Author Topic: New project... 1980 Runabout (Read 5568 times)

r4pinto · « **on:** June 18, 2012, 09:56:55 PM »

Well guys,

Those of you that knew of my troubles with my old Pinto Harold II knew about me getting a new toy. It's finally happened! I am now the owner of a 1980 Pinto Runabout! Before I go & post pics let me tell you how I came about this car.

I was looking on Craigslist & had a pile of about 7 or 8 Pintos I was going to call on, all but one being in Ohio. I was leary of calling on this car because it had no picture. I called on it & was told it had no rust & was a car they got out of a barn. I checked on it & sure enough it was a 1980 Pinto. This car was faded bigtime but I looked more into the car. Inside was a blue deluxe interior. Of course the dash & steering wheel needed some attention as well as the carpet but other than that I saw potential. The owner sprayed some starter fluid in the carb & she fired right up! a little smoky but the car hadn't driven in a long long time. I was sold. The sticker price was $1500 but I pointed out the few rust spots & the little bit of work on the interior & they agreed to come down to $1200.00. I didn't have the money so I put $100 down on the car & they held it for 7 days.

Today I went to their house with my Dad to pick it up, & put in the battery from my 78 Pinto. AFter they sprayed some starter fluid in it the car once more fired up! I stopped at the gas station & found out the gas gauge even works. WOOHOO!!!!

Dad was following me in case of any issues & good thing he did. The tires were rather old & the left front decided to let go with a bang, followed by thumping. He heard it & thought it was a v-belt on the engine & I thought it was a tire based on what I felt. I called AAA & they were starting to pull the car on the flatbed & pointed out the tire. Since he was there I had him go ahead & tow it home just in case any other tires let go.

The car now sits in front of my house, with the plates from my 77 on her. I am going to get the title & temp tag tomorrow so I can still drive the 77 if I want.

Now for the details of this car...

r4pinto · « **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2012, 10:02:12 PM »

This car is a 1980 Runabout blue exterior with blue deluxe interior. Automatic, power steering, power brakes, door speakers, rallye wheels, 2.3 4 cylinder with only 90k miles on it. Solid floorboards, doors that are not rusted out. With the engine smoking a bit what I am probably gonna do is pull the engine from my 77 sedan which is gonna be junked due to severe rust

. I rebuilt the 77's engine about 3 years ago and have only 3k miles on it since the rebuild. I will then take my time to completely rebuild the cars original engine. The carb or course needs rebuilt & all rubber hoses need replacing before I drive the car. I will buff out the cars paint which is looking nasty, as well as replace a missing hatch seal.

Pics to come soon!

r4pinto · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2012, 09:12:27 PM »

Pics!!!!

r4pinto · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2012, 09:14:34 PM »

More pics!!!!!!!

r4pinto · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2012, 09:15:45 PM »

Still more!!!!

dga57 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2012, 12:24:14 AM »

I doesn't look bad at all, Matt. I'm sure you'll whip her into shape in no time!

Dwayne

Alpine615 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2012, 07:25:07 AM »

Nice find, Matt! It definitely needs some TLC, but if anyone's up for the challenge, it's you!

And remember me if you decide to put Harold II's front end on this one; I got dibs on your fenders, etc!

r4pinto · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2012, 08:28:53 AM »

Quote from: dga57 on June 20, 2012, 12:24:14 AM

I doesn't look bad at all, Matt. I'm sure you'll whip her into shape in no time!

Dwayne

Thanks Dwayne, I'm gonna give it the 'ol college try lol. In the mean time I am gonna enjoy driving the 77 around until I get the gas dry or just about dry.

r4pinto · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2012, 08:31:04 AM »

Quote from: Alpine615 on June 20, 2012, 07:25:07 AM

Nice find, Matt! It definitely needs some TLC, but if anyone's up for the challenge, it's you!

And remember me if you decide to put Harold II's front end on this one; I got dibs on your fenders, etc!

Thanks Steve, It's gonna be a lot of fun, knowing this car isn't rusted out like the 77 is. I still haven't decided on switching the front end with the 77 but if I do you will be the first to know. The only thing I noticed that I didn't before is the grill is cracked. Seems like that happens with a lot of them though. I did find the grille is supposed to be chrome but they painted it. For now I am gonna use some silver paint on it so it matches the headlight buckets better. I like the silver look anyways.

r4pinto · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2012, 09:22:14 PM »

Didn't do too much today. I have some burned out bulbs & possibly a bad headlight switch. No dash lights come on until you have it on with the dome lights & then not all bulbs work on the dash. Found a NOS unit on ebay & got it for about $10.00. I was a bit bored at home so I went ahead & started to polish the paint to see what it would look like. I've got a little bit of the hood & cowl done, as well as most the RF fender.

r4pinto · « **Reply #10 on:** June 20, 2012, 09:23:41 PM »

Before and after.

dave1987 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 20, 2012, 10:31:00 PM »

Nice car Matt! I look forward to seeing this one develop as Harrold II did.

Let me know if you need anything if Fred cant get it for you. I have a lot of spae parts for my 78 and a fair amount of 79 and 80 parts on hand. Now that I have everything at the house and not in storage, I can get it out and take pictures quickly.

Alpine615 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 20, 2012, 10:55:59 PM »

Matt,

Something else I'd be looking for would be a pair of those deluxe door trim panels. I noticed Harold II has the same ones. Can you spare the extras? If so, name your price...

Oh, and wow! What a difference a little bit of polish makes! Looking good already...

dga57 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 21, 2012, 12:09:44 AM »

Quote from: r4pinto on June 20, 2012, 09:22:14 PM

I was a bit bored at home so I went ahead & started to polish the paint to see what it would look like. I've got a little bit of the hood & cowl done, as well as most the RF fender.

Ain't it amazing what you can do with a little polish and a lot of elbow grease? It's looking good, Matt!

Dwayne

r4pinto · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2012, 12:13:28 AM »

Quote from: dga57 on June 21, 2012, 12:09:44 AM

Ain't it amazing what you can do with a little polish and a lot of elbow grease? It's looking good, Matt!

Dwayne

LOL, you're right about that Dwayne. I was definitely using the elbow grease on that one there. That little bit took me about half hour. Now that I know there's still some life left in the paint I can get it all shiney & not worry about a repaint right away.

r4pinto · « **Reply #15 on:** June 21, 2012, 12:20:49 AM »

Quote from: Alpine615 on June 20, 2012, 10:55:59 PM

Matt,

Something else I'd be looking for would be a pair of those deluxe door trim panels. I noticed Harold II has the same ones. Can you spare the extras? If so, name your price...

Oh, and wow! What a difference a little bit of polish makes! Looking good already...

Thanks Steve! Just gotta get me some more rags now lol. Sorry, but the door panels are already claimed. Norm had first dibs on them at Carlisle when he found out Harold II might not be around. Told him I would give them to him since I don't need them for this car.

r4pinto · « **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2012, 12:39:35 AM »

Quote from: dave1987 on June 20, 2012, 10:31:00 PM

Nice car Matt! I look forward to seeing this one develop as Harrold II did.

Let me know if you need anything if Fred cant get it for you. I have a lot of spae parts for my 78 and a fair amount of 79 and 80 parts on hand. Now that I have everything at the house and not in storage, I can get it out and take pictures quickly.

Thanks Dave, I think this one will be a lot of fun like Harold II was for the most part. I will be sure to let you know if I need anything for the 80.

sedandelivery · « **Reply #17 on:** June 21, 2012, 05:30:51 AM »

Looking really good, Matt. It's amazing how the paint shined up with a little work. Good Luck with it!

Alpine615 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2012, 08:53:46 AM »

Boooo Norm...

I understand. I will have to keep looking.

r4pinto · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2012, 10:46:50 AM »

Quote from: sedandelivery on June 21, 2012, 05:30:51 AM

Looking really good, Matt. It's amazing how the paint shined up with a little work. Good Luck with it!

Thanks! I'm thinking about getting those springs installed on this car once it is time to part ways with the 77. Still having some enjoyment with it.

pintoman1 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 21, 2012, 06:45:34 PM »

looks good matt can't wait to see it at carlisle!

r4pinto · « **Reply #21 on:** June 21, 2012, 09:10:39 PM »

Quote from: pintoman1 on June 21, 2012, 06:45:34 PM

looks good matt can't wait to see it at carlisle!

Thanks

It's gonna take a LOT of work to get the car there at this point, yet not so much that it will drive me nuts fixing it up.

r4pinto · « **Reply #22 on:** June 21, 2012, 09:20:19 PM »

Today I played musical Pintos. I did a little polishing on the paint & then decided to get the cars switched around so I could replace the LF tire on the new Pinto. I took a battery that I knew was junk & installed it in the 77 Pinto so I could get the car running. I jump started the battery with the charger and moved the 77 out of the driveway. I had already started the 80 so I walked over to it to find it is gushing gas. I finished moving the car into the driveway, where I did a quick diagnostic & determined the fuel pump went bad. I'm not completely sure but pretty sure that to be the case. I have a spare pump in the garage that was never installed on any engine so I'm gonna install it on the 80. I really do need to get another battery so I can at least drive the 77 as needed. Didn't get the tire changed but I was bored & took one of the spare 77 wheel covers out of the garage & put it on the 80. Doesn't look too bad.

r4pinto · « **Reply #23 on:** June 22, 2012, 11:38:40 AM »

Today I plan on getting the 77s spare tire bolted on the car so I can get that bad tire off the left front. It isn't too hot so I will probably also take care of the fuel pump as well. I have my 1985 Dodge Omni turbo that will be going in storage for a few months so I have a place to work on the 1980, as well as tear down the 77 when I am ready to do so. Right now it gets better mileage compared to my Pontiac so I will prolly fix the brakes & drive that next week. It has more gas in it anyways.

r4pinto · « **Reply #24 on:** June 22, 2012, 11:41:27 AM »

I also wanna get those 14s off the car. Makes it look like crap with them on. I will more than likely have steel wheels on the car with 77 Pinto wheel covers on it until I decide what to do about the alloy wheels. They need center caps & a lot of work to look good.

r4pinto · « **Reply #25 on:** June 22, 2012, 08:35:14 PM »

Gotta fix the wipers on the car. They are intermittent. Only problem is they do not have intermittent wipers installed. I think it's a bad switch since it works for a little bit but then nothing. Not completely sure though & I don't have a spare switch... I think. Gonna check my parts collection to see if I do or not.

r4pinto · « **Reply #26 on:** June 23, 2012, 04:54:44 PM »

Decided to do some cleaning on the car today. Cleaned the door panels up & the dash, as well as the windows. When the mail arrived the NOS headlight switch arrived so I started to remove the instrument cluster so I could get to it. Couldn't get it out of the car! When I was trying to remove it I heard "CRACK". I pulled the cluster too far & cracked the front of the painted plastic. Oh well, I was gonna replace that anyways since someone put an LED in there. Think for an old alarm. Decided to remove the radio to see if I can access it. Got pissed off at the radio with extra wires that were chopped from some time ago. Went under the hood & found the vacuum leak. No more idle misfire. I also pulled the plugs & checked them. Good thing I did because I found a plug that had a cracked insulator. It broke. Grabbed a spare that was in my tool box & installed it. Also went ahead & replaced the LF tire & put on a wheel cover so it doesn't look too bad. Still haven't got the fuel leak fixed. Can't even get to the dang pump. Gotta figure out how to get to it. On top of that the accelerator pump is now leaking. I have one on a spare carb that is in good shape so I will be putting it on to stop at least one fuel leak.

pintogirl · « **Reply #27 on:** June 24, 2012, 01:04:42 PM »

Congrats on the new Pinto Matt!! Looks like it is going to buff out to be a real gem!!

r4pinto · « **Reply #28 on:** June 24, 2012, 01:52:45 PM »

Thanks Kim! I think it will look okay once I get the paint buffed out. The paint won't be perfect but it will work out alright for now. At least for a couple years.

r4pinto · « **Reply #29 on:** June 24, 2012, 09:05:29 PM »

Had myself a setback today. I replaced the accelerator pump diaphragm & was doing some other work to the car. Tried to start it but it didn't wanna go. Finally the carb backfired & next thing I knew the engine was on fire!!!

I ran to the garage & grabbed the fire extinguisher but couldn't get it working! Dad saw me freaking out so I yelled at him that my car was on fire & to call 911. He ran outside & ran to the back yard & got the garden hose. He got the fire out & within 15 minutes we were looking over the damage.

I now need a set of plug wires, various vacuum lines, and parts of the wiring harness repaired. We'll see what happens now.

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Author Topic: New project... 1980 Runabout (Read 5568 times)