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Author Topic: Pinto engine mount  (Read 2713 times)

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Offline chanman

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Pinto engine mount
« on: February 24, 2014, 01:17:18 PM »
Ya'll are probably going to laugh at me for this question. I'm thinking of building a dune buggy just to cruise with out an old pinto somebody just gave me yesterday. Is there any documented builds of this that i can refer to? It's also been sitting in the woods for years so i'm going sometime this week to figure what year and all it is but i'm thinking of just taking everything off and just using the frame. What i'm needing to know is what engines are universal to the engine mounts that are already in the car because i don't really want to have to move them. I'm also needing an engine if somebody has one for free or cheap. Also any suggestions anybody might have that has to do with my build in general are greatly appreciated. thanks :)

Offline Wittsend

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Re: Pinto engine mount
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2014, 03:14:56 PM »
The Pinto has no "frame."  It is a uni-body construction.  So, either you take the whole body structure with the floorpan and its theoretical "frame," or you had better weld up a rather strong roll cage supporting all the load points (which is not very practical and likely very expensive).

If the car is a 71-73 it has mounts for the 1600 and 2.0 engines. A 74 has mounts for a 2.0 and a 2.3 (which are mounted differently). 75 and up had mounts for the 2.3 and the V-6 ( 2.6 or 2.8 ).  I do not know if the inline 4 cylinder and the V-6 mounted differently.  I'm not dead sure on the 74 and up cars, but I'm close.

Honestly, if the car was free, and ran, perhaps you could pull the doors, jack up the springs and run snow tires and have something mildly fun for gently off-roading.  Otherwise, there are other vehicles far better suited for becoming a "dune buggy."

Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Pinto engine mount
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2014, 09:25:50 PM »
I wouldn't even think about trying to use one for a dune buggy, but for just putting around off road Whitt's idea is pretty good..
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Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: Pinto engine mount
« Reply #3 on: February 25, 2014, 04:56:42 AM »
I've been building & driving rails for decades. Trust me when I say there is nothing short of a tube frame that will hold up to even minor off road abuse. 4WD vehicles crawl around slowly & flex & eventually damage begins to appear. A unibody Pinto may last on some smooth trails but any serious pounding will destroy it in a day. I have adapters to run Pinto engines on VW transaxles & that's the way to go.
 
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Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Pinto engine mount
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2014, 07:04:01 AM »
Nice buggy, you running mid engine??, good friend of mine had a mid engine with 2.0, we used to go to Glamis and he'd fly up Olmobile..
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Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: Pinto engine mount
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2014, 09:45:31 AM »
All mine are rear engine. We play in the woods so the balance of a rear engine is preferred. About 70% of the weight needs to be on the rear wheels for traction on the hills in dirt & mud since we tackle some 70 degree or better inclines on occasion.
 
My latest build is this single seater that will either be 2.3 powered or run my built 2180 VW depending on how much weight I need out back. I wanted to run the 2.3 on propane but I don't have room for the tank.
 
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Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Pinto engine mount
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2014, 10:40:36 AM »
Yeah, that makes sense looks like that's gonna be a nice car when it's done.
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Offline chanman

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Re: Pinto engine mount
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2014, 11:06:25 AM »
well sorry I didn't get back til now thanks for all the info. I didn't know it was a unibody. I don't plan on taking it off roading we just moved kinda out in the country and the grocery store it about 5 miles up the road and I wanted something easy to hop in and run to the grocery store and the local state park is the same distance i'm thinking of just using it for some cruising. Would there be any pitfalls for using it that way. I also found a for 302 motor for it but I havn't bought it yet what ya'll think about that?

Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: Pinto engine mount
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2014, 04:14:19 PM »
well sorry I didn't get back til now thanks for all the info. I didn't know it was a unibody. I don't plan on taking it off roading we just moved kinda out in the country and the grocery store it about 5 miles up the road and I wanted something easy to hop in and run to the grocery store and the local state park is the same distance i'm thinking of just using it for some cruising. Would there be any pitfalls for using it that way. I also found a for 302 motor for it but I havn't bought it yet what ya'll think about that?

If it has a title then go for it. 302's fit with very little work. Just be sure that it's not rotted to death from all that sitting because a rusty Pinto wont hold together for long even with a 4-banger.
 
Yeah, that makes sense looks like that's gonna be a nice car when it's done.

I'm hoping to get back to it soon. I've got 7K wrapped up in it so far & I want to get some use out of it. I have too much crap in my life LOL
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'71 half hatch (bucket list Pinto)~Ghost
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Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Pinto engine mount
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2014, 09:39:31 PM »
I'm hoping to get back to it soon. I've got 7K wrapped up in it so far & I want to get some use out of it. I have too much crap in my life LOL
LOL, I can relate to that, that's why I'm done buying toys, at least until I get on of them done,lol..
Art
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