the top radiator hose to see if it would bubble and made note that there is a soft outer rubber shell then a hard inner shell and I could not squeeze it very much. So my test on that was a flop. Thanks.

phils toys · « **Reply #15 on:** February 08, 2011, 09:59:56 PM »

the hose should be soft and squeezable becarefull when replacing that it does not hit the fan i learned the hard way
i just looked at your rear seat again and it is not a 78 type they had a split seat not a solid one so your car may be a 77 leftover and sold as a 78 due to some new goverment regs that came out
phil

dave1987 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2011, 10:21:22 PM »

Sounds like you've got a great list of plans there!

A lot of what you are planning to do, I have done to my 78 Sedan. And about 70% of what you are planning to do is what I have already done or will be doing next week to my 73 station wagon!

If you have any questions about anything or need any parts, let me know. I have a lot of interior and some exterior odds and ends in storage.

A great rule of thumb to keep in mind is that Ford recycled A LOT of parts between cars in the 70s. My 78 is running off of parts from Mustangs, Pintos, Bobcats, Rangers, Granadas, etc.

Interior parts are quite plentiful if you don't mind staying 100% original, bigger things and some small parts are harder to find.

I am using sun visor pins from some 70's era car that are the same length. I just ordered some rubber tips from scc sscenterprises on both my Pintos. My 73 Station Wagon has a seat belt bolt cover from a Fairlane I think, Steering wheel on the 78 is from a Mustang II, smog pump from a Lincoln Continental, some motor parts are from Rangers and Mustangs.

My 78 is my custom, modernized daily driver. My 73 is my semi-restore weekend driver that will be nice to drive, but not 100% original as I had originally planned.

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:39:27 AM »

Thanks guys. Phils toys, if you read, it is a 77 pinto wagon. But it had a fender bender and the previous guy could not find a fender for it. So he got a 79 bobcat for it for the front clip. Put that on and repainted it. I liked how it looked. But now, I am really liking how the round lights look better. I have the one fender, so I may try to find the other in the future. Just, I really dont like the squarish bumpers! Esp. how the back one sticks out. I really like the early thin rounded bumpers and the rear roll pan. I may sometime down the road try to chance them out. A question I have looking at the width and style. Would any vega pieces be close? I know like front air dams etc. are more widly available for those? I also kinda like the grill opening better on them. LOL. I know one thing, mine will be a custom one of a kind when I get done. LOL.All in good time. I need to make sure she is driveable and reliable first! When I have it in for the inspection this morning, I will have them check out the cooling issue too. Who knows, since it sat for a while. Could be a stuck thermostat. Hopefully its not a pluged radiator. But I am going to assume since the coolant in the radiator is hot, that it is making it back from the motor. Anyways. The saga begins! LOL.

phils toys · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:29:30 PM »

ok i though you had said it was a 78 that had been converted what side fender do you need?

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:53:16 PM »

I am looking for the driver front side marker light as seen in the following photo. Eventually I would like to get the drivers fender for the 77 version. Also would like to do a grill more like the old camaroes or vegas. LOL. But that is all well enough down the road. I would like to replace the market when I can though. Its taped up for now. LOL. By the way, took her out for her good ride tonight. I was surprised at a red light instead of blue for the high beams! LOL. The speedo light flickered a couple of times. The fuel one twice. So I will have to check all of those connections and light bulbs some time. Did not run hot this time! So the first day the thermostat must have just stuck closed due to sitting too long? Road at 70 fine. Broke rubber and did nice donut in the school parking lot when I picked up my brother in law tonight. Peppy enough to satisfy the daily driver routine. LOL. The bumps were a little harsh sometimes. I do have a new set with it. But they are the old style Wondering if there are any gas shocks that would bolt on? Thats another future thing though all in due time. When I stopped to pick up meds, it felt wierd having to look UP at the window since I am used to looking down to the window in my van. LOL. Got more compliments on the car! LOL. Thats always cool! Thanks.

tinkerman73 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 02, 2011, 04:09:16 PM »

I took her out yesterday since the weather was nicer. I gave her a good bath that was much needed to get the darned salt off of her! So the "rain" test was done. Passed with flying colors everywheres except where it counted. LOL. My seat got wet from the back top corner of the car. So I made note, when I can, put some rubber tape on there for now until I can get a new seal. After driving to the city today and back in the other new car wich is suypposed to be good on gas, I learned that it does not get much better then the pinto. So that means I may enjoy Dolly more this summer then thought? We will see. LOL.

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Author Topic: Meet Dolly (Read 5203 times)