PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Shiny is Good! => General Pinto Talk => Topic started by: Wittsend on March 06, 2009, 01:26:40 AM
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As a driver of my donor Turbo Coupe for over 10 years I had come to like the seats in the car. Thus, it was my intention to put them into my Pinto. However, my first attempt was rather disappointing.
Though I'm only 6 feet tall I am long waisted and sitting down I'm about as tall as a person who is 6'4". My immediate issue was my head brushing across the headliner. I tried setting the seat back so it came off the seat pads and into the lower floorpan, but it still didn't work for me.
While it meant giving up the power seat, I tried the seat tracks from the Pinto. Surprise! They actually worked. In fact, this probably rates right up there with the Turbo Coupe throttle cable that seemed designed exactly for the engine swap.
So, if anyone is interested you don't have to drill the floor at all. Remove the Turbo Coupe tracks. At the rear bolting position you will see four bolt holes. I simply used the fourth hole up from the bottom to install the Pinto tracks at the rear. It doesn't look like the hole is threaded, but the bolt went right in and tightened down. So, maybe it is cutting threads???
You will notice that there is no bolt hole at the front, BUT there is a dimple in the metal. It makes a great center punch to drill the required hole (sorry, no dimple in the picture. I had already drilled the hole). Just drill the hole slightly oversize for the bolt to pass through and use a nut to hold it. No measuring, how easy can it get?
Use the Turbo Coupe bolts in the rear (metric) because they worked fine in the existing hole. However, you probably want to use the American Pinto bolts in the front simple because your more likely to have the needed nut.
Carry the seat over to the car and marvel that the holes all line up. Wow, you didn't have to measure, the two holes that you needed to drill already had a center punch mark and the Pinto tracks installed on the Turbo Coupe seats they are the right width for the Pinto floorboard holes! Sounds like a Billy Mays infomercial! Adjust seat as desired and drive.
Tom
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I also put in turbo coupe seats using the Pinto rails,but the drivers seat still has the power magnesiums still hooked up and working.They have been in the car for ten years.
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Pintoman,
With my "seated" height position (about equal to a 6'4" driver) I had to get the seat as low as I could. Once even one hair on your head starts to touch the headliner it can be annoying. Even as it is, I'd like to be an inch or so lower, but it is acceptable. So, out went the power seats. Frankly I set the seat and never change it anyway. I can always set the lower seat tilt with washers.
In the end I get a more comfortable seat with tilt seat back, side bolsters and the lumbar support inflateable bag. :) That is something the Pinto seats never offered.
Tom
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Wittsend,
Looks like you used the steering column also. Did you have to modify any thing to make it fit?
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Yes, I did use the T/C column. I have this post discussing it all:
http://www.fordpinto.com/smf/index.php/topic,9958.0.html
I would add that in the end I found the steering wheel 90 degrees out. It is not a splined mount and can not be easily adjusted. Basically the shaft has two flats ground in it. I ground two (additional) flats into the steering column. This left an empty gap. While it probably would have been sufficient I opted to fill it in with JB Weld. I just covered the shaft with plastic wrap so it didn't stick to the steering wheel.
Should you attempt this I would recommend that the intermediate piece be ground/filed in the correct position to prevent this (if possible).
Tom
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I MAY have to give this a try...
Many thanks.
Jim