HELLO! Thanx for taking the time to read this. My name is Ryan, but everyone calls me Crazy Bry.
Enough about me!!! Back in 2003 I found a rust FREEE 79 wagon on Ebay. I was bound and determined to own that car. So, I bid to win, and won! Now, I live in Wisconsin. For those of you who don't know...our NEW cars have rust. We have 10 year old cars that the seats fall through the floor boards becasue of cancer. Anyways, this car was shipped up from Arizona, and I picked it up in Milwalkee. I held off on starting any projects with her, due to the fact I tend to start things, and never finish. Back then I rented a small shop, and didnt have any security / ownership.
Well, fast forward to today, I own a home with a large garage. The other day, I got in the mood and the projects started!
Day 1. Garage cleaning. I made sufficient enough room to settle the car in the middle of the 4 car garage. I put her up in the air and started phase 1 - refurbishing the front end. I have ordered neoprene bushings for the front suspention and trailing arms, along with EVERY replacement part. The upper and lower controls arms removed. Spindles and trailing arms removed. Rotors, calipers and pads all discarded, as new ones are on their way. All of the remaining parts have been pressure washed, and sent out for sand and bead blasting. Next they will be powder coated. Once returned with their new finish, they we be reistalled. As you can see by the photos, she has been subject to years of abandonment, as I havent worked with her since 2004ish, and she was last registered in AZ in the 90's.
Heres what we start with!
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1288.jpg)
Front suspention, in need of some love.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1289.jpg)
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1290.jpg)
As we began the disassembly, we started to run across problems - all recitifiable - but issues. The wheel bearing grease came out in one lump chunk....on both wheels. The passenger brake line was hand tight. All of the ball joints are junk. Both of the inner tie rod ends have at MINIMUM 1/2" of play in them....so Im glad I ordered new of everything. I will say this, thogh - its nice working on a rust free car, all the bolts come loose, nothing is froze tight, ect.
The downfall - everything is covered in 1/2" of caked grease / sand mixture. After everything was removed and stripped, I started cleaning underneith (pics hopefully tommorrow)
I pulled the rack to change the inner tie rod ends and to clean the cross memeber, and in doing so, I found power steering fluid in the drivers side dust boot......Im assuming thats not good - info is appreciated, but Im gonna check around tommorrow.
Updates comming soon!
Hi Crazy Bry! You don't sound crazy- you sound smart! :D I'm a little bit jealous (okay a LOT jealous! lol.) of your 4-car garage. I could rescue more Pintos (when cash frees up) asnd still have room for my shlag. Your wagon (the 1st pic- the others didn't show. Thanks msn 9.6) looks like it's root beer brown. I can see she'll have a good, long life with you. ;D
You are an inspiration! I bought my '72 in January of 2008 and haven't accomplished much of anything with it either. Maybe there is hope for me yet!
Like Becky, I'm jealous of your garage... if I had that, only two of my vehicles would be sitting outside! Best of luck with your project. Keep us informed!
Dwayne :smile:
Crazybry:
Welcome to the madness. Take a few minutes to look through the "Your Projects" folder on this site at my thread "popbumper's '76 wagon", and see what I did with my front end. I completed the restoration on this area this past May, it was a LOT of work but well worth it. I wish you success in your venture, keep us up to date. NIce to see new motivated members!!
Chris
Round headlights on a '79. :o
;)
DGH
Quote from: dholvrsn on August 13, 2009, 09:36:21 AM
Round headlights on a '79. :o
;)
DGH
lol...didnt see that....oops on my part. ::)
Thought Id throw some pics up of the rockers....like I said she's rust freeeee!
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1292.jpg)
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1291.jpg)
What a cute little V6
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1293.jpg)
ANYways. Got to dissassemble the left suspention
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1294.jpg)
And get a good start on the passenger side.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1296.jpg)
Everything is covered in 30 years of oil and sand sludge....
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1297.jpg)
I went to check on my parts that went in for powder coating....and to my dismay, the powdercoating is no longer an option. So it has become apparent that we will now be blasting and appling epoxy paint. I belive the majority of the components will be black, and the accessories will be blue???? if I can find blue in epoxy...
If I can make a suggestion, again according to how I finished my front end:
1) Sandblast
2) POR-15 basecoat
3) POR-15 chassis black
4) Topcoat color of your choice
This works very well and will give a super durable coating on all the suspension parts! Good luck.
Chris
PB Thanx for the tips. Looking into POR15 now.
My god, I can only picture what you guys went through on your control arm bolts. I had to break them loose with a 3/8 socket/wrench, and spun them off by hand..... :showback: lol sorry. I tell ya what, the next restor I do, is GONNA be another AZ car!
Where in Wisconsin are you because i am in the Milwaukee area. I have two 78 squire wagons as well as coupe. It would be nice to meet up with other Pinto owners in the area
Quote from: Crazybry79 on August 15, 2009, 02:57:44 AM
PB Thanx for the tips. Looking into POR15 now.
My god, I can only picture what you guys went through on your control arm bolts. I had to break them loose with a 3/8 socket/wrench, and spun them off by hand..... :showback: lol sorry. I tell ya what, the next restor I do, is GONNA be another AZ car!
Well, on my lower control arm bolts, we had to use a Sawzall, and it took a LONG time to cut them, being grade 8 bolts. Sad part? this car lived in Texas all it's life (and is in pretty solid shape aside from some rust in the cowl and passenger inner fender). While I did not expect the bolts to be that ornery, they were.
Lesson? Some bolts, no matter what part of the country they are in, just love to rust and be resistant.
Chris
I went through that front end rebuild on my 78 also about 6 years ago. My bolts took an impact wrench to get them off but were easily reusable.
It was not too nasty under mine, but I washed it up good before I started pulling it apart.
After 120k miles the wear was not even that bad to my surprise. However I redid it all except the springs.
BTW, power steering fluid in the dust boot means a seal is failing. The boots should never have liquid in them...
Quote from: 78squirewagon on August 15, 2009, 10:43:08 AM
Where in Wisconsin are you because i am in the Milwaukee area. I have two 78 squire wagons as well as coupe. It would be nice to meet up with other Pinto owners in the area
Im about 60 minutes due north of Milwalkee, in Chilton.
And 78TX, thanx for the tip on the PS. May I just replace a seal, or am I better off with a reman rack?
I do not know how easy it is to reseal those racks, or if the seals are even available. Since those outer seals are failing, it is very possible other seals will fail soon also. I would suggest a new one (look for the lifetime warranties) if you plan to keep the car a long while, which I bet you will. You may want to do that after your suspension is rebuilt so that you can replace the tie rod ends also and only do a wheel alignment once... If the hydraulic hoses need replacing (cracked or leaking), that is a good time to do that also.
Rob- Thanx for the tips. I was kind leaning towards a new rack. I found several on Ebay for less than $150....with inner and outer rod ends. Local parts store wants 50 and 35 each for inner and outter ends (that total is MORE than the rack with those items....!!lol)
Good news about the finishing of the parts. I spoke with the owner of the powder coating shop today. I met with him, and asked if it was still possible to powder coat all the parts- 2 control arms, 2 a arms, 2 strut rods, 2 spindles, 2 brake mounts, 2 springs. He said SURE!! But wait.....the spring flexes, so he offered to urothane (sp??) wet paint them, and bake them. I guess John Deere just switched from powder coating to this process because its more cost effective, this finish is just as good, if not better, and it stays semi flexable. ANYways, they are going to do all my parts - including heat preping (to reove oils in the metal that will destroy the finish later) for $150 :hypno:
Now the only question left is color choice. I have decided to go with black for the main components. The car will be black in the end as well. I am stuck between orange and red for the accessories (springs, small brakets, ect)
Well, I have been patiently waiting for my parts to be finished. Today I had the bike out, and the phone rang.....parts are done. Well, I didnt have time to go pick them up....but they are in the works for tommorrow moring.
Anyways, I have been failing on my updates, so Ill pick up wheree I left off.
I laid on the ground, and pressure washed the entire bare front end. Heres what I ended up with.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1306.jpg)
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1307.jpg)
I decided to go with a know epoxy paint. I used it on my horse trailer, and t has held up well. I pay quite dearly for it....but its well worth it! Here is what I ended up with on the drivers side fenderwell. Its so shiney, its hard to look at. And BTW, the runs are original - not from me!
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1308.jpg)
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1309.jpg)
Back to the rack thing....well, it threw up on the floor. I'm thinking its time for a new one!
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1302.jpg)
I was also digging around inside the car, and after reading some posts on what the plastic behind/that holds the gauges tends to do, I looked a bit closer......
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1311.jpg)
It is apparent to me that my plastic has long by taken it final resting....I did find a ralley gauauge cluster, with the 3 seperate gauges....but that plastic appears to be pretty far gone....so Im looking for ideas on this one for the future!
NIce work on the inner fenders - it will be great once you get all the parts back in, restored. Awesome. Yup, you need a new rack, no doubt. As around here for the gauge cluster plastic piece - someone will have one for you.
PS - how tough was it to pull the rack? Were the two nuts that held it on the crossmember a bear to get off?
Chris
Chris,
Thanx for your interest. Everything on this car has been a dream to work on. The two mounting bolts that hold the rack on I broke loose with a 3/8 ratchet and an open end. The nuts spun off by hand. The right side bolt was unable to be removed, due to obstructions, and is now just sitting in the hole.
I called for a rack today. $140, with new inner rod ends (mine NNEEEEDDed new ones anyways). Unfortunatly, I have only found a stock gear ratio. I am looking for a slightly quicker ratio.....if anyone knows a source for these, please lemme know!
Well, I just bought a Rally gauge pack for (what I think) is cheap. The seller misspelled gauge and rally....so I dont think most buyers saw it... Even comes with wiring harness and 3 gauge.....I mean guage cluster!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320414079269&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320414079269&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)
That is most definitely cheap. Nice catch and nice find Grats man
Well, the parts are all assembled now. Pressing the bushings in was a pain in the arse!
TIP: For those who decide to undergo this project, learn from my mistakes, and follow these tips.....
1. Dissasemble the bushings. There are 3 parts to each bushing - an outer shell, the neoprene bushing, and the inner sleeve. Simply hold the shell in your hand, and tap the bushing/sleeve out with a rubber mallet. The lowersare a tad difficult, but its worth your trouble.
2. Start the upper sleves both, insert the cross rod, put several large washers on, and then the nuts on the outside. Tighten the nuts up to draw the shells into the A Arm - but dont ovr do it. Once started, they will drive n with a brass hammer just fine.
3.When you insert the cross rod, make sure that the textured surface that mates up against the A Arm frame mount is down when the bend of th cross rod is pointed inwards.
4. The lowers should be pressed in with a hydralic press. If you do not have one, a shop will do it for you for around $25 - money well spent. When pressing the bushings in, cut a peice of scrap steel to fit inside the control arm to keep it from colapsing.
5. Insert bushings and reassemble!
I only have the drivers side painted, so assembly this evening consists of just that side. I also forgot to get new nuts for the A Arm mounting bolts....uuurg! Project for tommorrow.
As sated, the parts came back from finishing. I am undoubetely satisfied. Even during my clumbsy reassembly, they are chip free!
The finish is a Urothane (sp??) baked finish. Wet paint is applied electrostaticly, and then baked on for a rock hard finish. Parts are prepped by baking them at 350 degrees to burn oils out of the metal.
My parts were done at Qualit Painters, in Chilton. The owner said he would be happy to have parts shipped in, refinished, and return shipped.
If anyone is interested, their contact is (920)849-2333. Ask for Bill Hostetler, and tell him it would be similar to "Crazy Brys Pinto Project"
And for all of us photo loving fans....
Finished A Arm
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1322.jpg)
A Arms and control arms, along with assembled stock spindle& dust sheild
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1323.jpg)
Spindle
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1324.jpg)
Lower installed
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1325.jpg)
Orange spring set in place
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1326.jpg)
A Arm installed....sans new nuts >:(
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1327.jpg)
A Arms installed
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1328.jpg)
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/crazybry79/1978%20Pinto%20Wagon/SANY1329.jpg)
Now I just wait for ball joints!
bolt in ball joints? is the car lowered or is it going to be lowered?
HURRY UP!!!! You need to bring it down to West Allis on October 4th for the show or at least to the Milwaukee Mile on October 10th for the Walk for Diabetes. I will cover your entry fee's for both if you can make one or the other. If you do, there will be at least four Pinto's on display (or more if I can ask a few others to join us) ;D
Ah yes, VERY nice work, and certainly you are stirring up memories for me!! Best wishes getting it all back together. You going with new calipers and rotors? 4 bolt or 5 bolt? Brake upgrades?
Chris
Im thinking she wont be done this fall. Im shooting for summer/fall of 2010 for a completion date. Im planning the entire rebuild to be a nickle and dime thing. Well,,,,so far its been a $20 and $100 thing.... But I do greatly appreciate your offer!
Yes, the new ball joints will be bolt in. IF I would have been using my head, I would have just ordered the 2" drop kit that includes everything - spindles, rotors, new caliper mounts, metric calipers, wheel bearings, caps, and rotors......But I wasnt. It would actually be cheaper than buying all new stock parts. Either way, the parts will ALL be new....just havent decided which way to go yet...
Hard to know always what to do. While I was on my front end, I figured it was the right time to replace everything - of course, at a cost - but I did not want to have to tear into it again. I installed new calipers, pads, rotors, hoses, bushings, ball joints, shocks, and springs, making it 100%. Only regret - and not one that would be too tough if I decided to go back - I wanted to do a bigger brake setup and possibly a 5 hub rotor. I opted not right at this time, to save soem money for other things.
When all is said and done my suspension will be 100% new. The rear end will most likely be replaced this fall with an 8" 3:55. I plan to also install new rear springs. I want the car to be mechanically new (engine stuff to be done ultimately as well), and cosmetics will be last. Interior is stripped, body work is last.
Chris
PB...I have to say I am in the identical situation.
Where is a good place to find the drop spindle kits??
ALSO....I have been up in the air on what to do engine wise. IN NO WAY do I mean to offend anyone, but the 2.8 repulses me. Astheseticly, it is visually non-appealing. Power wise, it is pathetic, especially amplified by its mated automatic transimission with efficiency losses.
The 302 conv is tempting. I had a Mustang II Cobra II in my younger years, and loved it. It would be fun to "Replicate" that car with this one. Unfortunatly, I am also aware of the 302's effect on front weight bias. Cost wise, its close to my last option....
I had also thought of building a naturally asparated 2.3/5spd car out of it. I used to race Pro4's, which were full tube chassis, with 2.3's, and a 535 lift cam. Sounds great, but barely streetable.
Well, I belive I found my solution tonight. About 30 miles away, I bumped into a 88 Merkur, running and driving, for under a grand. I figure I can part that out, keeping every bolt,bracket, pedal, and what not I need (oh ya...its a 5spd car!) and sell all the left over parts, and recoupe my investment for the most part!
Like I said...not to offend anyone, and I know there are alot of different schools of thought.....this one is just mine.
Hey Bry:
Drop spindle kits - EBAY of course, not sure where else. I had looked around for them, they are basically te same as the Mustang II spindles, so, there are lots of places to get those, you just need to do a web search. Sorry to be so vague, I had considered doing it myself but opted not to.
On your comment about the 2.8 - I really struggled with this, trying to stay away from a V8 (front end heavy), not wanting necessarily to build a 2.3 (been done a lot), and going with a 2.8 since it was "different". I CONCUR with you about its shortcomings - non-attractive, not much horespower gain stock, and less aftermarket goodies. The appeal comes and goes....
At this point I am leaning towards doing the 2.3 (heck, done, but there's a LOT of aftermarket speed goodies), or driving towards a more modern mill like the 3.8 or 4.0, which would get me fuel injection and modern components.
Choices, choices (read: money, money) :lol:
Chris
Chris