Yeah... i'm still around. No, i still cant spell 'ov'.
I really need a good on gas commuter car. Something that gets in the 20's (MPG) wont do, i need more. 30MPG+. But its still gotta be fun. And yeah, i still dont ask too much...
My rust-rust-rusty 76 'MPG' 2.3/4spd/8" basher still has a broken block. Right now there aint anything local that i'd chance buying to replace it, without getting into swap issues anyways. And then there is STILL that goddamn issue ov the early front clip/bumpers... i still cant find any anywhere near here that doesn't involve buying a whole car (for too much money), stripping it, then getting STUCK (Pintos dont sell here) with the donor. I HATE the later look. HATE HATE HATE. 71 Pinto's are badass looking.
Seeing as i want an early car 71-2 (73's have the small bumpers, but they are heavier, yes?), preferably 71, maybe i should just buy a running one with a stick and call it a day. Then i would get an all-round lighter car than mine would be even if i did swap the bumpers... as unless i am mistaken, the 71-3 cars had thinner sheetmetal (?? ?) My 76 MPG weighs 2400. Swap to earlier bumpers and its still what, 2260? The 8" adds some weight, but not 260lbs. My first pass at weight-reduction netted me about 30lbs, the rest will be work.
I'm planning to build a pretty serious little commuter car here (later in the year)... 2000lbs or less, efficient 2 or 2.3L (HAS to be N/A), 5spd, taller gears (ending up with a stock MPG final ratio with the OD), full exhaust and custom header, enough suspension to make use ov my 17" Z-rated tires, etc. I should probably just look for another Pinto, something 40 or 41 years old... yes? Being able to get in and drive would be a bonus, as right now i have NO space, shitty tools and really, too much other stuff to do.
Hmmm... not sure if there was a question there... Just thinking out loud in the only place where people wont laugh at me. Sure wish that block didn't pop on me... Sure wish there was a cheap 71-2 Pinto stick car nearby...
Ugh.
QUESTION... (i should probably start a new thread...)
I have decided that i should just buy a complete, running/driving 71 Pinto (preferably a Runabout), because one, thats what i was going to make my 76 look like (and the parts to do that simply do NOT exist in this universe) and two, because apparently the 75-6 Pintos, even my stripped out 'light' MPG version, were the heaviest Pintos ever made. I want to build a LIGHT car. The 71 would have such a massive advantage over a small-bumpered and lightened 76 its not even worth thinking about. And i suppose, three, because mine no longer runs anyways and probably needs other (sitting and neglect) repairs by now.
So i need a 71 Pinto with a stick. I WANT a hatch, but everything i see has a trunk. Chances are, if i dont want to wait four years to find something perfect, i'll end up with another trunk car. SOOOOO . . . Can you convert a trunk car into a hatch...??.?
This project will end up with a roll bar anyways, and who are we kidding... 71 Pintos are built out ov tin foil... taking structure out ov the roof aint gonna make it any less safe. I'm willing to build up the structure a bit if i need to. To me (looking at my 76 trunk and another 76 hatch side by side) it looks as easy as cutting the hole, welding or bolting on the hatch brackets and then sealing it. Too easy...?? Anyone done this...?.?.?