PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA

Shiny is Good! => General Pinto Talk => Topic started by: Wittsend on June 13, 2017, 11:10:00 PM

Title: Turbo Pinto Donor Cars - From Where???
Post by: Wittsend on June 13, 2017, 11:10:00 PM
There is often talk here about building Turbo Pinto's, or trying to talk people out of building V-8 Pinto's and building a Turbo Pinto.  However, I got to thinking..., where will the donor car come from??? Surely no one will hack a SVO Mustang or a Merkur as those are getting very rare.

 So, I just looked through Craigslist Los Angeles (#2 population area in the nation) and out of 200 cars listed under T-Bird/Thunderbird there were three 83-88 Thunderbirds. Only one of those three was a Turbo Coupe. And it was an early one, not the more desirable 87-88's. And while used as a donor car it is not a problem, it did have registration issues and was listed as running hot so the engine might be questionable. Thus in the #2 population area of the nation a questionable Turbo Coupe represented one half percent (.5) of the total Thunderbirds available.

I started my Turbo Pinto project in 2008 having had the donor 88 T/C as my daily driver for ten years.  At that time I'd find three to five Turbo Coupes between the two self serve yards I frequented on a monthly basis. However..., in less than six months that immediately trickled down to  one or two.  Of late I have found ONE Turbo Coupe in the past three years (36 yard trips).

The newest Turbo Coupe (an 88) is nearly 30 years old. The engine originated in the USA 43 years ago! How many more can be expected to be found?  Perhaps it is time the Pinto community moves on to a different, more modern engine swap?

Anyway, just some rambling thoughts rolling through my head.  What rolls through your's?
Title: Re: Turbo Pinto Donor Cars - From Where???
Post by: dga57 on June 14, 2017, 02:40:08 AM
I don't know what would be involved, or if it's even possible, but a four cylinder Ecoboost engine would be awesome in a Pinto.

Dwayne :)
Title: Re: Turbo Pinto Donor Cars - From Where???
Post by: Pintosopher on June 14, 2017, 07:03:16 AM
I don't know what would be involved, or if it's even possible, but a four cylinder Ecoboost engine would be awesome in a Pinto.

Dwayne :)
Oh it's possible, and the English are already doing it, as the EAO 2.0 L pinto is getting scarce over the other side of the pond. The main issue in the Oil pan and the water outlets in the block. Ford Racing is already offering the 2.3 Ecoboost crate motor from the newer Mustang with the harness included. (315HP?)
 Always..
 A bit of wheelspin upon exit, Pintosopher
Title: Re: Turbo Pinto Donor Cars - From Where???
Post by: Reeves1 on June 14, 2017, 07:28:29 AM
Curious ... so......

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6007-23T

At nearly 8k & still needing trans etc , I doubt many Pinto folks will go that way.
Unless a used donor is found ?
Title: Re: Turbo Pinto Donor Cars - From Where???
Post by: dick1172762 on June 14, 2017, 08:18:45 AM
Eight grand!!!! You could spend that much on new parts making 310 / 315 HP out of a 2300 Pinto Lima. Triple the stock 2300 HP and carry a big basket with you. There's always the junk yards
Title: Re: Turbo Pinto Donor Cars - From Where???
Post by: dga57 on June 14, 2017, 09:37:28 AM
Oh it's possible, and the English are already doing it, as the EAO 2.0 L pinto is getting scarce over the other side of the pond. The main issue in the Oil pan and the water outlets in the block. Ford Racing is already offering the 2.3 Ecoboost crate motor from the newer Mustang with the harness included. (315HP?)
 Always..
 A bit of wheelspin upon exit, Pintosopher

I have a 2015 Mustang convertible with the 2.3 Ecoboost.  It never fails to impress me!  I also have a larger 6 cylinder Ecoboost in my 2016 Lincoln Navigator.  Hard to argue with the technology behind these engines. 

Dwayne :)
Title: Re: Turbo Pinto Donor Cars - From Where???
Post by: oldkayaker on June 14, 2017, 06:23:37 PM
The person in the thread below is gradually making progress on installing a 2.0L Ecoboost in a 1980 Bobcat wagon utilizing mainly used components.  There has been no mention of how it will fit yet, i.e. cross member, rack, or transmission tunnel interference.  The addition of EPAS was nicely done.
https://www.facebook.com/Project-Milk-Run-20L-Ecoboost-Swap-917953094951393/timeline/
Title: Re: Turbo Pinto Donor Cars - From Where???
Post by: denmach1 on June 14, 2017, 07:43:13 PM
You can buy a crate turbo motor for under $2000 and a wiring harness from summit. All you really need to find os oil pan and brackets, turbo & manifolds(easily available ) for a turbo swap. Much cheaper than ecoboost.

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