Pinto Car Club of America

Hey i have a 79 pinto with a 2.3 in it and to replace the head gasket and Possibly mill it flat will i have to take out the valves and cam? this is my first car although not the first time working on a car

thanks
lostandfound

Hello lostandfound,
Any machine work will leave derbris "Metal shavings" that will not be good for the inside of your engine.
Your Cylinder head should be professionally cleaned and checked for cracks BEFORE any machine work is started.
From Pintony

Lostand Found, To replace the head gasket is easy. Just clean off the old gasket slap a new one on and your done. But you do have to disassemble the head to have it milled(just like Pintony said) I had a head gasket go bad on my 78 Pinto Crusing wagon with a 2.3. It seemed that the gasket went bad between the 2 and 3 cylinders. If this is the case with you then just replace it and all should be well. What did go wrong anyway??? If I knew a specific I might be more help.
                                                                                                           High_Horse

as far as i know the car was overheating so the owners went and hade  new water pump put in they got the water pump but the car still was overheating i have never started it ive only seen it once bc its about 35 mi outside of town but they took it to a machanic and he said that it was a blown head gasket.

That might be the problem, but I would also check the thermostat and the radiator too. Look the car over very well for any other problems too, it is an old car.

Bill

Hello  lostandfound,
Overheating........
 The radiator may be clogged. Or a combination of a blown head gasket and clogged radiator.
Ask the owner if the Pinto in question looses coolant.
Although the head gasket could be bad and not loose coolant.
BUT I belive you would just get poor performance, not overheating.
From Pintony

i had to do that on my 1979 2.3.....it is an all day job :P