I should have started with I’m in Canada. I’m a very capable at making stuff work where it was never intended. I’ve been working as a steel fabricator and have built everything from mini bikes to offshore oil rigs. In my hobby life I’ve built multiple monster trucks a few 5ton deck trucks, crane trucks, mor trailers than I can remember, multiple solid axle swaps, motor swaps, double teases addapters, and even building a suburban on a 5ton international with a 20 ft hiab on it.
I have a spare 1.9 tdi here and an adapter to put it on a Toyota transmission. I know some people will roll over in their graves with putting a German motor n a Japanese tranny in it.
I have a 72 squire and have just arranged for a 77 sport with the v6. The 72 was a daily driver before I got it but it’s scary mechanically. No ideas on the 77. I just pulled up the carpet and forked over the coin. Too good to pass on.
In 1988 I bought my first pinto. Had several over the next 5 years then came wife n kids n life. In about 2005 I started looking for a 72, I’m a 72 so it made sense, till I found this one in 2015. It’s in pretty good shape but nowhere near as nic as the sport one I found. After it warms up I’ll try n getting the 77 going. It doesn’t look good from first look. We will see what happens, but I guarantee you, if you’re a purist, don’t follow.