Hello I thought this would be the best place to come to ask questions related to the Ford Pinto. My name is Craig Laughlin and I live in Lake Oswego, Oregon. I have a 1974 Pinto 2000cc motor, connected to a C4 auto trans that is then connected to a 1931 Ford roadster pickup. Perfect motor for this little truck.
Well I have been noticing lack of performance and hard to start cold. Normally first crank it would start and it would always run great. It has a Weber carb and chromed header,Petronix ignition. Great running and looking all steel truck.
Today I pulled the plugs and checked th compression, #1 60, #2 160, #3 160, #4 160.
Well that tells me the head is going to have to come off. Is this an easy to do job, any service manuals to use or stay away from? I am very mechanical and I can fix most automobile related problems. I have not had a Pinto head off before. TIA
Craig C. Laughlin
I have a Chilton's manual that covers 71-77 Pintos. I am not the best mechanic, but not the worst either. This little book has been a big help to me. It is very detailed and doesn't take you a long and then leave you hanging like the newer manuals. My '73 2.0 head was very easy to remove; however I did not service it myself, I took it to the local auto supply store machine shop. It was fairly inexpensive (this was a few years back) and they did good work. My engine is still running very strong. My Chilton's manual was very thrashed cause I used the crud out of it so I just recently purchased a replacement off of eBay. If you would like more details on the book, I can get them to you. I think I paid less than 8 bucks for the Chilton's off ebay.
Do you have an Ollies bargain outlet near you any where? Every ollie's ive been in has about 15 - 20 chiltons for pinto's. I picked one up for a buck.
The manual that I recommend is titled "Chilton's Pinto 1971-77 Repair & Tune-Up Guide". Also on the front it says "Sedan, Runabout & Station Wagon" and "Repairs, Specifications, and Do-It-Yourself Maintenance". Copyright is 1977, ISBN #0-8019-6607-8. Very good book. Very detailed info under the "Engine Rebuilding" section. It has an artist's rendition of a brown pinto sedan on it and...what's that "president's heads chipped out of rock" monument called? That's on the front cover too! :D You'd think I'd remember the name! Been a long time since I was in school and all I could think about back then was my pinto!
Just a point of interest.
The dead bolts are not regular hex metric, they are a type of star bit. Don't know if torques is the same.
You may be able to pick one up at your local NAPA parts store.
I have on as well as the bit for the timing belt tensioning pully that also covers the oil pump bolts.
If you can't find one, let me know and you can purchase the one I have as I no longer need it.
mcrouthamel@netcarrier.com
or
215-679-3520
Well boy's girl's I have some great news. I pulled the hood off the 31 and then the cam(valve) cover. I noticed that it looked exactly like the early Datsun L model engines. I worked at a Datsun dealer for many years as a line mechanic. Well checking for any clearance in the intake and exhaust rockers on #1 found them to be very tight, no clearance. So a quick adjustment. (I still need to know the gap.) Provided me with a new compression reading on #1 of @160. Yehaaaa.
So I ordered a new cam cover gasket,can someone tell me the valve clearance for adjusting? Intake and exhaust the same or different?? Cold or hot?
I haven't found a Pinto reference guide yet but will order one.
Thanks for any and all help.
Craig C. Laughlin
Valve clearance on a 2000 cc motor (and only for the 2000) - set with engine cold.
Valve #1 depressed (cam lobe pointing straight down), #6 set at .008 & #7 set at .010
Valve #2 depressed, #8 set at .008 & #3 set at .010
Valve #3 depressed, #2 set at .008 & #5 set at .010
Valve #6 depressed, #4 set at .008 & #1 set at .010
clearance to be checked with retaining spring unsnapped. #1 valve is the front most exhaust side, #2 front most intake side, #3 next exhaust back, etc. Sorry if there is more info here than needed, not sure what all you are already aware of and it is a good refresher for me as well. Happy to share my info with anyone.
Tiffany, Thank you very much. You have been a wealth of knowledge. I will get busy first thing Wednesday and give you an update later that evening.
Craig C. Laughlin
Well After following the valve adjustment sequence that was given by Tiffany, the 31 is back to its old self. Purring right along like it did when I first got it. Amazing what a couple of tight valves will do to the performance of a motor.
Thanks again Tiff. and all that were insturmental in my getting the little 31 out of the garage and back on the road.
Craig C. Laughlin
My pleasure, Craig. The ol' Chilton's has been worth more than gold to me and has allowed me to keep my engine running strong for years. I am more than happy to share any of the information in that book with any fellow pinto enthusiast. I am glad it helped you. I am sure your engine is smiling!