Hey folks, shooting for a Master Mechanic here... If ya need some help with a 74-80 Pinto, any of the 2.3 Turbo motors, 86-88 TurboCoupes, or just racing qustions in general, give me a holler! I've been racing for over 20 years, running oddball stuff and 4 bangers, currently have a F/ED Competition Eliminator 4 cylinder dragster. If I can help ya in any way, let me know!
Hey! Yes I could use a lot of help. I have an 85 t.c. engine/trans(t5) and all e.c.u. wiring. Mostly need wiring diagrams. Also few other things like trans crossmember(what to use) and do I need to mod my drive shaft? My car is an 80' hatch auto. Also fuel system questions. Any info would be great!!
Well heres a quick run down of what I have and did.
80 wagon
88 T/C motor and 5 speed
Used in-line MSD 255 fuel pump and T/C fuel filter
Made a plate for trans crossmember because bolts did not line up. This was not very hard to do.
Used a wiring harness from a Merkur. Just because it is easier to work with and the 88 T/C one had stuff wired in it that I was not going to use.
Reused pinto mounts and pan.
I did have to cut my drive shaft. I don't remember how I did it, but I do remember that I used the front of the T/C shaft and the back of the pinto one.
I did have to make room for the turbo by pushing (hammering) the passenger wheel-well back.
You will have to put the battery in the trunk.
SVOwagon
Thanks for your input. ANY info is great. Picture you showed is worth alot. But how did you run your main fuel line? Will the original fuel line starve the engine with an electric high presure pump?
I used both original fuel lines. The return line I ran to the top of the tank and it dumps into were the vent use to be. If you do end up using any rubber line nomatter how long it is, always use high pressure rubber line. Don't use any of the original stuff.
SVOwagon
Thanks Dude, (SVOWagen) everything is starting to get organized. Still have to sort out a few items yet. By the way, I noticed most all turbo conversions had the blower motor removed. Will I have to do this?
P.S.: I'm going for the stock sleeper look too.
Most of the Pintos that I have seen have them removed. The reason is because the fan motor sticks out from the fire-wall and that is where the turbo is going to sit. I do now that some Pintos did come with a different style heater fan set up, but I don't know which ones.
SVOwagon
I am ordering a fuel pump (msd) for the EFI and was woundering if I need to mod my pickup/sender? Also thinking of using the plastic fuel lines from the 85tc. Any suggestions? Or anything else critical I should know?
Well my MSD works great, but I think I'm going to redo my lines and try to make a different pickup tube. I'm using the Pinto lines and using the factory outlet on the tank. It works ok, but I can't go under a 1/4 tank because the gas will move around in the tank and the pump will starve for gas. I'm thinking of going to a fuel cell or modifing my tank so the pickup comes out the top or the back.
I guess all I can say is, I really don't know what to tell you because I'm not happy with the way my set up is right now. Let me know how it goes for you.
SVOwagon
When I built my stangII I made a "surge tank" I had a one gallon tank in the line to use as a buffer for the pressure pump to the FI. I used a high flow holley pump at the tank to fill the buffer, then a ford ranger inline pump to feed the motor. The only high pressure lines I needed were the short ones from the pressure pump under the hood to the motor.
Thanks guys. I can use all the help I can get. I'll have to try and post some pics as soon as I get the resources. A fuel cell is starting to sound good but, I'll most likely be a glutton for punishment and go the way of the old tank. I just keep thinking about catching people off guard with a stock looking pinto. 8)
I know what you mean by keeping the stock look. Trust me, I've gone very much out of my way to keep my Pinto "looking" stock. If I go with the fuel cell, I'm going the cut my stock tank in half, and keep the bottom in the car and put the fuel cell inside/on top of it. From the outside of the car, it will still look stock. On the inside, I'm hoping to get a fuel cell short enough so I can lay the carpet back over the top. Still looks stock inside too. ;D
SVOwagon