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Author Topic: My first car is a 78 Pinto  (Read 30647 times)

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Offline Clydesdale80

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Re: My first car is a 78 Pinto
« Reply #90 on: August 01, 2014, 10:36:40 PM »
I spent this summer fixing up and smoothing out the rest of the body panels. After block sanding the shell I assembled it all to test fit and primed it all again.  I'm hoping that once more block sanding and repriming will smooth out the last of the imperfections. also added a torino gt scoop to the hood after deciding how to cut a hole and mount it.







I'm currently waiting for a driveshaft so I can test fit my drive train, T-5 and explorer 8.8 rear.  In the mean time, I took tonight to tuck my bumpers in and see how they fit.  I also changed out my headlight rings for the earlier style.  For a 78 I think it looks pretty good.







I'm considering painting the flat bottom half of the bumpers body color in order to simulate skinny bumpers.  What do you guys think?
Bought a 1978 hatchback to be my first car.

Offline Reeves1

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Offline Clydesdale80

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Re: My first car is a 78 Pinto
« Reply #92 on: August 02, 2014, 07:47:12 AM »
Looking good !

Now you need this: http://www.fordpinto.com/parts-resources-here-is-where-you-can-find-this-or-that/need-74-78-front-brakes/

 ;D

Those would be awesome but.... based on the price that they are listed for on wilwood, they are most likely outside the budget of a poor college student like myself  :(.  they are shiny though...
Bought a 1978 hatchback to be my first car.

Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: My first car is a 78 Pinto
« Reply #93 on: August 02, 2014, 07:48:51 AM »
I'm considering painting the flat bottom half of the bumpers body color in order to simulate skinny bumpers.  What do you guys think?
I think that would be cool, it would be different that's for sure..
Art
65 Falcon 2DR 200 IL6 with C4.

Offline Clydesdale80

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Re: My first car is a 78 Pinto
« Reply #94 on: October 13, 2014, 07:06:43 PM »
I got some time this weekend and was able to test fit the new rear end and get the spring perches from the pinto rear welded on to it. 

It's a unnarrowed 8.8 from a ford explorer with 3.73 gears and limited slip.

using weights in the back of the car and a jack under the differential I checked for interference throughout the range of suspension travel.  It doesn't appear that the larger housing or the offset pinion will cause any clearance problems.  If anything I might move the parking brake cable mounts in the tunnel a little but I don't think I'll need to.
Bought a 1978 hatchback to be my first car.

Offline 78_starsky

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Re: My first car is a 78 Pinto
« Reply #95 on: October 19, 2014, 11:15:52 AM »
looking good and it is coming along nicely !!

Offline Clydesdale80

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Re: My first car is a 78 Pinto
« Reply #96 on: January 07, 2015, 11:03:27 PM »
My car should be a little more rust proof now to stand up to Iowa winters and road salt.  I just finished coating the entire underside and wheel wells with Monstaliner bed liner.  It's a DIY truck bed liner that has been shown to be as good or better than professionally applied bed liners (depending mostly on prep work).  It has become popular in offroading communities to paint entire jeeps/trucks with it.  This stuff really is tough, I plan to coat the engine bay with it as well due to how easy it cleans.  I'll post pics when I can.
Bought a 1978 hatchback to be my first car.