Bit of back ground...
I grew up with Dad's heavy const. co. Explains my mechanical abilities.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/pic1-2.jpg)
In the 70s I watched my Bro buying and spending big bucks on big cars (more on those later) to make them fast.
I had other ideas (and less money).
So my first car was a Pinto. Bought it as an expeiment car. Rusty & ran poorly, but knew the engine would be pulled quicky. I didn't want one in good shape & make a mess of it.
So this one was to work the bugs out.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/pic8.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/pic6.jpg)
This
The above car was rear ended. Shortened 3'.
I was in Oshawa Ont. Canada on a main two lane that goes north/south. My next stop was going to be a speed shop for a cam kit.
Stopped behind a full sized Buick.
Kid with a full sized Merc slammed into the back of me & pushed me into the Buick in front.
The two pictures above are the only ones that I've found. Many moves since then. Misplaced I guess. Pics taken with one of those 110 cameras. (same as next picture)
So, bought another Pinto & did more work ....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/V8Pinto.jpg)
Wish I could find more pictures of the blue one.
Body guy that did the body work was a "funny guy"....and due to the first one getting rear ended, he installed another set of (working) tail lights.
302w
Diff out of a Mustang. I do not remember the year. Bruce Fitzgibbon put the pot together with 4:11s.
Auto was an FMX built for a gasser. Stall convert. but no longer remember at what RPM.
Edelbrock intake & holly carb. 600 cfm ? 650cfm ? Again, it's been a long time.
I had a Boss 302 built for it & all fitted. Never did fire it up though. Sold it to a fellow in NB for his Mustang. Builder thought it would have been over 600 HP.
Your first Pinto looks a lot like my first Pinto! Can't be certain of the color of yours, but mine was orange. The big difference is that I bought mine brand new when I was sixteen years old and kept it stock. It was a 2300 cc with a 4-speed. I loved that car but traded it off and moved on to bigger and better things after a couple of years. The second owner (another sixteen-year-old) demolished it in an accident, so there's no chance of ever getting it back. I now have a brown '72.
Dwayne :smile:
Wow! What a set of headers!! They really do the loop-de-loop, huh? BTW, did the Pinto "blow up" when the merc rear ended it?
QuoteBTW, did the Pinto "blow up" when the merc rear ended it?
No boom. Didn't even leak.
I got to keep the car & when I flipped it over on it's lid, the bottom (pan, front to back) looked like an accordion !
Headers were part of a kit. Came out of Detroit. I drove down from Ont. and picked up two kits. I do not remember all that came in the kits.
Also picked up what I remember as a hot pants kit ? Fender flares etc for another fellow.
He was building a woody wagon. I did all the mechanical work for him.
That make 3 total I put together.
I've yet to read a warning to the younger folks here that are building V-8 Pintos.
Should be one in
BOLD !I built mine in the 70s & very soon turn 55. Pinto bug has never gone away !
After reading this forum for the last several days, the addiction is chewing away at me like never before ! ;D
Now thats a set of headers....
Quote from: RSM on December 22, 2010, 07:36:00 AM
Now thats a set of headers....
7th post down Pintok has the same ones: http://www.fordpinto.com/your-project/headers/
According to an old Popular Hot Rod magazine article, the swoopy headers were made by Herbert and Meek out of North Hollywood, Calif. The kit also included frame brakets to use the stock V8 mounts and a new trans crossmember if a manual is used (for autos, the stock Pinto trans crossmemeber was used). The article also mentions that Herbert and Meek made V8 kits for the Vega. I could not find Herbert and Meek on the internet, so they may be history now.
Those look like scary fast Pintos.
Would have been much better if I had gotten the Boss 302 running it !
The name Herbert & Meek rings a bell. Cannot say for certain though.
I picked the kits up at Gratiot Auto Supply, on Gratiot Ave. in Detriot MI.
If I remember right, on the instruction sheet it stated the part number for the motor mounts ?
Ford Dealer in Port Hope Ont. had an amazing & very helpful parts man. He helped me out lots !
He found me the front springs. Rally springs ?
And much more...
That blue one is the most fun & memorable car in my life !
Over the last week I've been watching videos & looking at pictures.
Also have been trying to find the old Boss engine I had built (so far no luck).
Snooping round the web....looks like the engine prices have changed a pile in 33 years !
Read about the new Boss 302 Ford has put out. Seems the heads are different than the old ones.
I'd want an old one anyway. Really dislike all the new computers & sensors put in newer vehicles now-a-days !
The temptation to build another is strong...
Quote from: oldkayaker on December 23, 2010, 05:10:54 AMAccording to an old Popular Hot Rod magazine article, the swoopy headers were made by Herbert and Meek out of North Hollywood, Calif.
I always called them Tarantula headers but now I know why somebody called them H&M headers years ago.