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Author Topic: Body panel interchange questions;  (Read 4253 times)

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Offline JENSSEN

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Body panel interchange questions;
« on: June 23, 2014, 08:50:20 PM »
Well first off let me say I am glad to have found this forum. I have a 1978 Ford Pinto wagon that I've owned for approximately 10 years but just getting around finally doing a restoration on it. I drove it for a few years and then the 2.8 L engine gave out and I pulled it out and change for 2.3 turbo swap. Then I got sidetracked in Off-road racing in the pinto got put to the wayside I'm now looking to restore the car as it sat and it has lot rot so I am in need of two doors and a fender curious what years will fit 1978 Pinto with minimal modification. Years ago when I bought the car I promised the previous owner that I would never send to the junkyard and I'm finally fulfilling  my promise. It currently sits in a training facility for Bodyshop repair I've clicked up most the parts but I'm curious again what doors fit the 1978 Pinto wagon. Are hatchbacks and wagon doors the same? I have already collected up a B pillar lower section to repair some rot the rest the car short of the passenger-side floor pan seemed to be very solid even for sitting for so long. I understand Mustang II floorpans with minimal modification will work with the on the Pinto.







Thank you in advance and I look forward to becoming a active member on this forum!

Offline r4pinto

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2014, 08:51:58 PM »
Welcome aboard!!

Nope the wagon doors are slightly different I believe somewhat taller. Only wagon doors will work on a wagon.
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom- 1980 parts provider & money machine for anything that won't fit the 80
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Offline JENSSEN

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2014, 09:06:40 PM »
Okay well I don't have access to measure my pinto doors as it's locked away in the school , does anyone have the measurements of the hatchback door versus a wagon door so when I go look at a set I can be able to determine if it will fit or not. I recently posted out online looking for parts and the gentleman has a set of very old Doors sitting in the barn for quite some time that I want to go look at them but would love to have the information ahead of time so I can take a tape measure make sure they're going to fit.

 What years of doors will fit a 1978 wagon?


Offline r4pinto

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2014, 09:34:31 PM »
Any year wagon doors will fit although they changed hinge assemblies around 1975 I think. Sedan & hatchback doors WILL NOT work. They are different, although I am unsure as to exactly what is different as I've only have had sedans or hatchbacks.
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom- 1980 parts provider & money machine for anything that won't fit the 80
1980 Pinto Runabout- work in progress

Offline JENSSEN

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2014, 10:09:23 PM »
Any year wagon doors will fit although they changed hinge assemblies around 1975 I think. Sedan & hatchback doors WILL NOT work. They are different, although I am unsure as to exactly what is different as I've only have had sedans or hatchbacks.
am I able to use my hinge assembly of my 78 door on earlier doors?

Offline r4pinto

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2014, 10:14:05 PM »
I'm not completely sure but I don't think so. On the sedan/hatch doors the hinges are completely different on the earlier years so I'm thinking the same thing applies to the wagon doors & hinges as well.
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom- 1980 parts provider & money machine for anything that won't fit the 80
1980 Pinto Runabout- work in progress

Offline Wittsend

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2014, 10:25:39 AM »
As an owner of many different wagons the door difference is almost always in the back half of the window frame. Rather than follow a subtle arc of the roof line it generally goes straight.  I looked at Pinto images, but I couldn't tell visually if that was the case or not.  Wagons also typically have different windshields. On the Pinto I don't believe that is the case (thankfully).

Offline bbobcat75

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2014, 11:35:19 AM »
THE DOORS ARE COMPLETLY DIFFERENT!! not work the amount of work to make them work. plus being a 78 - early doors 71-76 have different window regulators too. look for a nice set of wagon doors! they are out there!
1975 mercury bobcat 2.8 auto
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Offline D.R.Ball

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2014, 02:53:11 PM »
What is wrong with the doors ? If it's just skin damage you can swap the skins but the frames are different on the top . If they just need patching your at the right spot.

Offline JENSSEN

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2014, 07:58:39 PM »
Bummer the doors I found were coupe doors but thanks all from saving me from wasting money!!!

Offline JENSSEN

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2014, 08:01:59 PM »
Bummer the doors I found were coupe doors but thanks all from saving me from wasting money!!!

Doors have rot at the bottom the inner framing is rotted away I could rebuild the doors I would prefer clean set of doors befor I have the car being repainted

Offline Wittsend

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2014, 09:18:47 AM »
The doors tend to rot in the corners because Ford in their infinite wisdom put drain slots that don't go all the way to the front or the rear.  As a car sits to some incline water (and dust) builds up in the corners. It keeps the area wet and promotes rust.

I formed and welded a new exterior piece (about a 4" X 4" patch). There was some inner damaged, but nothing that I felt was a major structural weakness. The stamping of the inner corners isn't pretty to begin with. And, who looks there anyway. So, I used POR-15 and their thin, fiberglass mat. For things like this I like the product.  I also drilled  holes at the extreme front and rear of the inner panel. That way the area does drain.  I also POR-15-ed the bottom 1" of the inner door. It may not be their product on bare steel like they say it should be, but it is still a stronger barrier to water migrating into the seam.

Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: Body panel interchange questions;
« Reply #12 on: June 25, 2014, 12:34:16 PM »
As stated wagon only doors have different frames & glass. Depending on the year they are from the upper hinge differs slightly. The bottom hinge is the same on all years wagon or sedan. If you find early doors make sure you get the early upper hinge. Late doors will bolt to your hinges. Make sure you get them complete with glass if possible so you aren't trying to mix & match inner workings between years.
 
The only difference in the upper hinges is the 2 bolts are closer together on early doors & further apart on later ones. The upper bolt of the 2 is in the same spot regardless of years.
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