Hello everyone,
I am interested on buying a Ford Pinto, that's why I am here. I want the car for daily use, not to show up or colection. I am aware that I need to change the engine as the 4 cylinder one that the pinto has is way too old.
I am not into cars, I don't know much about this field and actually this will be my first car. The reason I want the Pinto is because I hate new cars, I don't like their desings and I do care of the asthetics point. This will be like my baby for many years and I don't care if it takes me a while to find the proper one.
I have several questions that you guys might help me with.
Which is the best engine that fit with the Pinto?
Around how much would it cost the whole thing?
What type of restaurations does the Pinto need to be used as a daily car? just changin the engine for a new one?
Any other advice I should know about it?
Any help will be much appreciated! Thanks in advance for reading!
My question is...why would want to change what works? The Ford 2.3 is a great and very durable engine not to mention they get very good gas mileage when tuned properly and maintained. Sounds more like your looking for a project car.....just my opinion.
I am looking for a Ford Pinto for daily use. That don't cause me any problem. I understand that old cars have old engines and they consume a lot of gasoline and money not like the current engines, am I wrong? Also the Pinto has a 100 km/h limit, i would like to have like current cars, almost like 150 km/h, is that possible?
I repeat I am new here and I need to learn all about cars! Just asking for advice :read:
Most of what you are asking depepnds on the condition of the Pinto you buy. There is a beautiful yellpw wagon on ebay right now that apppears to not need much of anything. If you are looking for a specific model, you will be looking for some time until what you want appears. Not too many Pinto's left to choose from.
As far as restorations are concerned,, once again it depends on the condition of the car. Suspension, Engine, body work, interior. If all of these are bad it will get more costly than finding one in great shape and paying for it. If only one of these things needs replacement, it is far less and once again. It will depend on what you want to do to the car.
My suggestion is to look for a car, if you find one, come back and ask what it is worth. Also let us know what it needs and we can help you decide if it is the car for you right there or if you need to keep looking.
Good luck and hope to see you on the road somewhere.
thanks a lot for the quick response people!
So you mean that if i find a non restoured pinto car in well condition, I dont need to change the engine? is the old one usefull? doesn't it consume a lot of gas?
Ok when i find one I'll let you know, but just to start making my own mental outline, how much would it be to find a well conserved Pinto but just needs the engine to be changed? I mean more or less.
Like around 8.000 $?
thanks!
Pintos can be found that are in very very nice condition...but they do cost a bit more. If you find a basic daily driver that needs an engine or transmission the costs aren't bad. Even daily drivers that need no work aren't too expensive. On craigslist here in Phoenix was a Pinto hatchback for $1800 which from what I could see was a decent price. Check Craigslist in your area and here on the website. There is always a deal out there somewhere.
hey guys!
what do u think about this one? Would I have to change the engine for a new one? I really LOVE this car, it would be perfect for me:
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/2452940858.html
I'd go take a look at it. It will have a 2.3 and not a 2.0 see what he'll take. It looks really good from the pics.
I'd start at $2000 but thats me...
but this car needs a new engine, innit?
in that case, which one would be appropiate and for how much? more or less
Quote from: RSM on June 23, 2011, 12:27:43 PM
I'd go take a look at it. It will have a 2.3 and not a 2.0 see what he'll take. It looks really good from the pics.
I have a '74 and it has a 2.0. Early models were still made with the 2.0. - BruceF
I did not know that. I guess you can still learn something new every day lol
so... would I need a new engine? 4 cylinder is way to old, iinit?
Talk to the guy about the car. It doesn't sound like it needs an engine. If the mileage is accurate...it's got a lot of life left in it but thats a decision you will have to make unless you know a mechanic that will check it out for you. Good luck!!!
my wagon has the 2.3 and 95,000 miles on it and will cruse down the highway at 70 and get about 24 mpg.
just a few weeks ago another member here drove her 71 with a 1600 motor from california to pa and back with no problems the 70,s cars were some of the first fuel minded cars. the late 60's cars were all about speed not fuel.
are u saying that Pinto runs at 70 km/h?? how could I improve that? that's too slow!
Thats 70 MPH not KM/H the original motors work fine for daily drivers. The 2.3 is my preference and it was used from late 74 all the way to 94 in tons of different kinds of cars they still used the same lima motor from 95-2000 but it wasnt a 2.3 anymore it was turned into a 2.5 liter engine.
The only thing i would do if i was getting a close to stock pinto for a daily driver would be make sure its a manual car and then swap in a 5 speed trans in place of the 4 speed.
Plus later on if you decide the pinto isnt quick enough you can always do what im doing to my bobcat and swapping in a 2.3 turbo. The car i pulled my 2.3 turbo out of with a 5 speed and 3.55 rear gears has a top speed of 140 MPH or around 225 KM/H!
thanks a lot man!
So as you can see I am new into this, so could you tell me how km/h is if you have the original motor of 70MPH? Like 110 km/h, isn't it?
I would prefer to have the 140 MPH so I have the option to run faster. So how much does it cost to put a 2.3 turbo? The 2.3 turbo is a motor? The model i want has a 2.0 motor i supose is that?
I am looking for resistante and speed. I don't mean like i want to run at 225 km/h but at least have the option if I want to ride at 140 km/h or something. Besides, if you pull up to 100km/h a car which limit is 110 km/h is kind of dangerous for the engine, isn't it?
I woul like to adaptate the pinto as if it was a current car acording to resistance and speed. Evrybode tells me not to buy an old car because is all problems and is not woth it, but I think if you resturate the mechanics it has to work like a nowadays car, am i wrong?
Is it possible to use just the exterior of the pinto and change everything whitin it? How much would that cost?
Sorry for all the questions! I really don't have idea of this and I want to learn
Is someone cookin?
70 mph is right around 112 km/h and I'm sure that's not the limit of a stock motor its just a nice highway cruising speed.
As for how much would it cost to swap in a 2.3turbo well depends on how much of the work you can do yourself. I payed 1000 for a 1988 thunderbird turbocoupe which is where i got the motor,trans,wiring harness,ecu and some other parts out of. The 255 lph fuel pump cost 120 and I'm upgrading the whole fuel system so ill have 300 in my fuel cell and close to 300 in all new fuel lines. So right now I'm around $1720 into my project plus the price of the car which i got a steal on my bobcat 700 bucks cause the guy that had it just had a heartattack and couldn't keep it. If you cant wire up fuel injection yourself,weld, do mechanic work then your gonna have to pay someone to do this stuff to finish the swap. I did all the work on my car myself but i have been doing this stuff since i was 14 with my dad and brother.
I'm building my car to go fast at a drag strip and sometimes just drive on the street for fun. If i cant get it to go fast enough with the turbo 4. Ill just swap in a fuel injected 5.7 LS1 out of a corvette or z28 camaro and turbo that.
You can still find very nice low mile Pintos all around. A gal here in topeka just found a 71 with 21K original miles. Its got the original 1600, but it runs like a champ. Theres also a gal in Lawrence that has a 74 wagon with 52K miles on it. (she's wanting 4K for it tho). If your not a mechanic and serious about getting one, get a stock one with low miles. Mine (75 hatch) accually had the letters "MPG" on the side of it before i painted it. Good luck in finding one! Kenny
I think DreamBean is on to something LOL