Pinto Car Club of America

I took my 1978 Ford pinto wagon 2.3 into a shop down town today because I couldn't figure out what exactly was wrong with it. Whenever I start it up and try and go somewhere my foot has to be all the way down on the accelerator pedal, they took a look at it and he said that the timing could of slipped but than when he put the car on the lift we saw that the catalytic converter is all rusted he said that something could of gotten stuck in there. I would of had them take it off and put a new one on but I'm not really willing to pay these people 90 bucks an hour. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I would do the easy and cheap stuff first before the cat.  You might want to spend a little time inspecting the ignition system to make sure every thing is in good shape and go from there.  Plugs, cap, rotor, plug wires, timing, fuel filter, air filter etc.

It's your cat [meow ok funny] it has broken up and is clogging your exhaust pipe relief oh bad chilly  I can sell you 1 or go clean air car propane.  Fred   :)   

To verify a plugged catalytic converter (or muffler), loosen the connection from the cast iron manifold to the steel down pipe leaving a 1/8" to 1/4" gap exhaust leak.  If the cat is plugged, this intentional exhaust leak will relieve the pressure and let the car move without the gas pedal on the floor.  This is for test only as noisy fumes will be released in the wrong location.

Depending on your state, someone took the cat off of my Pinto some time ago. It did not need it to pass inspection here in NY!!

Here is my redneck test..... How hot is the carpet above the converter?i had an exp thathad a bad converter... The floorboard got so hot you couldnt hardly touch the floorboard above the converter