LOL. Just had to since the wife is already getting frustrated with my playing around with my new toy. LOL. Anyways,as I may have stated before, I love custom rods. I love hot rods. I love drag racing. So how can I wrap all of those up into one tiny package?Well, hot rod and drag style can easily go hand in hand. However, customs usually dont fit with those. LOL. Since Dolly is a mid/late 70's car. There were some trends in the late 70's and early 80's where people were doing customs hot rods. Muscle kinda style. Esp. with the vans!So I may be able to sneak all three in? Part of the reason perhaps why Ford offered a cruising wagon and a panel version? So being in love with the hot pants style ground effects, and looking at some vans of the late 70's, there are some simularities. If I was to create a set myself, I could add fender flares perhaps and a different style chin gaurd as well. Now, I have always wanted to play around with metal too. Like chop channel section. Well, I dont really think I oughta do that to her. I may be a small fella, but taking anything off of her hieght would make me too big in a hurry. LOL. So lets see. Ah yes, how about qued headlights. Now surfing around on the net, I did find reference to one custom pinto using quad 6"round lights. But, the vans tended to go quad square lights. Now there is a idea perhaps? Then between them I could make a custom grill. Do the turn signals behind that to kinda conceal them.Maybe do a little work on the nose to make it more simular to that of the camaroes? I do like that look! Alright, now I have a viable idea. However, the car is set up for high and low on one bulb. So I would have to figure out how to make the metal first to adapt two lights on each side. Then figure out the wiring so I have a set of high beams and a set of low beams. Now like on my van. I have that kind of set up. So I have reference, and maybe can find something along that lines in a yard maybe to help out? Now I am left in the open for tail light ideas though. Just dont like the stock style. My favorite hot rod style is of course, 59 caddy lights. Nut those may look wierd sticking out of the back side of a pinto? I could do some small fin work on the car. Did find a gourgious pro streeted wagon version with those. They do look cool. But I still dont think it would be a big enough job to make a pair of 59 caddy lights look right? So I dont know. I know I love the late 60's cougar lights, the very early 70 hatch back lights. Something along that lines. But.... There is not enough room in the back for those! Not unless I was to have a lowered bumper and a small rolled pan in the rear?Louvered window covers may be in order. Might be able to find one for the rear? Would probably have to cut it though for the rear spoiler. I do kinda like that as a 70's thing.But, I would probably have to make some for the side windows as I dont think I have ever seen any for the wagon side windows! LOL. I am kinda thinking actually doing cragars as they were favorites of the time for sure. I am sure I could eventually find four lug 13" Cragars. I know my grandpa has a set with universal 4 lugs on his VW. Now, maybe a 14" four lug cragar on the rear? Fairmont rims would fit in the back right? Would there be any fit issues as I would probably desire to go to a 8" rear? So maybe a new set of shackles and ladder bars? I am picturing a couple of more gauges on the dash for like Tach and ( Ive calld it a amp guage, but someone corrected me in ) volt gauge. Also a battery gauge and temp gauge. Am certainly thinking sun roof! Another piece may have to make would be a sun visor for it(outside style) Another cool touch would be chrome rain gaurds on the front windows. Does anyone make these? Now a bigger change might be, changing out the bumpers and useing the small style from 70-72 I think they were? Side pipes would look cool. However, if I stayed with the 2.3, that would be impractical! LOL. So who knows. I first had the idea of doing a sleeper. But,that has never really been my style. So this may give way to a small block v6 perhaps? Maybe a 302? Who knows. But, I am toying with ideas and I can almost picture it! Does anyone have any pictures of pintos with any of this stuff on them? Someone started a thread of things from the 70's that had gotten me started on this kick! LOL. Huala girl and 8 track wtd. etc. LOL. It would be cool if anyone knew of a company to offer the rain gaurds for sure! Anyways, getting late and I am bored, so I am just rambling on in the open with my ideas. LOL. So thanks. LOL.
Quote from: tinkerman73 on February 13, 2011, 09:11:39 PM
So being in love with the hot pants style ground effects, and looking at some vans of the late 70's, there are some simularities. If I was to create a set myself, I could add fender flares perhaps and a different style chin gaurd as well. Now, I have always wanted to play around with metal too. Like chop channel section. .Maybe do a little work on the nose to make it more simular to that of the camaroes? I do like that look! Alright, now I have a viable idea. However, the car is set up for high and low on one bulb. So I would have to figure out how to make the metal first to adapt two lights on each side. Then figure out the wiring so I have a set of high beams and a set of low beams. Now like on my van. Now I am left in the open for tail light ideas though. Just dont like the stock style. My favorite hot rod style is of course, 59 caddy lights. Louvered window covers may be in order. Might be able to find one for the rear? Would probably have to cut it though for the rear spoiler. I do kinda like that as a 70's thing.But, I would probably have to make some for the side windows as I dont think I have ever seen any for the wagon side windows! Fairmont rims would fit in the back right? Would there be any fit issues as I would probably desire to go to a 8" rear? Am certainly thinking sun roof! A) Another cool touch would be chrome rain gaurds on the front windows. Does anyone make these? Now a bigger change might be, changing out the bumpers and useing the small style from 70-72 I think they were? Side pipes would look cool. ! Does anyone have any pictures of pintos with any of this stuff on them?
wow where to start
hot pants set being made for the wagon buy a member near pittsburgh, pa
chopped i have seen one it was purple and looked nice
i think foord had some hideaway headlights as well high low set is simple wireing under hood
tail lights there is an orange wagon that has a 57 chevy style fin and light in it very nice looking mod
loovered rear wndow is a possability and there is a factory spoiler that you may be able to use brackets or even the spoiler i have never seen any for the side windows on a wagon though
rims craigers are cool 4 lug are harder to find fairmont rims will fit most any ford rear wheel drive 4 lug will work
sun roof was a factory option may be hard to find but there is always aftermarket
window rain guards do show up on ebay from time to time but wagon an sedan are different i want a set as well
bumpers 71-73 are the smaller ones
side pipes imteresting could be cool
pic cookieboys has a lot but the gallery here has some as well then just plane old google/ yahoo immage searches
hope i helped some there are a lot of good ideas there just dont take on to much at once and feel like you are over you head
phil
I only wish I could take on the world in building my "dream" car. But, a bilfold with only a one way opening hinders that drastically! LOL. I am sure it will take a couple of years to make any real progress on much of this! LOL. Body work is the simpler part. But most of all of the rest takes money! I can afford all of the time in the world. But.... then things cost money!
Why cant you use a 59 caddy light? french them in then you can make as much as you want of it sticking out!
I have been contemplating the tail lights frm a camaro as well. Late 70's/ I do like those styles and time wise, they would go. Just even though I am a die hard chevy man (cough cough). I would like to keep the FORD pinto as much ford as possible. LOL.
meh a brands a brand you can bet ur ARSE if i had a ls1 or a (REAL OLD 426)hemi sitting in my garage id be stuffing it in my bobcat LOL