OK Bob here is the pictures now give us the information. Fred :)
This is BadWaterBob's '73 wagon-turned-Pinchero project. He is turning a little Medium Blue Metallic Pinto station wagon into a fun-loving lil' truck. He cut off everything past the second roof pillar (directol behind the driver's-passengers door) back and above the rear wheel wells. In other words he has it basically looking roughly like a Pinto Pick-up. I hadn't meant to hijack BadWaterBob's thread but I got to meet the Pinchero In Progress when I picked up some parts. Bob definitely knows what he's doing and excitedly told me the plans. He is definitely inspired! ;D
All I can say is WOW!!!!!! I had thought this thing thru in my head a hundred times, and thought how cool it'd be to convert a Pinto to a Pick-up. Now I see it can be done, and it looks fantastic. Can't wait to see the finished project. Larry :police:
Thanks Fred for putting up the pix. This is my 4th pinchero since 1973 ( The year I got out of High School) I like to use the rear hatch as all the lines fit. You need a second one which I got from Fred. He gave me a saw and watched me cut it up to fit in my car when I picked it up. I also cut the rails down for a finished truck look. The yellow one on Utube looks cool but the sides are way too tall and people comment on that. The side panels will be covered and a full floor will be put in the bed before Rhino lining. 3 compartments have hatches in the bed. 1 for the battery, one for tools and the cool one where the spare tire was, A beer cooler :hypno: :hypno:. I built my first V8 pinto in 1972 but these are way too light. I was going to install a blown Grand Nat engine but I decided on a 2.3 and a C4 to hopefully get her rolling by Knotts. Got a plate reserved from the DMV that says PINCHRO. Will Keep you guys posted and will be glad to show you how to do this. BWB
I'm still excited about this Pinchero!!!!! :amazed: I've been thinking about this alot, and I think in the next few years I'll put one together. How about painting it and completing the interior to be like the 1972 Ford Pinto Sprint Olympic Edition scheme. This would be the best Pinchero ever!!!!! At least I think anyway. Can't wait to see your finished product. Larry :police:
This will be rat rod style. The interior will be finished as the car was going back blue. Custom pinchero seats ,mooneyes guages ,8 track and a CB we all had in the 70s. Body painted in flat black primer (really a paint called velvet in flat) Flat red grill, flat red racing stripes and FORD on tailgate. The PINCHERO emblem is a combination of the pinto and the early ranchero spliced together. It looks factory if done correct. 145R15 tires on smooth aluminium rims on front. 14x7 on rear. Air shocks for the raked look. The car should weigh in under 1600#. The 2.3 has speedpro 9-1 pistons, Roller cam D port heads, 350 holley carb,duraspark distributor, header, flowmaster muffler, connected to a fresh C4 trans. Front fenders,hood, spoiler and bumpers all glass. Trailer hitch to tow our teardrop hopefully to PA. Hitch will double as the rear rack for my long board as well :smile: This will be my last Pinchero. Time for the younger folks to continue this RARE factory car. :lol: :lol: BWB
Badwaterbob: Okay..your Pinchero sounds like it'll be really sharp, can't wait to see the finished pictures. You've got me really excited about the Pinchero...I'm going to buy me a wagon this summer and start the project. I really wanted to buy a 1972 Runabout and clone it to look like the special Olympic Pinto version, but I think now I'll turn the Pinchero into this paint and interior scheme. It'll be different that's for sure. Once I get started, I'll be posting a new thread and pictures. Thanks for the idea...I'm really stoked about this....Larry :police:
I will be glad to help you with the marking for the cuts. It just takes lots of time for the foam and fiberglass work. When you live up here at altitude we have a temp problem which slows down the body work during snow season. Everyone that sees one of these thinks it is a rare proto breed from FORD. My last build had a Esslinger fuel injection on a 2 liter motor with a louvered hood. Forget the old buck a punch for the louvers. :lol: Locate another rear hatch when you can to build the tailgate out of. Some Youtube users said what about a fold down tail gate? Too much work for a 4 foot bed.
It is not really that hard but takes alot of time. Its worth it in the end. BWB
badwaterbob: Thanks for the advise, when I'm ready to make the Pinchero, I certainly will get with you for the cuts. I can't wait now. I will probably leave the stock engine in it, as I'm not in it for speed or anything, I just think it's a cool looking little truck, and with the 1972 Sprint paint details, it'll look great....I just cannot wait...thanks....Larry :police:
Very very cool. A "How To" project if one ever existed.
"....Trailer hitch to tow our teardrop hopefully to PA...."
Hey BWB. My son has a teardrop that will be towed behind a '53 Chrysler Town & Country Wagon that he is rebuilding.
I"ll get some pics if I can. How about some of your 'drop?
Its not old school, Little Guy 4. 800 pounds. I probably took 500 off the wagon :lol: Bob
On Friday late morning I arrived at Bob's place in gorgeous Running Springs. There was still a little of the white stuff on the ground but the sun was shining and the constant drip-drip-drip of snow melting off the roof was a soft background noise to our conversation. In the barn on the left you can see the subject of Bob's thread.
I got to see Bob's last Pinchero project. It's really an honor to me. He told me of his aspirations and inspirations, and could see the dream in my mind.
Here is Pinchero as Diamond In The Rough.
Here's a look in the bed... notice how the lines seem natural... as if the engineers who designed the Pinto wagon to be a Pinchero if someone wanted to convert it...
The hatch fit right into that area where the roof pillar is. Bob has more talent than I could ever hope for myself. The pillar area is flawless! The idea for what he might want to do for the top is a great one, but I'm not sure he wants me to say right now... but if it dies happen let's just say it'll be fantastic!
Here's towards the back of the bed. Notice the tools that help Bob make his Pinchero come to life. When the tail-end is done he wants the bed Rhino-Lined and the spare tire wheel well is to be a beer-cooler. (COOL!) lol. This guy is very clever. The seat wells (?) towards the back will be tool kit area and battery areas respectively (driver's side, passenger's side).
Apparently I didn't resize ALL my pix... :look:
Here's the tail-gate on the outside. It will be fixed in place, but what the heck... it's a little pick-em-up! ;D
I apologize for all the posts... but I'm not as skilled as Kimmy in captioning pix so I do what I can.
Here's the inside of the cab-well, the roof-pillar anyway. Bob uses foam and fiberglass to fill things in and sanding to smooth 'em out. The man is an inspiration to us all. I'm very eager to see the Pinchero finished.
BTW, Bob needs lots of JuJu... his personalized plate was rejected and he should fight DMV for the right to have it. It's not in the least offensive but apparently DMV disagrees, so let's send Bob lots of good JuJu to help him win the appeal! Thank you. :smile:
Thanks for the update post. Blupinto was hiding the idea of a white vinyl top on the blue paint. Just a thought! The engine is also special for a 2.3. You will have to wait for pix on this one. Will be really cool. I promise! The Pinchero rear emblem is done and I will try and post it soon. BWB
I LOVE IT!!! Looks like first-rate work on your part, Bob! And Becky, you can come and photograph my Pinto any time you want! Here's some good ju-ju aimed at Bob to help with his license plate dilemma!
Dwayne :smile:
Thank you Bob and Dwayne! ;D
Bob... the roof... should I tell 'em...? ::)
Bob's Pinchero
omfg look at that motor sweeeeet i like it good on gas and can haul butt
I had to underdrive the blower as it is the same size as the engine. It will give me 6# of boost down the hill but up here at altitude only about 3. This is a work in progress as the pulleys are being built as is the adapter plate for the blower. The engine is already 9-1 compression so I want this as a regular driver. The carb will be a holley 350 4bl. This will be sticking out of the hood on the drivers side. That alone will draw looks. Keep watching for progress on this . BWB
WOW!!!!! That's all I can say, the Pinchero looks incredible....Larry :police:
Please Please Please get this Pincharo to Knotts!
I really wish I could. Waiting for back rims and tires to get it to the shop to finish the engine swap and body work. Probably will be done by route 66 in September. Really want to take it to PA. next year. I am behind on pix posts. I got the 15x4 smooth rims for the front and installed 145r15 tires. They are about the same size as the stock A78-13 tires. Thanks Bob
Ok Bob explain the picture. Fred :)
This is the almost complete blown 2.3 for the pinchero.
Just waiting for the lower drive pulley to be finished. The manifold is an Esslinger (holley) built for the carb to sit sideways .
That was just what I needed as the hole size and plenum is the same on the bottom of the blower. Build an adapter plate and its on. The carb is a holley 500cfm 2bbl. Calculations call for about 390-400 cfm so I will have to wait until she fires up. The header has a bung for an O2 sensor so I will be running air/fuel guage. Just shooting for 5-6 # max boost so it is really underdriven. If the power isnt there, blower unbolts and carb goes on. Its a side of the road swap the way I built the adapter plate. Now I have to finish the body. Thanks Fred for putting the pix up. BWB
This is the second blown 2.3 i have seen first one burnt a hole through a piston cause it had cast pistons..... They look so cool cant wait to see a video of it running!
i would love about 20 more pics of the body work in process
As soon as the back rims are on its off to get the interior frame and bed frame welded. I will take pix as it progresses. This one is a dollar at a time project. Bob