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1979 Pinto 3-door Runabout *PRICE REDUCED*

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Author Topic: My 1977 Runabout  (Read 11973 times)

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Offline Hobbesga

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Re: My 1977 Runabout
« Reply #30 on: February 17, 2011, 09:21:32 PM »
Well, I just wanted to throw a little update out there. I've got the car back up on the trailer and blocked up. I've dropped the front suspension and rack and pinion. I've also pulled the rear end out from under the car and started pressure washing it all off. I still haven't gotten any of my most recent orders in the mail yet, but I'm hoping to be ready to start painting the underside with some rubberized undercoating by the end of the weekend. Once everything starts going back together I'll try and get some good pictures of it. All of the pressure washing in the world still hasn't cleaned up the tunnel though, so I'll be on my back scrubbing until it comes clean.

I've got some more looking around to do, but I need to find some donor material for the passenger side inner fender. I've already got a plan on fabbing up a new battery mount, but I'm not sure whether I want to try and find a panel to cut and weld in place, or if I'll have better luck just finding some material to work with and banging out my own replacement.

If you've got any experience with the rubberized undercoatings, or with repairing that inner panel, I'd like to hear from you guys.

Oh, and I know I mentioned the remade water neck in a previous post. If you look close at the second engine pic I posted above you can see a really good shot of it.

Uh, I also feel obligated to mention that I painted my exhaust manifold with some of that high temperature black paint. Which has to be cured by baking it for and hour or two at either 400 or 600 degrees in an oven. Now I know that the can clearly indicates that this should be done in an outside oven, but who has an extra oven outside for baking parts? So, when I informed the other residents in the house that it was Manifold Manicotti that was in the oven I got some very strange looks. If you decide to follow my lead on this one, can I suggest doing it on a day when you're at home alone and can open up some doors and windows. The paint itself didn't seem to be too bad, but some of the deposits inside of the manifold started to smoke and kind of pissed some people off. Not to mention that they weren't too happy with the timing covers hanging from the fireplace mantle to finish drying. Oh well, you can't make everybody happy all the time. I do want to get a picture posted though after the carb is rebuilt with all of it mounted together. The old style ford blue looks great with the black parts.

Offline Hobbesga

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Re: My 1977 Runabout
« Reply #31 on: February 19, 2011, 11:47:05 PM »
So...

Today I carried on with cleaning and painting suspension components. And then my carburetor rebuild kit arrived and I managed to complete that task before it got too late. I just wanted to throw this little tid bit out there for anyone struggling with a question I found myself perplexed by...

The original tag that was on the top of the carb identifying what model was in the car was long gone. So, when I went to order the kit for the carb I was torn between which kit to order. A kit was suggested elsewhere in the threads that would be usable to rebuild any carb on any Pinto. While that suggestion was certainly good information, I did find stamped into the base of the carb, just above where it bolts onto the gasket and riser. The stamp was on the face of the base in small numbers but showed that mine was model #R7950. I already knew that the base model of the carb was listed as a Model 5200 VV, but that small set of numbers helped me get more information and determine (with some doubt still) that the information shown in my Chilton's repair manual for the carbs was incorrect. The Haynes manual information appears to list the carb correctly.

Of course, I haven't cranked the engine yet to be able to check out how it runs. I'll definitely let you guys know if I find out that I'm wrong about which manual has the more accurate information. Then again, my engine has been bored over so the correct settings may be off from what's shown in the books.

I hope that little bit of info helps someone else out. Once, I get finished with the carb and some of the other parts I'll post some new engine picks to show how it's all coming together.

Then I have a question for you guys. I'm getting ready to prep for repairing the engine bay and do a little painting. The engine compartment was originally painted the same white color as the rest of the car's exterior. I'm going to lean toward not going back with the white, but instead painting the engine compartment a flat (or semi-gloss) black color to help hide some of the dirt. Plus, since I'm intending on using the black rubberized undercoating on the bottom of the car (once again, instead of the white) I think it'll make the transition a little easier on the eyes. The other option is to continue the undercoating into the engine area... Any ideas or suggestions on this?

Offline Hobbesga

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Re: My 1977 Runabout
« Reply #32 on: March 04, 2011, 11:30:11 PM »


Just wanted to show that there's some progress going on...

Offline Starsky and Hutch

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Re: My 1977 Runabout
« Reply #33 on: March 08, 2011, 05:02:35 AM »
If i was going to paint it .I`d use gloss black,,, flat will get glossy when oil gets on it ...and it will look patchy,, Id leave it the white myself .
1977 Pinto Accent stripe group Runabout                                                                    interior(Code PN) Color (Code R2)

Offline skunky56

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Re: My 1977 Runabout
« Reply #34 on: March 08, 2011, 10:15:22 PM »
I agree with S&H paint it white I left mine white , it stays clean and hides the dirt well. Really no kidding it does.
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Offline dave1987

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Re: My 1977 Runabout
« Reply #35 on: March 08, 2011, 10:29:25 PM »
I painted my 78's engine compartment semi-gloss black with engine paint. It's holding up well, but the dirt IS visible when I don't keep up on the power plant cleanliness.
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

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 Hobbesga

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Re: My 1977 Runabout
« Reply #36 on: April 17, 2011, 04:24:54 PM »
Okay, so I haven't been on here in a bit. I had some serious trouble with my computer and have had to break down and buy a new one. Now that I'm back online, I have a question. I need help with replacing some parts. I'm about to have to buy a new radiator to go in the car. The one that's in it now has some problems and is probably repairable, but I think I'd prefer to just replace it like I've done with everything else...

Some of my research has indicated that there's a problem with the cooling capacity of the stock radiators. Has anyone else found this to be true? Should I consider upgrading to a larger radiator, or in your experience has the stock radiator provided sufficient cooling on the little 4 cylinder engine?

Offline phils toys

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Re: My 1977 Runabout
« Reply #37 on: April 17, 2011, 06:20:23 PM »
i have a 76 with ac and the stock radiator is just fine
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Offline r4pinto

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Re: My 1977 Runabout
« Reply #38 on: April 17, 2011, 10:41:21 PM »
I agree with Phil. I had to replace my radiator after I tossed a hammer in the garage & it went straight through it (non repairable). But when I replaced it I got a used one from a 74 Pinto & have had no problems with overheating at all. I would say just have the old one fixed. It will be cheaper if it can be repaired & will cool your car just fine.
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom- 1980 parts provider & money machine for anything that won't fit the 80
1980 Pinto Runabout- work in progress