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Author Topic: Pinto suspension differences  (Read 5990 times)

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Offline spunk73

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Pinto suspension differences
« on: January 13, 2014, 07:50:21 PM »
Is there anyone out there that can tell me if there's any difference between a 1973 and 1974 front susension parts of a Pinto. Speedway offers an upper and lower control arm kit with ball joints for 250.00 but it's for  '74 to '80 models. What's the difference? :-\

Offline Pintosopher

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Re: Pinto suspension differences
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2014, 10:08:58 PM »
 Where do I begin...
 The 71 thru 72 had first generation Rack and Pinion, so the Rack and Cross member  were different than the '73, the 73 had a one year only Rack and Cross member. The Spindles and control arms had differences for the 71-73, and mounting points were different too. I have heard that the front Frame distances between front bumper mounts differed on the 74 -80 compared to the 71-73, which is why the control arms differed and subsequent geometry with these parts. The 74 pinto was the only Pinto offered with both the 2.0L & 2.3L Fours requiring a change of Motor mounts too for any early conversions to a 2.3 L  four, hence the issue of motor mounts to frame distances.
 In total ,the Mini Stock parts you see in Speedway catalog , are for just that : 74-80 Pinto and Mustang II, and Kit cars using the repro subframe kits for street rods.  Unless you are a fabricator, this is just a huge undertaking.
 I'm sure I've overlooked the brake interchange issues with calipers too. It's why people make racers out of the 74-80 cars, rather than try to find parts to work with the early chassis.

 Pintosopher,
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Offline bbobcat75

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Re: Pinto suspension differences
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2014, 06:26:39 AM »
ya what he said!!
1975 mercury bobcat 2.8 auto
1978 mercury bobcat wagon 2.3l - soon to have a 88 tc drive line - SOLD - 🙁
1975 ford pinto - drag car - 2.3l w/t5 trans - project car

Offline amc49

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Re: Pinto suspension differences
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2014, 05:07:45 PM »
Thinking they did what Ford rarely does and standardized many parts to crossfit between Pinto and the new in '74 Mustang II. Because quite a few do............ ............

Offline jeremysdad

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Re: Pinto suspension differences
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2014, 12:20:23 PM »
Thinking they did what Ford rarely does and standardized many parts to crossfit between Pinto and the new in '74 Mustang II. Because quite a few do............ ............

They did. The Mustang II was based on the Pinto, much like the original Mustang was based off a 64 Falcon. You get the same types of interchangeabi lity of suspension/chassis stuff with the Falcons-early Mustangs like you do on the later Pintos-Mustang IIs.

I miss my Falcon, but that's a topic for another day. lol

Offline wildchild46

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Re: Pinto suspension differences
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2017, 06:09:50 PM »
I do not find any difference in extended and compressed lengths of 1972 & 1974 shocks. Anyone have anything to add to this?

Offline dick1172762

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Re: Pinto suspension differences
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2017, 09:15:23 AM »
Shock's are the same for early and late Pintos. Spindle's /springs /brakes /steering rack /tie rod ends /control arms / are all different will not interchange with out MUCH work.
Its better to be a has-been, than a never was.

Offline Wittsend

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Re: Pinto suspension differences
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2017, 11:55:43 AM »
If it matters:
Wagon rear shocks (and I'm told leaf springs) are longer.  I've used spacers (or stacked washers) on the threaded shafts to extend the shocks mounting height when using standard shocks on a wagon. Every little bit helps and I believe it compensated for about 75% of the length difference. This is a "do at your own risk" as the tightening nut goes to the end of the threaded shaft, but I have never had a problem with the shocks bottoming out. That said I don't drive like Smoky & the Bandit or Dukes of Hazard either.