Looking for some experienced 2.0 performance experts to exchange tips and ideas with. I have started getting my 72 Wagon ready to put back on the road this spring. It has not been on the road since 2002, it does get started and run a mile or two every year and it runs preety good, but I am looking for ways to improve on what I have.
Wow! Nice looking 2.0! Looks like you have done quite a bit to it already. I raced 2.0's on dirt for many years and I ran a 2.0 in my 71 for a good while and drag raced it some. I had a basicly stock engine, headers, 390 holley, mallory dist and a motorsport cam. A 50 shot of nitrous had it running 13.40's in the 1/4.
Thanks, it has had a lot done to it, but I am still not sure if my cam timing is set correctly and I am still running a stock distributor so my ignition needs help. I wish I had a dist. tester to set advance curves. Have also thought about switching points to a Pertonics (sp?)set up but not sure if will work with my MSD.
you should definitely get rid of the points and maybe a hotter fire coil for those mods you have. I have been slowly collecting parts for mine. the T-5 will be first , but i have the intake, 390, header for it. I want a 450 or so lift cam. I also need to find a 3.50-3.70 punpkin for the 8" I was lucky enough to find. I have many other projects here of all sorts so it's always tough to find time. I basically want a NON-tuner, tuner. I want to spank a few youngins in their Hondas at the track and still have it get reasonable enough fuel mileage that I can drive it to work twice a week.
I just found a cherry set of 4 lug, 13" cragar SS's i put on it and that Inspired me a bit.
I had a BONE STOCK one back in the late 70's that i got to run LOW 16's and ONE high 15 with just careful tuning and tweaking.
I wonder if Pintoracer kept any records of the jetting he had on the Holley 390.
crossy
72 wagon, what brand is the matching valve cover and belt cover? still made? crossy
Quote from: crossy on January 18, 2009, 09:19:07 AM
72 wagon, what brand is the matching valve cover and belt cover? still made? crossy
Crossy, They are M/T branded (Micky Thompson) I do not know who actually manufactured them. I have seen similar ones with out the M/T logo. These things have not been made in 30 years, ocasionaly they come up on ebay. I paid $50 for the pair used 30 years ago.
I guess I should tell you what has been done to this engine.
Bored .030 over
Flat top pistons
Balanced internals
High volume TRW oil pump
Cylinder head shaved .100
Slight porting to head
High lift Cam (dont know specs off hand)
Adjustable Racer Walsh cam gear
Aluminum Crank pulley (reduced diameter)
Spearco intake
Holley 390cfm carb
Holley electric fuel pump
MSD 6a ignition
75amp alternator (gm 1 wire)
Accel Ignition Coil (yellow super coil)
Headers feeding into 2inch exhaust and Glasspack muffler
Original 4 speed (rebuilt)
8 inch rearend wiith 3:55 gears (have spare center section with 4:11's)
Stainless 5 blade flex fan
Well thats all I can remember off the top of my head.
I beleive my weak link might be my distributor although it has been rebuilt with new bushings and has not floated the points at 7000+ rpms. The advance curve is stock.
Like I have said it runs good, just think the trottle response could be better, the carb has been rejetted and the secondaries have been set to start opening at 3,000rpm. plugs are burning clean, Fuel economy is good if I keep my foot out of it.
a lighter flywheel , electric fan ,airplane or racing fuel will give it a little more
72wagon,
Sounds like your 2 litre is very similar internally to my "mild" racing engine, there's a bunch more punch to be had. My engine short block was a backup to a very strong IMSA RS Pinto that was Dynoe'd at over 165 HP at the crank with a Holley 390. The owner builder said that his car would out drag the Mazda RX2 rotary on the "old "layout at Laguna Seca Raceway uphill. He said that if the rules had allowed Dual Sidedraft carbs , 175-180 plus was attainable.
My current setup has (2) 40 DCOE with Velocity stacks, for Autocross. It could easily use 45's and keep the throttle response. All out racers use 48 or even 50mm DCOE, but are using real high lift cams and serious compression, and race gas only.
The Light flywheel / clutch makes the engine rev like a superbike and really had me drifting under power at the last hillclimb I ran on Pavement with racing slicks.
Yes, you have more to tap...
Pintosopher
Just a few questions about lighter flywheels, how much weight loss is needed to make a noticeable difference? Can the stock flywheel be lightened enough to make a difference? If this is a buy one only option, are they still available and from who and at what cost? Last big ? what is the trade off or downside of using one?
Sorry for all the ?'s
Kevin
Kevin,
Lightening the stock flywheel has limits but a 20% loss of weight should not cause a strength issue IF its done by a real pro, and then re-balanced. Most of the aftermarket flywheels are drilled for both 2.0 & 2.3 engines. Check out the Mini stock sources, Racer Walsh, Esslinger Engineering. Tilton (Big Bucks but very reliable),Centerforce . I was running a 2 disc non-sprung aluminum that weighed half the Stock flywheel & clutch package weight. (14 vs 32 lbs) It caused some problems with the flywheel surface and it turned out to be a major issue because of the lack of a Steel friction ring on the flywheel. Later, went to a Lightened Steel Fly, 2 disc non sprung discs. These don't work on the street, no give in the clutch hub, all or nothing at startup from standstill.
If you've got the low end torque, the flywheel weight is less of an issue for street driving.
Keep tweaking that car, you'll be surprised..
Pintosopher
Pintosopher, Thanks I figured their was a down side. I run a Racer Walsh disc with a factory Ford pressure plate it has served me well. This disc is probably 25 years old, the car itself has less then 3000 miles put on it in 23 years. It does get fired up and run a couple of times a year. I got into Harleys and parked the car. I have been reading this site for a couple of years and I am getting the Pinto FEVER back. Hope to put it back on the road this spring.
Kevin