Hi all. I am new this club, and I am glad that there are other like minded people interested in keeping their Pintos on the road.
My aunt has given me her 1972 Pinto. I has not been registered for 10 years, and has been garaged ever since. It has some issues, it wasn't in the best condition when she parked it for good, but I did get it started (horrible smell of varnish when the engine is running). I replaced the tires with some used ones, and got it towed to my house to begin working on it. After one year of irregular attempts to get a title (my aunt lost it), I was able to get it registered here in Colorado.
My intial goal is to make it roadworthy, and drive it on a daily basis. There is a great potential for fun with this old car. I like the simplicity of it, there is nothing but motor under the hood. Not much rust, just a little in the doors. Not much humidity here in Colorado Springs where it has always been.
I have some concerns about the gas tank controversy. I have read up on it, and I have a basic understanding of the issue. It sounds like the tank can be pushed into the differential, or the filler cap can be torn off in a rear end collision. I understand that Ford did a recall to address the issue. Is there a way to tell if the recall has been done? I'd ask my aunt, but does not remember things like that at 90 years.
I have an idea that I would like to turbo charge this little guy just to keep it light, and make it fast. Any info or comments would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
Sounds like a great adventure ahead! :D
To see if the recall has been done on your car, jack up the back end of the car and inspect. If the recall was done on the car, there should be a white (might be grey or brown from dirt) strapped to the fuel tank by one of the tank straps. A second thing that was done with the recall, as far as I have learned, is the filler neck was also replaced with one that reached farther into the tank.
Quote from: dave1987 on December 31, 2009, 06:05:10 PM
Sounds like a great adventure ahead! :
Dave, thanks for your response, but a white what strapped to the strapped to the fuel tank?
To see if the recall has been done on your car, jack up the back end of the car and inspect. If the recall was done on the car, there should be a white (might be grey or brown from dirt) strapped to the fuel tank by one of the tank straps. A second thing that was done with the recall, as far as I have learned, is the filler neck was also replaced with one that reached farther into the tank.
Here is a picture of what the recall panels look like!!
(http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=11530.0;attach=20774;image)
Credit for pic goes to Philstoys! He put it in one of my threads so I stole it from there!! LOL
If the pic doesn't get big enough to see it good, go to my thread in this same forum (Your Project), and look for "Project "Brown Ghost" 72 Pinto Sedan". That is where Philstoys put the original pic!!
Another quick way to check for the recall repair is remove the filler cap and look at the screws. The original neck had 3 phillips head screws while the recall neck uses 4 torx screws. I have two '72s... one each way. The recall neck also extends into the tank about six inches further. JT
My '74 Runabout has a black plastic flap piece strapped under and in front of the gas tank. My Grabber blue '72 I had in the early '90s and the same colored '72 sedan I procured Kimmy's tank flap were also black.