Author Topic: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?  (Read 11957 times)

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Offline ChrisMiddleton

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408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« on: June 11, 2003, 02:50:06 AM »
Hi I was woundering if yall have ever heard of anyone putting a long block 408 in a Ford Pinto, and how many mods you would have to do. Im making a pinto hot rod with just about shaved everything but I was thinking if I should cut the windshield wiper area out of the car for more engine room.. If yall think it will be needed. I think it wont leave me with enough leg room cause of the firewall. Anyways how many mods do you think I will need to do to make this engine fit.   I emailed the people who make the engine and they said

"I've never seen a 351 in a pinto. It's a real tough fit even with the
302. The headers wrap around the front of the engine. If someone
makes a swap kit and headers though, it will go" any coments please post up

Offline turbopinto72

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Re:408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2003, 11:34:07 AM »
Chris, Your best bet is to front half the car and do a tube frontend. You can then mount the motor as needed and have room for the headers etc. I know its a lot of work BUT I think you will spend more time and effort " shoehorning" that big block in that small engine compartment. There are lots of Pinto's with a tube front half section and a good fab shop should be able to do a good job with all the necessary tabs to mount the fenders and hood etc.
Brad F
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Offline ChrisMiddleton

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Re:408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2003, 03:34:39 PM »
Hmm i dont think the tube front end is the look im trying to get.. Even though im gonna get a roll cage. Im trying to get a real tight "Clean" look. Do you think I would need to cut throught the firewall to get this size of an engine to fit though? :-\ ;D thanks for posting

Offline fatheadinc

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Re:408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2003, 09:40:15 AM »
ok ok  a408 dom. big block ! ?.....are you talking about the stroker kits for a 351w  (SMALLBLOCK) hopefully thats the case my brother is going with a windsor in a 78 wagon we have mocked up the motor and it doesnt seem like to big of a problem but then again we work in a machine shop and have access to machines for any mods needed or things to be made.if your after the tight look just go with a 302 or 351 if  you want cubes then check this site out for stroker kits you may already know of them sense your talkin about 408 dominators...w ww.coasthigh.c om they have some nice stuff......and they do have a sbf swap kit out there but i think for headers and mounts its like 5 bills or so....we where lookin at the block hugger headers short but they might work  dont know yet........... .....
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Offline ChrisMiddleton

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Re:408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2003, 01:27:36 AM »
Yea!!! someone responded ;)  Damn I dident even realize it was a 351. Hmm im not looking at the long block and woundering if someone would think it would fit really nice. Im not to good with engines just been  wounderin what I should put in mine.

Offline TurboPintoDude

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Re:408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2003, 05:26:55 PM »
Why gowith the 302 or 351 when a 460 will work? Nothing beats cubic inches!

Offline 78pinto

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Re:408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2003, 11:57:37 PM »
I have a 351w in my car and it fits nicely! What year is the pinto? The early Pintos had a smaller engine compartmeant (71-73) The 74 and up were made bigger for the 2.3 and the Mustang II's use of a 302. (the 74 and later Pintos were the same basic undercariage as the Mustang II) The 408 is just a stroker kit added to a 351w and will not change the size  of the outside of the engine. My headers are Hooker super comp for a 302 that have been modified for the 351, two sets of pipes on each side go through the inner fenders and two go down beside the block. The egine will have to be set back a bit but it will fit. My buddy has a 351 in his '71 but he had to cut out the inner fenders, cut out the firewall (mostly because he used a C6 tranny...HUGE) and the tranny tunnel, moved the firewall back about 4 inches and made the trans tunel wider and higher.    Jeff    ps. when they say " long block"..... all they mean is that it includes the heads with the engine if the say "short block" it means just the block with no heads included.
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Offline ChrisMiddleton

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Re:408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #7 on: August 18, 2003, 01:00:52 AM »
Woa thanks for schoolin me. Yea I have a 1972 pinto ;D

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto? its a small block
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2006, 05:35:39 PM »
408 is a 351-w stroker

this stuff about small eng bays .
i put  a 460 in a stock eng bay you can put a little toy small block in a pinto.
its how you do it
wayne

Offline dirt track demon

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2006, 09:23:30 PM »
I can think of another tight space for that 460.
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Offline 77turbopinto

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Re:408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2006, 07:20:46 PM »
...(the 74 and later Pintos were the same basic undercariage as the Mustang II) ...

I don't want to step on any toes, but the use of the word "basic" is very loosely applied here.

They do appear similar, but there are differences; The bolt on items, like the suspention (less the anti-sway bar) and brakes are the same, but the entire front "frame" is different.

BTW: There is a guy in CT that has a 460 in his pinto.

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Offline dirt track demon

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2006, 05:49:03 PM »
Ford escort

Someguy built a 502 chevette,   has anyone put a 460 in an escort.
Favorite place to race:on the xbox

Fomoco's biggest achievement:
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Not offering a V-8 Pinto!!!!!!!

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2006, 12:58:32 PM »
no such animal as a 408 big block-you might punch out an old 390
or stroke a 351-w

but you can see a 460 pintowagon i am building

e mail me at johisaree@yahoo.com i will attach some photos

ok           wayne

Offline turbopinto72

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2006, 08:07:15 PM »
no such animal as a 408 big block-you might punch out an old 390
or stroke a 351-w

but you can see a 460 pintowagon i am building

e mail me at johisaree@yahoo.com i will attach some photos

ok           wayne

I bet you could de-stroke a 460 to a 408........... . ;D
Brad F
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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #14 on: March 24, 2006, 09:00:25 PM »
please excuse my langauge but bs  i have put 289/302/351-w 351-c
and now a 460 in a pinto

i rest my case about  that [DREDDED MIND SET]
ITS NO DIFFERANT TO GO ANY SMALL BLOCK IN A PINTO..

SO YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT WHATS THAT MEAN  GO TO johisaree@yahoo.com
I WILL GIVE YOU PHOTOS OF ENGS IN PINTOS

this is what im saying mind set......... thank you  wayne

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #15 on: March 24, 2006, 09:14:05 PM »
THIS DIRT DEMON  IS GETTING UNDER MY FINGER NAILS

HE IL KEEP MY MOUT SHUT  TIGHT PLACE.
YOUR FULL OF IT. TO MUCH DIRT IN THE ---------

FIRST OF ALL FOLKS   [CUT] OUT THE FINDER WELL PANELS HELLO.

GO TO JOHISAREE@YAHOO.COM GET THE PHOTOS HOW DIFFICULT IS IT
I SENT PHOTOS TO MR 78 PINTO  BUT DONT SEE THEM.....

Offline 73pintogeek

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #16 on: March 24, 2006, 09:24:44 PM »
 :neutral: time for someone to take a freakin` chill pill...
This is a nice pleasant place to exchange idea`s and help each other out...Holy Crap...I thought we all had something in common here...Mellow out...mon ... :coolrasta:
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Offline hoots

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #17 on: March 24, 2006, 09:54:06 PM »
Yo ford guy, just post the pics here.

ford guy

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #18 on: March 24, 2006, 10:12:23 PM »
i did sorry to ruffel feathers ----but when you know better
than show it  i just did  and any 1 who wants to see photos of 351-w with alloy front mounts get in touch with me at johisaree@yahoo.com thank you wayne

Offline turbopinto72

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #19 on: March 24, 2006, 11:29:55 PM »
Hey Ford Guy, I hate to say it but. :wow:,
Brad F
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Offline DragonWagon

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #20 on: March 25, 2006, 12:44:24 AM »
I've always wondered how difficult it would be to put a big-block in the back seat of a wagon. Then it would go fast AND corner better.
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Offline dirt track demon

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #21 on: March 25, 2006, 10:47:19 PM »
Yeah really :wow:.  I sent this Ford guy a pm asking about how he got his motor to fit, and he replies that the only thing  he knows about "dirt" is how to walk on it!!

  First of all your shizod stinks just as much as the rest of us. and if you really know so much about v-8 conversions then how come all you can ever do is show some body a link to a picture??
   I just realized after reading this, that I didn't misinterpret your negative remarks in the pm's, you really were just being mean.

  Just remember all the ignorant crap you've said to people when you need something and we are the only ones that have it.

   
Favorite place to race:on the xbox

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The PINTO!!

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Not offering a V-8 Pinto!!!!!!!

Offline dirt track demon

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #22 on: March 25, 2006, 11:22:51 PM »
Geograhpically speaking North carolina isnt that far from Pennsylvania.  So uhh why dont you bring your  "throwaway box" to the carlisle ford show, I personally will be looking forward to meeting you  :-* :-*
Favorite place to race:on the xbox

Fomoco's biggest achievement:
The PINTO!!

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Not offering a V-8 Pinto!!!!!!!

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #23 on: March 26, 2006, 08:32:39 AM »
Maybe he can tow his 460 Pinto with his 2.3 Ranger? ;D

ford guy

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #24 on: March 26, 2006, 10:51:56 AM »
any thing can be done  sir if you got the bucks. we can even turn around the body run it backwards if you want.

taint on biggy. wayne

Offline turbopinto72

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Re: 408 Dominator big block in a pinto?
« Reply #25 on: March 26, 2006, 12:10:18 PM »
any thing can be done  sir if you got the bucks. we can even turn around the body run it backwards if you want.

taint on biggy. wayne

 :text_yb_warnin g: :police:
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pinto frame rails
« Reply #26 on: March 26, 2006, 10:14:54 PM »
the frame rails on the pintos are the same.

question  how do you use the same finders  hood  radiator

in the same car from 70 to 80 ?????

i have a 71 i have a 77 measured them they are the same.

ford guy