i have an 1980 pinto and am wondering if there is any difference between the fit of a 74 and 80 front clip
also i am looking for the measurements of the rear window in a 74 runabout
can anyone help me??
The bumper uses different mounts. The radiator support on the 79-80 is a bit different to make room for the rectangular headlights. all of the top bolts on the fender as well as the ones nearest the door are in the same place though, and the hoods interchange. If you have a 74 clip, you will need the hood prop for it, though as the newer cars have the prop mounted to the inner fender on the driver side and the prop on the earlier models attaches to the radiator support and lays across it when down.
I have a sedan, so I can't help with measurements of the rear window.
Hope that helps.
Chuck :afro:
that helps a lot thank you very much =)
Jsustin212, Disco is right. The front fenders and hood bolt right on. Just curious, why a 74. I myself am doing a 78into a 73.
for the racing club i want to be in the max year is 74 so i figured just go by that
If they find out it's not a 74, you could get in trouble and maybe thrown out of the club. Just trade your for a 74, then go racing.
they said its all good as long as it looks identical, i already talked to them about it, plus toomuch work has already gone into it
Rear window measurements on my 75 width at top approx. 33 1/2, at bottom 47 and height in center 29 inches. Am I to take it that turning a 78 into a 75 is about the same amount of work? Thanks.
With the 78, you have to change the headlight's belezs to
71-76.
and I will swap you a set of '75 bezels for the '78's :)
Every vintage racing club (in road raceing) not only limits the year to 74, they also mandate the engine to be a 2000L. Just ask Racer Walsh as they had to replace their 2.3 with a 2.0 to run vintage.
thanks for all the help everyone, as for the racing its drag, any enginge u can fit lol, i've got a 347 CI going in it
i have a 1980 pinto but i don't like the bumper on those models. i also have a 1972 with the slim chrome bumper. what work is involved in switching those. thanks
Quote from: ctpinto on April 23, 2010, 01:23:53 PM
i have a 1980 pinto but i don't like the bumper on those models. i also have a 1972 with the slim chrome bumper. what work is involved in switching those. thanks
Mines an '80 & Im swapping a '72 front on it. Ive also got the rear pan but still need the thin bumper. I also have a 68 Firebird tail panel & lights that are going to be grafted in to replace the monster plastic ones. I like the glued windshield & big engine compartment of the '80 but the frontend is too angular for my tastes. Mr.Pinto swapped the frontend on his build so I know it fits.
is the quarter panels of all the runabouts the same? id much rather have a 72. i agree that ford went too angular.
Quote from: ctpinto on May 01, 2010, 08:46:18 AM
is the quarter panels of all the runabouts the same? id much rather have a 72. i agree that ford went too angular.
As far as I can tell the only changes between a '71 to '80 sedan or runabout are the taillight panel & the firewall. All other body parts such as doors, roof, quarters, floorpans, hatches & trunklids interchange.
Im sure bumper mounting points differ but the only part I know wont swap for sure is sedan & wagon doors.
so i could just replace the fenders, grille, headlights, and hood with 72 ones?
Quote from: ctpinto on May 01, 2010, 06:07:06 PM
so i could just replace the fenders, grille, headlights, and hood with 72 ones?
Thats what Im doing on mine. Id use a '74 to '78 hood so the latch will line up. I dont know if the bumper bolts right on. Im making my own bumper brackets that will be welded to the bumper so I can fill the holes anyway.
is the 74 through 78 hood longer? because i took measurements and the engine compartments are different by a few inches. how does the longer hood fit with the grille and lights? is the 74 through 78 just have a different placement for the latch? thanks
will
Quote from: ctpinto on May 29, 2010, 02:56:18 PM
is the 74 through 78 hood longer? because i took measurements and the engine compartments are different by a few inches. how does the longer hood fit with the grille and lights? is the 74 through 78 just have a different placement for the latch? thanks
will
The hoods are the same length. The core support is different & that changes the latch position. Ive never compared an early & late hoods underside to see if the metal is different or just the latch assy. but I assume the area the latch bolts to is different. The prop rod is different as well. The pre '73 grille sits back a bit to allow access to the latch. Later grilles are flush with the hoods edge. I saw a thread on here that has pics showing these differences.
ok. Ive replaced my fenders so far. i looked at the 72 grille and noticed it screws onto the 72 hood latch for support. when i swap the grilles, the latch obviously wont have holes to screw into. do i need these two mount to hold the grille? i don't own a 74-76 so i don't know how their grilles are attached. thanks.
Will
If the grille is nice use it. If you dont have access to a welder you can get flat steel at Lowes or Home Depot to fashion a bolt on mount. I would fasten it somehow so the grille doesnt crack from wiggling around. A hacksaw & a drill will get the job done.
If you want the look of the early Pinto but have a later model car, you can take a look at what I did on my 75. I mounted a set of 77 bumpers. They really cleaned up the look and they are aluminum. It is in my projects. It helps if you have the flat headlight bezels.
peace
jim
well ive put on the fenders and lights. it looks like ill have enough room for the new hood latch and the set back 72 grille. I need replacement fenders though, as well as a trunk lid and the 74-78 hood. looks like more of a project than i thought, but well worth it. Any recommendations on the body parts? I could go fiberglass, but id rather not.