Pinto Car Club of America

Shiny is Good! => Your Project => Topic started by: don33 on May 23, 2011, 04:07:02 AM

Title: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: don33 on May 23, 2011, 04:07:02 AM
does anyone know any sources to buy a fiberglass hood for a 80 Pinto ?  I have found a couple of places that have 71 - 78 hoods but the 79 - 80 hoods are different.

thanks
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: Skratch on May 23, 2011, 05:05:17 AM
No one that I know of makes a hood for the 79-80. You shouls be able to find someone in your area that can make you one for a fairly reasonable price. I have worked glass for many years and a hood is not that difficult to make. Doing it as a one off deal you don't even need a good or permanent mold.
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: don33 on May 24, 2011, 09:24:51 PM
How different is a,  say,  78 hood could it be massaged into fitting ?
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: dick1172762 on May 24, 2011, 10:08:27 PM
I've seen it done, BUT, it was a lot of work! You have to cut off the nose of the 78 hood and then make a new one to match the 79/80 model. A "good" Corvett body man could do it in a NY minute.
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: don33 on May 25, 2011, 06:21:08 AM
shucks, I was really hoping to lose some weight by using a fiberglass hood and trunk lid.
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: Russ Myers on May 25, 2011, 10:54:34 AM
Let me know if you do come up with something. I could really use  some glass parts for my race car.

Russ
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: don33 on May 28, 2011, 11:50:57 PM
Yeah, anybody that hears anything, knows anything, knows anybody that might know something about fiberglass hoods/trunks for the 79-80 cars, please post it up .....
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: htwells on August 03, 2011, 09:08:31 PM
Any new leads on this?
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: Pinto5.0 on August 04, 2011, 05:27:52 PM
In my opinion it's not worth the hassle. If you're lucky the hood will shave 10 to 12 pounds & the trunklid another 8. Removing the steel bumper cores & bumper shocks in favor of some home made aluminum ones would save 50 pounds at least, maybe more.

Take the door windows, regulators & tracks out, cut out ALL the inner door metal except an inch to attach the door panel & sawzall out the impact braces & you take each door from 80 pounds stock to about 37. Add some tabs & Dzus in some lexan side windows & your still about 40 pounds each.

Lose the carpet & seats & go with plastic or Kirkey seats & 200 plus pounds is history.

The '80 only weighs 2500 pounds or so to begin with so there really isn't too much to lose. Manual brakes & steering, Willwood brakes up front & aluminum skinnies will save 100 more pounds.

Hope this helps....
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: don33 on August 04, 2011, 06:26:29 PM
the steel bumper cores and shocks are history. all that's left of the bumpers is the aluminum shell. aluminum brackets have been fabbed up to replace the steel bumper shocks/mounts. haven't done anything with the doors yet, at this point, I still want them to be functional.  I thought the stock pinto seats were pretty light, not to much to them. I'll be putting aluminum wheels on  with skinnies on the front. it came with manual steering and brakes.  mine is the pinto pony trunk model and I believe they come in at about 2375 from the factory. thanks for the Ideas, I'm sure I'll use most of them...   
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: Pinto5.0 on August 04, 2011, 06:54:42 PM
The impact braces in the doors are 14 pounds each if I remember right. If you want to keep the glass you could hole saw the inner panels & lose a few pounds as well as the back seat inner panels.

I weighed a stock seat with tracks & if I remember right it was 43 pounds. I have a digital shipping scale I use for Ebay. Part of that weight loss is the 20ish pound heater core. The carpet & jute is 30ish pounds but your sedan back seat will be lighter than the folding rear with all the associated parts in a hatch car. My 200 pound saving estimate is probably closer to 160ish.
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: don33 on August 04, 2011, 08:55:02 PM
at 14lbs each those impact braces are worth taking out. looks like I'll be taking the door panels off to access those.      "weight reduction  =  free horsepower"
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: Pinto5.0 on August 05, 2011, 06:01:12 AM
Quote from: don33 on August 04, 2011, 08:55:02 PM
at 14lbs each those impact braces are worth taking out. looks like I'll be taking the door panels off to access those.      "weight reduction  =  free horsepower"

Getting rid of them also allows a minor door impact to just destroy the door rather than buckle the whole jam. Some guys torch them out but I experimented on a pair of scrap doors & managed to sawzall them out rather easily. I plan to repeat that process on both sets of doors before I hang them on my cars.
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: docsdream on August 09, 2011, 06:18:19 PM
Don, if you find a hood let me know.  I'm looking for a 1980 hood also.
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: don33 on August 10, 2011, 07:14:04 PM
will do Doc, but I have to tell ya, it don't look good. several sources make them up to 1978. but not for the 79 - 80.
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: Bigtimmay on August 10, 2011, 07:24:39 PM
Dont feel bad they dont make them for us bobcat guys either! Im half tempted to make one myself for my 78 bobcat! It can't be that hard!
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: NJford on August 16, 2011, 11:56:52 PM
 Try this guy.  905-857-6345
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: htwells on April 30, 2012, 08:10:33 PM
Hey NJFord, who's number did you give us......is this a fiberglass guy?
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: Cookieboystoys on May 01, 2012, 08:18:45 AM
Quote from: NJford on August 16, 2011, 11:56:52 PM
Try this guy.  905-857-6345

Showcars is located at:
258 Attwell Dr. , Unit 4
Otobicoke, Ontario M9W 5B2
Canada
Phone: 905-857-6345
Fax: 905-857-6346
www.showcars-bodyparts.com

BUT! before you call might want to look at this...
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/showcars-fiberglass-amp-steel-bodyparts-unlimited-c10197.html
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: racer99 on May 01, 2012, 08:50:18 AM
There is a guy on RJ advertising he can do
ANY fiberglass work needed.I believe he is
in the Carolinas.
Might be worth a shot.
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: showcarsrob on September 11, 2014, 10:36:15 AM
new pics file for pinto....we have 79-80 hoods, stock or with scoop.....pin or bolt on.....

http://www.acdseeonline.com/album/showcarsrob/1746600/thumbnails/

old website...prices need update....
http://www.showcars-bodyparts.com/pinto.html
Title: Re: 1980 Pinto fiberglass hood
Post by: dick1172762 on September 11, 2014, 12:58:49 PM
BIG RIP OFF!!!! Have not seen one good word about this guy.