My plans are to drop a 2.3 turbo in the Pinto I just purchased. I want the wagon to look stock other then duel exhaust and maybe some wide profiles. Will I need to find a different transmission and rear end? Just curious, thanks for any information given.
I don't know for sure, I drive a semi-stock (lower axle ratio than stock and a mustang roller cam) 2.3 Pinto sedan on a daily basis.
Depending on what the car has in it now, I would recommend upgrading the axle and transmission.
If it has a C4 automatic, you should be fine (I don't know if the C3 is as durable, I would assume so though). If your car has a V6 in it, it should already have an 8" rear axle, if not, see if you can track one down, it will most likely relieve a headache of axle problems later on down the road.
If I were to upgrade my stock 2.3 to a turbo, I would definitely swap out my 4spd FOG for a C4 automatic and get an 8" rear from a Mustang II (bolt in swap). Of coarse I would then need a different drive-shaft as well, but that is minor compared to obtaining and conditioning the trans and axle to my liking (shift kit in the trans and locking carrier in the axle).
First off is your car an auto or a 4 speed? Since your car is a 80 it will have a c3 if its a auto and the c3 wont last long if you put it behind a 2.3T.
As Dave has said a C4 auto behind a 2.3T would be nice but the bell housings are getting pricey and harder to find unless you wanna dish the cash for the SFI one that's out now. Your cheapest and easiest bet would be to snag a T5 out of any 87-93 2.3 mustang or a turbo 2.3 T-bird.
For the rearend question the an 8" out of a v6 pinto or v6 an v8 mustang 2 will be a direct bolt in and be 4 lug or you can go 5 lug by running a Granada/Versailles 9". Ranger/mustang 8.8 rearends can be used but you will have to fab up spring perches.
If your car doesn't have a 8" that means it has a 6.75 rear and if you leave this under the car don't plan on drag racing it cause it will come apart on ya its not made to hold the power the 2.3turbo can produce.
I'm in the process of doing this swap in my 1978 mercury bobcat and it really hasn't been that hard of a swap on a scale of 1-10 it was maybe a 3.5-4 for me. Don't know if any of this will help ya but here's my build http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php/topic,15850.0.html (http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php/topic,15850.0.html)
Quote from: Bigtimmay on October 28, 2010, 01:46:48 PM
If your car doesn't have a 8" that means it has a 6.75 rear and if you leave this under the car don't plan on drag racing it cause it will come apart on ya its not made to hold the power the 2.3turbo can produce.
i can't really disagree with any of the recommendations that you guys bring up. however so much is unknown & can only be determined by the guy who is dong the driving and how realistic he is about what is REALLY going to be done to & with the car.
there are so many variables. i have had much experience both on the street & at the drag strip with the 6.75 in an early '71. they are (if not blatantly abused) a good rear axle. i never broke one however at that time in the cars history there was no such thing as a wide profile tire either.
what kind of & what size tire are you going to use? are you really going to be drag racing the car?
even if you do drag race the car there are ways to launch that can reduce shock loading (which is the REAL culprit) to the universal joints & the ring & pinion.
(in 1971, low 13's @ 101 to 104 mph with 185/70-r13s & never getting out of 3rd @ 6000rpm with a 6.75 / 3.55 rear gear)
http://www.fordpinto.com/general-pinto-talk/build-pics-1973-turbo-coupe/
I broke two 6.75 stockers with a n/a 2.3 the first time at the track on both. The first time I took out the ring and pinion, second one broke an axle. Wheel hop probably played a good role in both those breakages. I installed the 8 inch with traction bars, on my latest Pinto and although I'm only slightly above stock on my turbo setup, I've beat it to death with no issues.