PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: nanowagon on September 16, 2016, 12:14:15 AM
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hey guys I really need your help!
I have the option to scrap my current project and get a different project, which one would you choose
-79 cruising wagon with a 2.3 / 4 speed, red interior/red exterior, paint and interior trashed, windshield cracked, running okayish, 100k miles $2500k total, still $730 in back fees & only windsheild I can source is aftermarket at $700
-77 cruising wagon 2.8 / auto, white exterior/black interior, paint good/interior mint, running okay, 46k miles $3500k
my brother says the 2.3 was a far better, more reliable engine, also that the 4 speed is much more reliable than the 3 speed auto, I figured you guys were the best to clarify this information. which would you say is the better choice? I love the 77 front end a lot more than the 79 (no offense to my 79-80s out there) and the fact that the interior is black and is mint condition has my heart racing, but I want to have the more reliable car, changing appearance is a lot easier than changing drivetrain, please please please share your thoughts with me I am all ears. thanks guys!
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Had both engines over the years , and both are good engines and will run forever when taken care of , each has is own good and bad points , the 2.3 is the easiest one to get parts for and very reliable, but you have to change the timing belt every 40 to 50K or it may break and leave you , but don't worry it will not hurt anything if it does , the 2.8 has pep and getup and go , gas mileage is close if you keep your foot out of it , only bad is you have to adjust the valves on it , and with 40k on it I would check to see if the timing gears were changed , they came with fiber gears (bad) new replacement are metal (good) I have that engine in my pinto , so for a grand more you will get a mint interior , that alone is worth it , and it's very reliable, I have upgraded mine some , check out my photo gallery, hope this helps , all pinto are good cars
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Sounds like the 77 is a better deal for the money, BUT it's which one is most appealing to you and how much of a project you're willing and afford to get into.
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Obviously, it's your money and your choice as to how to spend it, but if it was my money, I would definitely go for the '77.
Dwayne :)
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thanks so much for the info guys! does anyone have any experience with the 3spd auto?
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I rebuilt mine.
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Depends which 3 speed auto it is. Either the C3 or the C4 as to which is good. If I keep my 77 I will be rebuilding the C3 in it since it's shot, since it was replaced once before. my 80 has a C4 so it's a different transmission. Personally I like the look of the 77 but the 79-80 is growing on me
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they came with a C-4 or C-3 , both are good , a plus would to install a trans cooler if you live in town ,I just to have a C-3 in mine but when I redone it I installed a A4LD in mine and like the overdrive , so I do have a spare C-3 Cheep if anyone is interested , and a C-4 also ,
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1.) What's wrong with your current project?
2.) What do you really want out of the next Pinto?
The '77 sounds like a much better car for the money. If the trans is a C4, great. If it's a C3, then I think it's alright and not a deal breaker. There's nothing wrong with the V6 and there's nothing really better about the 2.3.
The '79 wouldn't be worth half the asking price IMO even without back fees.
the 2.3 is the easiest one to get parts for and very reliable, but you have to change the timing belt every 40 to 50K or it may break and leave you
They don't have to be changed that often unless the car sits a lot. Age is a factor more than mileage. Factory replacement interval is 60k IIRC, but they usually last a lot longer in practice, especially with the newer materials. Still, a belt and tensioner kit is only $25, so replacing an unknown belt is cheap insurance.
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On the timing belt it depends on where you drive , if you just drive in town you better change the belt every 40k , hwy 60 , worked at a dealer and replaced many , noted the miles , those were the square tooth , now if you change to the newer round tooth belt and sprockets 100k easy , if you get any oil on them fix leak and change them NOW ,
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On the timing belt it depends on where you drive , if you just drive in town you better change the belt every 40k , hwy 60 , worked at a dealer and replaced many , noted the miles , those were the square tooth , now if you change to the newer round tooth belt and sprockets 100k easy , if you get any oil on them fix leak and change them NOW ,
on which engine is this info for?
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thanks so much to everyone who put in input, I am now in the process of purchasing the 77, you guys are the best. put my 79 in the classifieds if anyone is interested...