On January 19, 05 I undertook the 302/c4 conversion project on ThunderPinto (1977 v-6 wagon). Yesterday(September 17, 05) it pulled out of the garage under it's own power. Yesterday was an around the block test run (4 times). Today I made some adjustments and checked some things and put about 5 miles on it. I cannot begin to tell you how it feels. This baby is like a Jackrabbit!!!!!! The trans is extremely crisp and shifts with the speed of light. I even got a chirp and I wasn't even trying. I plan to take it to the dyno guys for a readout on the output. But I am in the saddle again and had to share it with you all.
Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!! High_Horse
More pics..........Yaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!1
One more
Looks like a nice sleeper ;D How about some pics of the motor?
Yes Tigger, I made no effort or had the need to alter the exterior apperance of this car. The only noticable thing is the 3" pipes sticking out from in front of the rear wheel wells. If you want to see some pictures then see "ThunderPinto gets an engine" in the project area. I will be taking more pics but not till after I replace the seal in this power steering pump. I guess 130 thousand miles and 2.5 years of sitting has finally taken it's toll.
High_Horse
Glad to see you back in the saddle again ;D.
;D on the 18th of sept. i bet your wife felt like she had been on a saddle since january!!! ;) :D :-X :angel:
Congratulations, it is an awesome feeling isn't it?
I spent last week getting the power steering pump on. I carefully carved away as much of the mounting bracket as I could without compromising the sturdyness and painted them(shiney). Took it out Sunday night for a pack of smokes. Just up the street but still an official errend run.I don't have plates yet. Ha!!! My chevy hot rod buddy a few houses away said it sounds good. I looked around while I cruised to see if anybody was checking me out....They were not. But still.
Thanx guys!!!!!!!!!
High_Horse
Cool. Congratulations. Don't forget to post the burnout pics in the burnout pic thread. ;)
Further test runs indicate that everything is looking good. I called today to get the insurance back on line and will pick up plates tomorrow. That will set the stage for Crown Vic Police Interceptor accompanied freeway running,speedo checks and some quality break in time. Then we change the oil and do jetting and powervalve to advance unit syncro. Then it is burnout time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please direct me to the burnout thread as I have not seen it.
High_Horse
I do hope that this project of mine bolsters the enthusiazm (did i spell that right?) of you other Pinto dudes and dudettes to keep on going and to take the time to do it well.
I received my first compliment today......I't sounds good. Vroooom! Vrooooom!!!!!!!
Nice JOB H.H.
Yes, a nice compliment makes all your hard work worth while!
From Pintony
Looking good. Is that a Gatoraide overflow bottle?
The burnout thread---------> http://www.fordpinto.com/smf/index.php?topic=797.0Â ;D
We need more Pics and vids.
H.H, where did you get the headlight covers from? How do they attach?
Tigger, I made the headlight covers myself. I cut a template out of cardboard and then made two exact identical duplicates. I used 1/8 inch thick Lexan. I then drilled the holes and matched them to the rim around the headlight opening. They are tinted with some brown tinting I happened across at a garage sale. Those covers were on my cruising wagon and now on ThunderPinto. They are the better part of 15 years old.
High_Horse
Glassman, Yes.....It is in fact a...........Gatorade bottle. In my line of work it is called association of technologies. Besides it was handy. Also, to keep you guys and Pintoettes abreast of my progress....I insured and tagged ThunderPinto Monday and took it for a ride today. My mother-in-law went with me and did not get scared cause I did not go over 55. But I could not exactly tell because my speedo is reading 55 when I am doing only about 30. I put the pinion gear on the speedo cable that came with the c4. What should I do ???????? I am currently putting to many miles on my car when I drive it. The v6 radiator is doing ok with no thermostat and the little bypass tube plugged up for max flow. My therm switch indicates about 180. I opened up the main jets a bit and turned the idle screws out a 1/4 turn cause the plugs were snowwhite. Did about a 15 footer and easily chirped it into second just with a casual dig on the throttle. 0 TO 50 IN 1 SECOND. Aha!!!! Whats the trick with the speedo?
High_Horse
Hello HH,
The biggest gear I know of is a 23 tooth. Jeep Part #j3167393
That is what I am running in my Purple Pinto. 4.11 W/ Borg warner T-5
The 23 tooth gear is the biggest gear that works in our fords.
Here is a link to some ratios and gear choices to help you with your speedo woes.
http://www.flemworld.com/Hto/rear.html
From Pintony
Thank You, Pintony. I very much appreciate your help. I'll get on with it and let you know what happens. Now that you mention it I don't even know what my gear ratio is. Tell me Pintony, what gear ratio might I have? 77 V6 wagon. But more importantly, What ratio would you suggest for hitting the freeway and making the meets. Wouldn't I be better off changing the speedo gearing after I change the rearend gears if need be?
Anyway, I continue to put this car back together and next is the front spoiler. I am going to put it on a little better then it was before with easy removal and installation being a priority. Then I can configure placement for the tranny cooler and oil cooler. Here are some pics so you can see what I am doing.
                                                      High_Horse
Looks AWESOME, dude ;D. You continue to be my inspiration and I appreciate all the chronology and documentation you have done with your project. I am certainly grooving on your incorporation of technologies and I have found that if water of 190F or more hits a plastic drink bottle the bottle will deform quickly. We have 190F water dispenser at work and you just have to experiment with items like that - HOT :o when the bottle deforms and sends scalding water coursing down your hand. I hope it will work for you better than it worked for me :D.
High Horse, from another thread you mentioned a penchant for pink so I'm enclosing some pics of Panther Pink vehicles.
Gearhead440, Ya!!!! Well Thanx. That is what I had in mind. Deep Pink. The gears are definitly turning.
High_Horse
Always glad to help out a fellow admirer of Pink 8) and I do love the High Impact (HIP) colors of the late 60 and early 70's Mopars!
Hello again fellow Pinto dudes and dudettes,
I have been test running ThunderPinto now for the past two weeks and all seems to be going good. I took it to my transologist yesterday and after a short test drive he says the trans is just the way he expected it to be. I rejetted about a week ago to richen up some white plugs. After about 40 miles of freeway since then I looked today and noticed only a glimse of color so I opened them up some more......BURNOUT CITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But all is holding together.I am doing little things that have not been done for quite some time like wheel and brake work, steering linkage lubrication and I ripped out the back seat and threw it away.
I will be attending a local dealership car show tomorrow and am looking forward to raising some eyebrows. By the way!!!! I get allot of looks both from people that have owned Pintos and have not seen one for a while and youngsters that wonder just what the heck that is. Ha!!!!!!! Have not got stopped yet but I am keeping my wallet with me to save some time. I know it will happen. Also, for the record I am running 15% 200 proof on top of 91 octane. BURNOUT CITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
High_Horse
Hello High_Horse,
Sounds like your having a "BLAST"!
Yes... Brakes are a GOOD thing. ;D
Good luck at the show today.
From Pintony
Yes Pintony a Blast!!!!!! I did a 70 footer today. And if it wasn't for the short runway I'd have eased it into second. No brake, just a straight punch. And yes gas tank was full. I missed the show but went through the park today finally catching a collective of street rods. Didn't stop though. Just eased through. Ha!!!!!
High_Horse
Very glad to hear that things are going well for the thunder pinto ;D! Keep an eye out for :police: but I'm sure you drive like an :angel: on the roads.
High Horse, what kind of air cleaner are you running in order to allow your engine to without the use of a hood scoop? Are you still using the 2BBL carb and intake? Thanks.
Nice ride- thanks for all the photos. You will surprise a lot of people with that package !!! Joe