Author Topic: My V8 street Pinto project (Read 18738 times)

mrpinto · « **on:** October 23, 2006, 12:41:06 PM »

I'm in the midst of my Pinto project that I have been putting off my over 4 years. I'm finally seeing some progress and it feels good to see it coming along.

The car started out as a 1979 sedan. This was my 4th Pinto, and after I left my previous V8 project unfinished, I was determined to get this one completed. I found a solid 302, a C4 auto, a donor 8" rear, and in a few weeks of bloody knuckles, cursing (and a few boxes of beer!) she was running!

My engine knowledge it fairly limited, so modifications were limited. I used a pair of stock 351 heads with roller rockers, Edelbrock Torker intake, Holley 4 bbl, Crane 480 lift cam, and an Accel coil. I also installed a shift kit in the transmission for harder shifts. The rear is out of a mid 70’s Maverick, and I’m unsure of the gear ratio. Nothing spectacular, but overall the car performed really well, both on the track and on the street. It was also a blast to drive around town!!

After 2 years of steady driving (and torture!.) the engine started to get tired, and develoved a bad tick. I think it was a lifter, not sure. Eventually I laid it up with the notion that in a month or two, I’d fix it up really nice the way I wanted. 4 years later it was still sitting there! :embarassed:

So about 3 months ago, I finally got off my butt and started working on her. My plans are to first strip, and redo the entire body, and to rebuild the engine. I plan on swapping to the early 71-73 front end style, and do a sort of pro street style car without the rear tubbing. I always thought the body was pretty decent, so I figured the body work would be fairly easy. ….yeah right!! I found out looks can be deceiving, and that sitting there for 4 years did more damage than I thought!! :surprised:

So far it’s been a fun project to work on, even on the days when I found some nasty surprises! Currently I’m about 60% complete of the body, and the engine still sits untouched on the engine stand, but we’ll get there. BTW, I’m doing this entire car myself, with the help of my brother and a couple friends. And although I know basic body work, welding and mechanics, I’m definitely no master of any of them!

Anyway, I though I’d post some pics on my progress.

mrpinto · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2006, 12:48:15 PM »

This is one of the few photos I have of it when it was first put together. This is me on a burnout pad showing a group of Honda guys how it's done.

mrpinto · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2006, 01:02:13 PM »

This the sad state it was in when i pulled it out of the spot it was sitting in for 4 years. Frontend is already partially disasembled.

Like I said, the body looked good, other than the paint falling off!

gearhead440 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2006, 01:13:35 PM »

Good to have you here and good luck! Did the pics make it thru? I'm in the process of a V8 swap myself and things always seem to go very slowly but I'm getting the pieces that I want to make it work right the first time.

mrpinto · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2006, 01:14:11 PM »

This is the main donor car. '78 sedan. Got it for $300 with the intentions of fixing it up, then found out the car is totally rotted underneath. (When we lifted the front, the rear spring perches sunk into the car!!) But it has a really good solid set of fenders, and the doors look to be in very good shape, much better than on the 79. (The window frame rusted completely off on the rear of the driver's door!)

It's a shame the car is so rotted, because the body is in such good shape.

80pinto302 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2006, 08:56:02 PM »

mannnnnnnn, that pintos could be some sharp with some paint, i have a stupid question do you know what size tires are on the back and front of the car ( i like the stance it makes)

mrpinto · « **Reply #6 on:** October 24, 2006, 01:54:38 PM »

Quote from: 80pinto302 on October 23, 2006, 08:56:02 PM

mannnnnnnn, that pintos could be some sharp with some paint, i have a stupid question do you know what size tires are on the back and front of the car ( i like the stance it makes)

I have 275 50R 15's on the back, and 14's on the front. Not exactly sure of the size off the top of my head.

mrpinto · « **Reply #7 on:** October 24, 2006, 02:04:45 PM »

Some pics after I started taking it apart. Floor wasn't too bad, but some rust issues. Driver's side being the worst. Trunk area was in great shape.

80pinto302 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2006, 03:56:23 PM »

thanks for that, haha. Keep us posted and good luck with everything im very interrested in how she turns out.

High_Horse · « **Reply #9 on:** October 27, 2006, 10:04:17 PM »

Keep at it MrPinto. I drive my Pinto daily(well not when it rains). Keep the pictures comming as so we may all share in your Pinto project. I know I appreciate it.

High_Horse
#226

mrpinto · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2006, 08:33:08 PM »

Well, the pace is SLOWWWWWWWWWW on the old Pinto. I only get a couple days a week at it, but I'm keeping at it.

A few more pics on the progress.

Late summer, a sad state and lots of nasty superises under the paint!!

Hours of a wire wheel. Conned my brother into helping with the dirty work!

Both sides behinds the rear window were rusted/cracked badly, and needed some new metal.

Got the early style fenders and hood in place. Found out later after a few hours of stripping and grinding that I need a new hood. :mad:

Found some espessially nasty areas in the rear wheel well area.

Here's where I find out the other side is just as bad!!

Disgusted! :hangover:, this thing is NEVER gonna get done!!!

Current state. Still lots of work ahead, but it's coming along. MAN I hate dents!!

Got the rear spoiler (Thanks Don!) molded in. Looks great! Also got rid of the side marker lights as you can see.

Another shot of the spoiler. I'm going to smooth out that area where the quarters meet the rear panel to clean things up. I need ideas for custom tailights.

That's all for now.

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2006, 11:08:45 PM »

how about early mercury comet taillights. They are much larger than the pinto lights and on my 73 I was considering it, even bought a set. My rear bumper has the vertical impact bumpers and if the comet lights were installed the impact bumpers would cover half the light. I went another direction w/my car so they will not get used on the 73 but I'm thinking they would work for my 80. I have rear window louvers, extra hatch wing, hood scoops and the taillights on the 80 look bigger and the comet lights look like they would be a much better fit on it than the 73..

I cut-n-paste a pic on one of the pictures of your car to give you an idea what I'm talking about. I think the lights would actually be a little bigger than they look in the cut-n-paste, not much, but you get the idea.

and here's a link to an Ebay search for comet tail lights

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=comet+tail+lights&category0=&submitSearch=Search

mrpinto · « **Reply #12 on:** December 14, 2006, 01:36:04 PM »

I never thought of the comet lights. Pretty cool idea. I have a set from a '68 Camaro that I thought would look cool. Te 69's would look cool also. I also had the idea of the 67-68 cougar tailights. The ones that chase, but I can't locate a set. They are also very big.

mrpinto · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2006, 02:12:33 PM »

I really like the look of the 68' Camaro lights on the Pinto. The 69 style are nice too. And now that I see the cougar lights on there it looks a little overbearing.

From a 68 Camaro

From a 69 Camaro

69 Camaro upside down.

67-68 Cougar

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #14 on:** December 14, 2006, 03:04:32 PM »

wow... lot's of choices.

I didn't like.. (and this is just my personal opinion)

68 Camaro - to square

I did kinda like..

69 Camaro (but not upside down)

and the Cougar's were my favorite out of the options you mentioned

I found a couple of pictures of a car w/the comet tail lights so you can see an actual install but should be noted they are upside down (I think they should be put on correct) and the reverse lense was swapped out (and I think it looks better with) but it will give a better idea from different angles.

High_Horse · « **Reply #15 on:** December 14, 2006, 03:06:23 PM »

Mr. Pinto,
   I have always liked the couger tail lights. I particularly like the way the turn signals blink progressively from the center out. They look good on the Pinto. I say Couger.

   High_Horse
   #226

skrach · « **Reply #16 on:** December 14, 2006, 11:24:24 PM »

awesome! i love it. im doing the same build. is that a stop spoiler? thats the same spoiler that im looking for. i like the cougar tail lights i seen a car on ebay once with them, and they look great but paint the chrome black. are you gonna run duel exaust? out the back? or out the sides? our projects are similar.. i love it.

cromcru · « **Reply #17 on:** December 15, 2006, 03:46:34 AM »

i am using the same maverik tailights off a 77. does anyone have a few more pics of that pinto with the lights all ready done.wanted to see what the whole car looked like, nice way they used the cobra rims off the fox body mustang.now on the front of my 79 bobcat . i am planning on changing the way the front looks by making a custom grill incert and changing to the headlights off of a 85-89 merkur xr4ti.

mrpinto · « **Reply #18 on:** December 15, 2006, 05:16:57 PM »

I think I decided what I'm gonne do for the tail lights. I'm not big on the Maverick ones , the more i look at them. They stick out kinda far, I'm looking for something a little sleeker.

After surfing the net looking at the rear of tons of cars, I came across a 68' Firebird. I thought the tail lights were super cool, and did a little cut n paste job on my pinto. I think it looks awesome!! It's just the sleek look I was looking for.

High_Horse · « **Reply #19 on:** December 15, 2006, 11:38:48 PM »

Yes........Tha t is a nice taillight arrangement.

High_Horse

douglasskemp · « **Reply #20 on:** December 16, 2006, 12:22:02 AM »

Okay, I am curious... Are you going to put the rear bumper back on or go with a roll pan? Maybe like something off of a 67 Mustang with the reverse lights (since the firebird ones appear not to have any of their own). Nice looking custom job btw.

mrpinto · « **Reply #21 on:** January 28, 2007, 01:14:24 AM »

Soooooo, after a little hiatus, I'm back to the grind on the Pinto project. After finding out that my hood was in "less than decent" shape, I decided to look for a new one. Well, unfortunately in my part of NA, a decent hood is next to impossible to obtain. I then contacted Unlimited products about their glass hoods. $300 plus almost $400 to ship!!

Then of course I see 78Pinto's posts about the hood he got from them.

So, I said the heck with it, and I'll do what I can with mine. Well, iot's a good thing I'm not afraid of Bondo!! LOL

I liked the look of the cowl scoop on the UP hood, and I'm gonna need the clearance for the 408W, so decided I was going to make my own version out of metal, then fill it smooth. I decided on a 4 1/2" high x 20" wide cowl. I cut the rear in front of the hood support, and forward a little before where the front of the hood starts to dip. It took a little "convincing", but I managed to get the top of the hood bent up. I then made the sides from 18g, and tacked them in at the rear, and slowly worked my way to the front so the top of the hood took the same shape. I wanted the illusion of a longer hood, so I added another 4" past the rear of the hood, over the cowl area. I finished the corners with rolled strips of metal to take some of the square "home-made-ish" look off it, and stiffen it up. I also welded in a small piece of rod in the center of the scoop for added rigidity. I think it will look pretty good once I smooth it out. And the best part, it only cost me about $20 in metal, a bit of mig wire, and a few hours getting flash burn!

BTW, please excuse the crappy welding. I learned as I went along.

Cleaned up the underside a little. Also tacked the hood support to the skin to stiffen it up more, so less chance the fill can crack later on.

Whatchall think?

mrpinto · « **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2007, 01:25:14 AM »

I also started on the tail lights. I cut out the old mounting holes, and welded in new pieces. I'm going to fill these out smooth, then cut out the new holes where I want them. I'm using front turn signals from a 89-93 Chev 1/2 ton for the light housing. They will work perfect for my custom lights.

stever · « **Reply #23 on:** January 28, 2007, 05:37:18 AM »

We are in the same boat,poor people have poor ways.I had my body done it took me most of last summer to pay for it.Start swapping the engine in a month or so.Keep posting and working on it

80pinto302 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 31, 2007, 12:50:22 PM »

wow it looking and coming along realllllllllll ly nice. man, i really gotta get on my car :embarrassed: i really like your plan with the tail lights. keep up the good work.

mrpinto · « **Reply #25 on:** February 01, 2007, 10:09:17 PM »

Finally got the hood finished. I think it came out pretty good considering it was in horrible shape, and it was my first attempt making a scoop form scratch. Cost a helluva lot less than the glass one I was gonna get too! But I suppose if I had to have someone make it for me, it would have cost the same, because it was almost 3 days of filling and sanding!. So I'm glad I watched my dad closely gowing up, and learned a thing or two!

Rub rub rub rub rub...Ugh! I'm sure glad to be done with that!!

All finished and primed!

78pinto · « **Reply #26 on:** February 02, 2007, 08:56:51 AM »

Awesome job on the scoop! I can do alt of stuff (build engines ect) but body work is NOT one of them. I would have been better off getting you to make me a hood than have spent $600+ on the UP22 crap! I'm impressed!

FCANON · « **Reply #27 on:** February 02, 2007, 10:37:30 AM »

Well I dont like your hood scoop.....

Since I'm a nice guy I will send you my hood and you can put you old hood on my car.

Frank

PS: please paint that grabber blue so it matches the rest of my car.

High_Horse · « **Reply #28 on:** February 02, 2007, 12:51:34 PM »

MrPinto,
It looks fast. Your an artist Mr. Pinto. The extention towards the windsheild is good. The lines are good. 10

High_Horse

78pinto · « **Reply #29 on:** February 02, 2007, 03:37:09 PM »

Quote from: FCANON on February 02, 2007, 10:37:30 AM

Well I dont like your hood scoop.....

Since I'm a nice guy I will send you my hood and you can put you old hood on my car.

Frank

PS: please paint that grabber blue so it matches the rest of my car.

Good try Frank!

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Author Topic: My V8 street Pinto project (Read 18738 times)