Author Topic: Oooops, I did it again..... A '76 wagon this time :) (Read 1804 times)

Pinto5.0 · « **on:** August 05, 2012, 10:22:12 PM »

I have got to stop buying every Pinto that crosses my path

.

My daily driver Neon has been run into the ground & I have a to-do list that's as long as my arm & I need to spend at least a month getting it reliable again. I wanted to drive Callisto while I R&R the Plymouth but between my overkill on the restoration & the 20 things that popped up needing addressed immediately, I just can't get Callisto on the road soon enough.

A few miles from my house this '76 wagon was for sale so I bought it as a driver to let me whip my Neon into shape.

Apparently it's an original Squire with all the trim & woodgrain removed. It's got 60K original miles & sat in a body shop the last 10 years.

If I keep it the lower quarters are going to need replaced & the paint is a 20 footer at best but the 2.3L engine runs great(now that I tuned it a bit) & holds 40 pounds oil pressure. The automatic transmission shifts smooth but I'm not a big automatic fan. A 4-speed swap is in it's future if I keep it.

78_starsky · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2012, 03:21:56 AM »

what a nice straight looking car!!! they must have polished that car on slow days, or used it for a learning vehicle WOW is it nice and clean. hope you got it for a good price. cheers

dga57 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2012, 10:57:04 AM »

Looks like a really nice wagon!

Dwayne

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2012, 12:42:14 PM »

Thanks guys

but the pics make it look a bit better than it does in person. The paint shines somewhat but the bodywork under it is rough. There are deep sanding marks & the whole car will need re-done at some point. It's a 20 footer but at least it's better than primer & rust. For a grand I did OK but I have a long road ahead on this car.

With the exception of both lower quarters that are loaded with patches & bondo & the drivers floorpan I can't find any rust on her. A panel wagon(no portholes) was always a future build on my to-do list & I think this is a good candidate.

It will make a good driver/parts runner for a couple years while I whip my other cars into shape. My daughter wants my Neon(48K orig miles) as her 1st car which is 6 years away but that gives me time to get this car right before it becomes my main driver. With that in mind I'm not planning anything radical for this wagon. No V8, no turbo, just a good running 2300 & since I have all the parts probably a 4-speed swap.

I put near 100 miles on it over the weekend & it ran great other than a tendency to run close to 200 degree water temps in the 90 degree heat. Someone already replaced the 36 year old hoses & belts recently bit it's still sporting the ORIGINAL radiator, water pump & thermostat.

I ordered a brand new radiator from AutoZone($115 with discounts) & a new, not rebuilt, water pump plus a thermostat from Advance($32 after discounts) & I'm hoping that's all I need to spend on her for awhile. That's on this weekends to-do list along with checking the timing since I can pull the belt cover while it's apart.

Supposedly it's got a new timing belt & I suspect the lack of power is the 36 year old carb but I wanna double check the belt while I can. My '75 wagon was a 2.3L/auto & I seem to remember it having some balls. This thing is getting good mileage but power is non existent & that's going to get resolved real soon. I'll rebuild the carb & see where I need to go from there if that doesn't solve it. The cat's already been removed BTW.

I'm not enthused by the interior colors but at least it's not shredded.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 10, 2012, 09:17:03 PM »

I spent all day dodging rain drops & installed a new water pump, radiator, thermostat & upper & lower hoses. While I had the timing cover off to replace the pump I checked the timing at the belt since it was replaced before I got it & holy shizod it was off.

That sure explains my lack of power. It was off 35 degrees. I'm amazed it ran as good as it did though it really was a sled & couldn't maintain 65 mph.

I need this to be reliable so I just bought everything new. Grand total was roughly $170 which money was well spent. My engine temps went from 195 deg. in traffic to 175 deg. after idling for 45 minutes in my driveway.

Out with the old.....

and in with the new.....

BTW, the car runs great now that I solved the timing issues. I ran it to 80 mph & still had more left in her.

Bart68 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2012, 01:09:28 AM »

Very Nice Car and what a Great looking interior!
Congratulation to this Catch
Bart

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 15, 2012, 07:49:54 PM »

Quote from: Bart68 on August 11, 2012, 01:09:28 AM

Very Nice Car and what a Great looking interior!
Congratulation to this Catch
Bart

Thanks Bart. The pics make the interior look 10 times better than in person but it's not bad for 36 years old. The dash pad is still soft & has a small split which I can live with but the drivers seat is worn paper thin. I haven't made a plan for this car yet other than a driver but I have some ideas in the back of my head.

I always wanted a thin bumper sedan delivery & this may be the perfect car to do that with.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 09, 2012, 06:52:26 PM »

Yesterday I drove home an '87 Mustang LX that I found for $350 bucks. It has a 2.3L EFI with a T-5 trans. I wanted to do an EFI(non-turbo)/5-speed swap into this wagon down the road so I got a jump on it.

The only problem I face now is what to do with the rest of the Mustang after I strip out the drivetrain & wiring. I was planning to sell some parts off it & scrap the remains but this car is clean. I cant find any rust through & the floors are nice. I'm now debating on installing my 5.0/T-5 that was destined for my '73 & selling it for a profit.

I've been leaning towards a 2.3L turbo in the '73 with these $4.00 gas prices anyhow. Decisions, decisions, decisions..... .. $:-\$

bbobcat75 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 09, 2012, 09:25:37 PM »

i would pop in the 5.0 in the mustang and let her fly, every kid out there wants one and a easy $5,000.00 if its cleand and runs strong! just my 2 cents.
plus like you said gas prices keep climbing thats why im doing the 2.3 turbo set up in my wagon!

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 10, 2012, 07:21:51 PM »

Quote from: bbobcat75 on September 09, 2012, 09:25:37 PM

i would pop in the 5.0 in the mustang and let her fly, every kid out there wants one and a easy $5,000.00 if its cleand and runs strong! just my 2 cents.
plus like you said gas prices keep climbing thats why im doing the 2.3 turbo set up in my wagon!

I took a good look at the car today & while the car is clean I will literally need a parts car to replace all the trim & interior pieces that the previous owner bought the car for. I'll end up wasting a year & a couple grand to get this car rolling & ready to sell. I'll just strip it out, sell the parts I don't need & scrap the remains.

bbobcat75 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 11, 2012, 08:24:59 AM »

you could always sell the body to some one wanting to build a race car either drag or circle. just a thought.

good luck

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 27, 2012, 08:24:24 PM »

I just picked these up for the wagon an hour ago down in Cincinnatti. These will be on it by Saturday since the hubcaps just aren't doing it for me.

My Neon is nearly finished & should be back on the road in 2 or 3 weeks so then I can get back to my Pinto's.........

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2012, 04:09:17 PM »

I picked up my Cruizin' Wagon side panels friday.

I just have one question about how they mount. At the front & rear are vertical flanges with screw holes running vertically. Does something cover those once they are screwed on? Am I missing some trim pieces?

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 11, 2012, 10:57:00 PM »

I finally swapped wheels to rid the wagon of the "grandpa" look. Now I can drive it as-is until I whip the new wagon body into shape.

This one is already built in my head, now I gotta bring it to life in steel.

TIGGER · « **Reply #14 on:** November 12, 2012, 04:06:59 AM »

Quote from: Pinto5.0 on October 06, 2012, 04:09:17 PM

I picked up my Cruizin' Wagon side panels friday.

I just have one question about how they mount. At the front & rear are vertical flanges with screw holes running vertically. Does something cover those once they are screwed on? Am I missing some trim pieces?

The side panels mount along the vertical flanges as well as inside along the window channels. If you flip the panels over you should see a bunch of small holes along the inner edges. Inside the window channels, there are some plates that are spot welded that hold the inner carpet panels on along the bottom. Those carpet pieces should have some plastic channel pieces and clips up top. Unfortunately I do not have any pictures of those. On the outside there are some corner pieces needed to trim out the drip rail and some moldings that cover the vertical screw holes. The ones on the rear are metal and are painted body color. The moldings near the doors is grey and are rubber with a metal strip in them. I have a set of the corner moldings if you are interested but none of the other pieces. Here are some pictures from the wagon I used to own.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 12, 2012, 10:00:00 AM »

Oh, that's you I bought the front spoiler from lol. I'm the guy who messaged you on Ebay about whether you had those missing pieces.

I paid way too much for the porthole panels because they were local & saved me 70 bucks shipping but I never owned a Cruising Wagon to know I was going to be missing pieces. My plan was to shoot them red & pop them on my wagon over a weekend. Instead I gave up & went back to my original plan.

I always wanted a true panel wagon & after talking with Pinturbo75's dad about how easily his were welded solid I'm just going that route on the '74 wagon shell.

^^Here's my replacement body^^. Mine needs quarters, doors, floor repairs & I found a few hidden issues that are probably much worse than they look. I can now whip this body into shape, get the 2.3L EFI out of my '87 Stang installed & wired & get it right while I drive mine till I'm ready to strip the last parts off it to complete the new one.

^^This is the vision of a panel I always had in my head anyhow so I may as well do it right the 1st time^^. I'm also leaning towards welding up the rear window like authentic deliveries & the Ford parts don't fit the theme. I'll hang the porthole panels on my wall as a lesson on how to waste 175 bucks on parts I can't use unless someone out there really needs them.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 12, 2012, 05:50:39 PM »

This car has turned into a major project since I got the replacement shell for it. So much for just making a nice driver out of it on the cheap.

I was planning to use the stock EFI from the '87 Stang until I found a Merkur harness cheap. Now it's getting a turbo & I think I'll install the EFI on Callisto in a year or two.

I also ordered Wheel Vintique Smoothies with a 4-bolt pattern in 14x6 & 15x7 as well as '42 Ford hubcaps & ribbed trim rings for it. This should compliment the black suede paint I decided on.

I need to get them powdercoated red but this is what I'm gonna end up with.

I love rounding up parts for a build, it lets my imagination run wild. I always wanted a street rod but it's even more impractical than my Mustang so giving my wagon the "rod" treatment should check that one off my bucket list.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 18, 2012, 09:03:33 AM »

Finally snapped some pics of the turbo parts for the wagon. I have the complete bottom end from an '83 Turbo Coupe with 52,000 miles on it. I think I may re-do the hed off my '87 parts car, install a roller cam & bolt it on this engine.

I have the E6 manifold which I didn't want to run because of the blower motor clearance issue. I'm still leaning towards a center exit header by the time I'm ready to assemble this car but right now money is tight.

I have the inline intake which I wanted so I can build a box plenum down the road when I start pumping up the power. I gotta find 30# injectors & a fuel rail but that's easy stuff.

I also have the small VAM which I'll use untill I jump to bigger injectors & a bigger turbo.

I have plenty of intercooler piping, silicone connectors & clamps. It's a generic kit with 2 1/2" tubing & a blowoff valve. I got it all cheap from an abandoned project so the price was right.

It looks pretty but my assumption is that it's cheap Chinese junk that will self destruct the 1st time I bang through the gears. I guess I'm gonna find out in about a year.

I also have the stock '83 turbo but I need an exhaust housing & downpipe. I need to find a turbo shop that can assess it & let me know if it needs anything or is good to go as-is.

racer99 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 18, 2012, 10:20:13 AM »

The CABOV might suprise you.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2012, 11:03:59 AM »

Quote from: racer99 on December 18, 2012, 10:20:13 AM

The CABOV might suprise you.

You mean it will actually hold up? That's good news. I gotta figure out where the 2 vacuum ports connect

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 20, 2013, 09:14:51 PM »

I haven't had much spare cash lately but I followed up some leads on some cheap turbo parts & combined with what I had laying around I should have everything I need for this wagon & the '80 Runabout plus enough spare parts to keep me running indefinitely.

This is the shortblock I plan to use in the wagon. It has 52K miles on it & the $100 price included the 52K mile T-3 from an 83 Turbo Coupe. The bottom end is buttoned up but until I get the head on it I stuffed the cylinders with WD-40 soaked paper towels. It seems to be keeping rust away for now.

I splurged a whopping $67 on Ebay for the front mount intercooler. It should get the job done & it fits nicely up front.

Now I just need this neverending winter to go the eff away......

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Author Topic: Oooops, I did it again..... A '76 wagon this time :) (Read 1804 times)