Pinto Car Club of America

I have a 1979 Ford pinto wagon which I just bought about two weeks ago. I am in the process of swapping in a 2.3 turbo out of an 83 thunderbird. Just the other day I pulled the stock carburated 2.3 engine out and left the automatic c4 transmission inside. I have heard it is a direct swap all over the internet but my plans to have the engine in by the end of the weekend have been stopped dead in there tracks by a little problem. The thunderbird motor was a manual trans and after taking off the flywheel on both engines I have found that the inside area where the torque converter slips into on the turbo engine will not fit. It is threaded and too small for it. My question is what should I do to make this work? should I shave down the torque converter, drill the hole larger in the T-bird engine or maybe find an adapter of something.

Thank you

Since the T-bird had a manual trans, there should be a pilot bearing pressed in to the end of the crank.  This pilot bearing needs to be removed inorder for the torque converter snout to fit.  I have had bad luck with the speciality tools designed for this task, so last time I ended up just chiseling it out (not fun).  Hope your luck will be better.

Something I've seen done in years past is to fill the cavity behind the bearing with grease. Then take a punch thats very close to the same size as the input shaft of the tranny, put a rag over the punch and drive it into the bearing. This has a hydraulic affect and will drive the bearing out. This works if the bearing is sealed and in good shape  so no grease will go past it. The punch may have to be pulled out and more grease put in to finish the job. There is something to be said for old school shade tree mechanics.

This also works very well if its a bushing instead of a bearing. No grease gets by. Something to try anyways.

It is a bushing not a bearing......Take care and chisel it out of there.

                                                                                                                                                     High_Horse
                                                                                                                                               

Thanks guys. I tried chiseling at it for a couple hours then realized their is space in back for a puller. I ran down to autozone and rented the pulley puller tool and it poped right out took 5 sec. The right tools make all the difference

I was wondering about the flywheel on mine too. I guess ill find out in the spring! good luck with it yo.