Author Topic: Here is my '80 hatch I call Callisto (Read 12329 times)

popbumper · « **Reply #30 on:** September 09, 2010, 12:15:04 PM »

Sweet, keep us posted on your progress.

Chris

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #31 on:** September 11, 2010, 04:14:04 AM »

Here she is, stripped to the basics.

I was going to run glass doors that weigh 22 lbs. but I decided to experiment on one of the rusty doors. I gutted & cut everything out that I could including the impact brace & the result is a steel door that weighs 36 lbs. with the latch.

The weight is accurate since I used my Ebay scale that is accurate within 8 oz. I weighed the stock passenger door & it came in at 77 lbs. I am going to weld tabs to the frame & dzus on some Lexan windows & Ill run aluminum door panels. This should keep each door under 40 lbs. Ill use the outside key lock to open the door from outside & the inside lock button instead of the pull latch to get out. This keeps it simple & I dont want electric solenoids.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #32 on:** September 11, 2010, 04:44:43 PM »

Here is something I wanted to do 26 years ago to my first Pinto. '68 Firebird tail lights. I have been saving these just for that purpose & this is the car they will end up in. I have seen a sequential LED kit for these & down the road Ill probably upgrade.

It's amazing how well these fit in the back & I can't believe it's never been done before. This should be a very simple cut & weld & I'll probably spend 4X more time on bodywork versus installation.

r4pinto · « **Reply #33 on:** September 11, 2010, 06:13:43 PM »

I think someone has done it before... I know I have seen it somewhere, but can't think if it was on here or somewhere else.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #34 on:** September 11, 2010, 06:54:02 PM »

Quote from: r4pinto on September 11, 2010, 06:13:43 PM

I think someone has done it before... I know I have seen it somewhere, but can't think if it was on here or somewhere else.

Are you maybe thinking of this car? I could swear I saw a red Pro-Street Pinto that had horizontal tail lights in a magazine but I dont know if they were Firebird.

This is the build by Mr. Pinto that I found on another forum. This build is the reason I knew you could swap an older frontend on an '80.
http://www.fordmuscleforums.com/makin-progress/472489-79-ford-pinto-project.html

r4pinto · « **Reply #35 on:** September 11, 2010, 08:45:23 PM »

That's the exact one. He actually has a whole post on his car. If you search for "mr pinto" you should be able to find it. While they do look similar I found out they weren't actually from a firebird. Hard to tell though from the pics.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #36 on:** September 11, 2010, 09:36:04 PM »

I put the link in the other post but its hard to see. His are just cut out of flat steel. Its as close as I have seen to my 26 year old idea. Here is the link again.
http://www.fordmuscleforums.com/makin-progress/472489-79-ford-pinto-project.html

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #37 on:** September 12, 2010, 01:37:32 PM »

I forgot to post a side view of Callisto incase anybody is interested in the funky factory stripes that compliment the gold interior. They appear to be original to the car.

dga57 · « **Reply #38 on:** September 12, 2010, 09:29:04 PM »

I like the stripes, but then I'm a little funky myself! :lol:

Dwayne :smile:

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #39 on:** September 16, 2010, 06:29:58 AM »

I decided to tear into Callisto before winter & remove the poor performing turbo. I've had it with the bogging & hard starting.

I decided to clean & paint the battery tray since it's pretty decent & the inner fender was in great shape for an Ohio car.

Some Summit brand chassis black should protect it till I'm ready to dig into a full resto on the car.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #40 on:** September 16, 2010, 09:53:42 PM »

How does that saying go about the best laid plans?? I was planning to put my new head on Callisto to wake her up a bit.

It's got beautiful heart shaped chambers, D ports & has been shaved about .200. It also has oversize stainless valves, Esslinger .518 lift cam, Esslinger springs, retainers, lash caps, followers & solid lifters. It's had some mild porting done as well. Only one problem.....th e valves hit the pistons big time. :mad: I guess I'll have to build a stroker now just to use the head. Oh well.....

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #41 on:** September 18, 2010, 12:27:10 PM »

I called Esslinger about my clearance issues. The tech guy says it should fit & thinks I had the timing off. He may be right & I may check it again but I'm thinking of tossing a .468 lift cam in the turbo head instead.

The oval ports on the turbo head are a near perfect match for the Offy intake I have as opposed to the D-ports on the shaved head. I'm also thinking the small chambers are going to put me close to 11 to 1 compression & I can't find anyone who has run a .518 cam in a 2500 lb. street Pinto before. It would be running around town below its 4000 rpm & up power band MOST of the time & I suspect getting the car rolling from a dead stop will be rough with the 2.77 rear gears.

Originally this 2.3 was destined for my 1000 lb. dunebuggy where I was going to run propane for the compression & it would be revving above 5000 rpm most of the time.

I loosely bolted the Offy intake (I'm going to run an adapter & a Holley 350 2 barrel) & Ranger header in place to check all my clearances & it looks good. I'm thinking of pulling the engine & painting it & the engine compartment so I dont have to do it later. Just the bellhousing & motor mount bolts left anyhow.

Bigtimmay · « **Reply #42 on:** September 18, 2010, 12:39:10 PM »

That circle track heads valves shouldnt hit the pistons (if they do im sure you could get a cometic gasket to clear it up) but your right about not wanting to run a .518 cam on the street it would prolly lose alot if not almost all of its street ability.

Too bad your pinto didnt have the Efi turbo 2.3 in it if it did i doubt you would be removing the turbo.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #43 on:** September 18, 2010, 01:42:03 PM »

Quote from: Bigtimmay on September 18, 2010, 12:39:10 PM

That circle track heads valves shouldnt hit the pistons (if they do im sure you could get a cometic gasket to clear it up) but your right about not wanting to run a .518 cam on the street it would prolly lose alot if not almost all of its street ability.

I got that head for $400 from the machine shop that did the work since the owner never paid his bill. The buggy engine was going to need a high revving, high flow head for my style of climbing. It is perfect for that but I thought I could toss it on Callisto for a while & have some fun. I'll stick with the turbo head & save it for a 2.5 or 2.7 maybe.

Quote from: Bigtimmay on September 18, 2010, 12:39:10 PM

Too bad your pinto didnt have the Efi turbo 2.3 in it if it did i doubt you would be removing the turbo.

I think someone with the skills could have straightened out the carb/turbo. It ran pretty well but I really had no clue where to begin. It would have been useless in my buggy anyway. I've got 6 years to get Callisto ready for my son which will fly by I'm sure. For a first(summer car) I think the EFI Turbo would get him hurt. A good running, reliable 2300 will serve him better......FO R NOW !! :lol:

If he proves his skills behind the wheel ?? EFI Turbo.... :fastcar:

Bigtimmay · « **Reply #44 on:** September 18, 2010, 10:03:55 PM »

Well once i get my Bobcat drivable ill tell ya if a Efi turbo car would be a very practicle idea of a first car. lol Its getting closer everyday!

By the way the 400 you paid for that head was a steal big time the cam and solid lifters are worth that. LOL

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #45 on:** September 18, 2010, 10:44:46 PM »

I'd love to go for a spin in one of the turbo cars just to get a feel for it. I'll probably end up installing one in my sons at some point.

For me, it's all about the V8. I love the rumble of a V8 Pinto so much that I spent way too much to build one. For some reason when that tiny Pinto belts out a V8 song pulling into a parking lot, all eyes are on it.

Trust me, when I saw the buy it now for that head on Ebay I couldn't type fast enough.

blupinto · « **Reply #46 on:** September 18, 2010, 11:21:58 PM »

Quote from: dga57 on September 12, 2010, 09:29:04 PM

I like the stripes, but then I'm a little funky myself! :lol:

Dwayne :smile:

Dwayne you are so right... you ARE funky! lol.

I too like those funky stripes. Callisto is a beauty!

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #47 on:** September 19, 2010, 11:08:14 AM »

Quote from: blupinto on September 18, 2010, 11:21:58 PM

I too like those funky stripes. Callisto is a beauty!

Thanks blupinto.

The pinstripe up high is nice but the lower bundle is a couple wide ones on the outer with several thin ones between them. If you stare at them long enough you start to feel like you are trippin' out. They connect those god awful penguin flippers on the bumpers.

I wanna keep the black/gold theme & once I see what Map351 has in mind for the rear bumper cover I can decide on the details. If I just hang the early sheetmetal & thin bumpers I'll paint it gold with black stripes & if I go with Map's front/rear covers I'll paint it black with gold stripes. My trunk car will get the thin bumpers & be painted black & I dont want them to be twins......all though mine may end up 2 tone.

Either color combo will probably get a similar stripe to this one. I kinda like it.

dga57 · « **Reply #48 on:** September 19, 2010, 11:39:04 AM »

I put a red stripe like that on my Dad's brand new solid white '83 Ford F-150 4x4. Really dressed it up. A lot has changed since then... Dad has been gone 6 1/2 years now, and I own the truck. Has less than 70K original miles on it but the color scheme has been changed by doing a Victoria tu-tone in regatta blue and white, and reupholstering and dying the interior blue. That stripe looks pretty neat on a Pinto too!

Dwayne :smile:

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #49 on:** September 19, 2010, 12:18:55 PM »

I wish I had kept my dads S10 after he died. I lowered it & tricked it out with the intention of keeping it till I got an offer I couldn't refuse. I wish I could get a do-over on that one. Hang on to it or you may regret it.

dga57 · « **Reply #50 on:** September 19, 2010, 07:47:33 PM »

Quote from: Pinto5.0 on September 19, 2010, 12:18:55 PM

I wish I had kept my dads S10 after he died. I lowered it & tricked it out with the intention of keeping it till I got an offer I couldn't refuse. I wish I could get a do-over on that one. Hang on to it or you may regret it.

I really don't think I have any big sentimental attachment to the truck, but on the other hand, I've owned it longer than any other vehicle I've ever had so... maybe. Dad bought the truck new the same year I got married and moved out. He drove it back and forth to work for about four years, then retired. Once he retired, it was seldom driven (which accounts for the low mileage) except when he needed to haul something. There are annual state inspection documents in the glove compartment showing sometimes less than 100 miles driven between inspections! I really associate him much more closely with the string of Lincoln Town Cars he drove from the mid-seventies until his death in 2004. My mom held onto his last one (a '99) for several years after he died, but ultimately replaced it with a 2008 model. We kept it almost in the family, though... my son's godmother bought it and I have first dibs on it whenever she decides to get rid of it. Knowing her, I'll be retired by the time that happens! Today is her 70th birthday and that Lincoln is her 7th car ever! I'm 53 and on my 47th!!! :rolleye:

Dwayne :smile:

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #51 on:** September 20, 2010, 12:31:27 AM »

Quote from: dga57 on September 19, 2010, 07:47:33 PM

Today is her 70th birthday and that Lincoln is her 7th car ever! I'm 53 and on my 47th!!! :rolleye:

Dwayne :smile:

I'm 44 & I'm over a hundred. I have 6 cars, 4 buggies & 2 trucks now. I never know when to quit.

dga57 · « **Reply #52 on:** September 20, 2010, 12:40:23 AM »

Quote from: Pinto5.0 on September 20, 2010, 12:31:27 AM

I'm 44 & I'm over a hundred. I have 6 cars, 4 buggies & 2 trucks now. I never know when to quit.

Kind of the same here... I have seven vehicles at the moment: the truck, an SUV, a convertible, three Lincolns (a Mark VIII, a Mark V, and a Continental), and of course, my Pinto. And the stupid thing is I keep looking at others! It's a sickness.

Dwayne :smile:

Bigtimmay · « **Reply #53 on:** September 20, 2010, 09:13:04 AM »

Yall wanna trade im 22 and ive owned 18 so far i still own 6 of those right now lol. BY the time im 40 ill prolly have owned 200-300 at the rate im goin! LOL

But what can i say i love cars.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #54 on:** September 20, 2010, 08:15:04 PM »

Quote from: dga57 on September 20, 2010, 12:40:23 AM

And the stupid thing is I keep looking at others! It's a sickness.

Dwayne :smile:

If I had the room I'd have 2 more that I've had my eye on. You should see the parts I have stacked in my garages. If I sold off all the parts I collected for all the projects over the years I could pay cash for a new GT500. Some day I hope I will get better but I doubt it.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #55 on:** September 21, 2010, 09:36:02 PM »

Spent 6 hours taking out the driveshaft, trans & stripping the motor so I can pull it. I'm glad I decided to do this now. The more I look under Callisto the more I notice how clean this car is for Ohio. I plan to do a lot of wire wheeling, stripping & painting before putting the engine back in. I think the oil pan has a small hole or the gasket is leaking which is why I figured I'd pull it. 15 years sitting in a garage caused a little gasket & seal leakage so this is way overdue anyhow.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #56 on:** September 30, 2010, 10:06:11 PM »

Got the engine out finally & took the oil pan off to check for a hole. It's perfect which means it's the rear main dripping. CRAP!! I hate changing main seals but since the engine is out I better do it. Tons of wire wheeling, Purple Power cleaner & scrubbing & the engine compartment is ready to paint. No rot to deal with so just clean & paint & get it ready for the engine.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #57 on:** November 03, 2010, 10:37:26 AM »

Finally remembered to download my pics. Here's a before & after shot of the engine bay. A lot of scrubbing followed by Summit brand gloss chassis black & it's nearly ready for the engine.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #58 on:** January 03, 2011, 08:35:48 AM »

Winter has me searching for parts while the car sits. It's too cold & I'm too old to work outdoors anymore & the garage is full. I'll wait for spring to start wrenching but I found the louvers for my sons car. Interpart #2852 NOS in the box for $400 which may or may not be a bargain. I didn't care since I've seen used ones top $300 on Ebay. Can't verify the part number but they appear to fit close enough so they must be correct. I took a hell of a gamble at that price but how many NOS ones will ever pop up? If they ever repop them I figure they will run about $350 a set anyway.

All parts were included but there is a series of holes running up them with no explanation of why. I cant figure out why the holes are present but I found the same thing on pics of other Interpart louvers so I guess its something they just did.

Also got a set of Centerline Champ 500 wheels (14x6 front & 15x7 rear) for $160 in nearly flawless shape. I sold the Mr.Roadster knock offs that came with them for $150 & bought the correct Centerline spinners for $50. That leaves me a total of $120 invested in the wheels which included shipping. They are Chevy bolt pattern & I am converting the car to 5 bolt Ford pattern on the car so I'll run wheel adapters. For what I have in the wheels I can't pass up the opportunity to run them. These always were my favorite wheels.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #59 on:** January 05, 2011, 04:18:29 AM »

I am going to be busy in the spring replacing a ton of parts. Between Ebay & Autozone I rounded up Moog upper & lower ball joints, tie rod ends, rack boots & front & rear leaf spring bushings. Energy Suspension upper & lower control arm, rack, sway bar & radius rod bushings. Bought new motor & transmission mounts, 5 lug rotors, wheel bearings, master cylinder, calipers, wheel cylinders, rear drums, F&R brake pads plus all hoses & belts. For the engine I picked up an Esslinger hydraulic .494 hi vacuum cam & Manley rockers plus a complete gasket set & an aluminum radiator. I figure I may as well do it right.

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Author Topic: Here is my '80 hatch I call Callisto (Read 12329 times)