Who here has done a limited slip transplant to a Pinto?
I'm trying to determine how feasible it is to do for a daily driver, and if someone has already done it on a Pinto, especially on one with automatic transmission, I'd like to benefit from their experience. Like knowing what was used by someone else as a donor vehicle for the rear end, what all was necessary to swap/change/convert and how it actually ended up working out in the long run, that sort of thing.
We live in an area that has a lot of poorly paved patchy blacktop, as well as gravel and some dirt roads, plus mostly un-level terrain besides, so there are definitely places where having more than only the possibility of the right rear wheel providing the only source of drive would be a plus.
I currently drive an '87 Crown Vic wagon, (with a factory LS diff.), to do deliveries on a rural paper route. t's got a lot of extra weight on the rear end besides, having a class lll heavy frame hitch and it's fine in terms of traction and handling even in marginal conditions, but I'm looking for something that's reliable, stone simple to keep on the road, and much better on gas.
I'm also thinking of raising the body somewhat as there are some really uneven places that I need to access, maybe with spring spacers in front and air shocks or slightly taller springs in the rear. (Having air shocks and a HD towing suspension with coil over shocks up front on the Vic's now helps keep me high enough now to stay out of trouble-most of the time. )
I get about 13.5mpg in this kind of stop and go delivery type driving.
We live in the Midsouth (eastern Tennessee), where snow is infrequent and road salt is only occasionally used, so older cars such as this regularly turn up with decent bodies and relatively good condition chassis components. I owned several Pintos long term, years ago, both stick and automatic, even running my brothers' '71 runabout with the 2000cc engine and 4 speed up to 201K before selling it, still with the head never having been off, and getting 1000 miles per quart of oil. (I HAD changed the valve springs, and oil seals.) I did most of the maintenance myself even then, so I know what to expect in terms of both maintenance and performance, and vehicle age plus those aspects aren't slowing my interest in the possibility of using a Pinto for this purpose.
Neither 4WD nor front wheel drive are really necessary as far as I've been able to determine, and I'd just as soon deal with something that doesn't have the added cost of maintenance and complexity of either. I also driven my wifes' FWD on the same route for most of a month, and didn't see much difference in getting around, but the mileage was CONSIDERABLY better.
thanks
sorry I can't really help you with that. I have my pinto in my vw bus with the limited slip differential. that's how I got the van was with the pinto engine in it. some work and she'll be like new.
If you are talking about a 6 & 3/4" rear differential, I have one that has a limited slip that I got from Jerry Walsh, (original "Racer Walsh"), while he was still, (I think), racing and lived in Suffern New York.
I don't remember the manufacturer, but the unit was advertised for a Mustang II. I also purchased a set of 4:11 gears to go with it. Some time ago I also purchased a crush ring off of E-Bay that was advertised as a replacement for a 6 & 3/4 Ford Rear, once used they need to be replaced for a new install. This part goes along with the pinion shaft during it's final install. I don't know all that much about setting up rear ends, but visual tooth contact with red lead or dykhem and gear backlash settings with a dial indicator are critical from what little I do know. As far as a new pinion seal goes, I haven't a clue.
As for finding a different gear ratio, you might win the lottery first, as I don't think that they are available anymore. Randy's Ring & Pinion in Califiornia is a good a place as any to start. I'll bet that you are not far from a race track, and that there are folks in your area who know how to do this if you don't.
My present set up is an 8", and I'm not using my original. Only one problem with my original, the axel tubes leak where they go into the pumpkin. One to many hole shots I suppose. However there are a lot of these rear ends available in this community. I still have two more myself, I think, in my parts pile. I will say that the unit is still in good operating condition, (minus the leaks), as far as I know.
If your interested, let me know as I was/am considering putting it on E-Bay. I would rather offer it to someone in this community first.
Al
As for your original question its not that hard. jack it up, take the tires off, the brake drums, 4 nuts, pull the axles out a little. driveshaft off, bunch of nuts on the pumpkin, lots of swearing as you wrestle out the carrier, put in the posi carrier, swear some more, and put the rest of it back together. ( if it is an 8 inch). someone on here has to have a posi carrier for sale.
Find out if it is an 8 or 6.75, and if you can the gear ratio, and maybe someone already has one with the same gear ratio, then you wont have to mess with setting the backlash. and it will be a simple swap.
Keep the info coming, folks.
I'm sort of working from the hypothesis that any Pinto or Bobcat wagon that I come acroos that came from the factory with a 4 cylinder engine would have had the integral carrier diferential, so
MUST HAVE HIT THE WRONG KEY-too stiff fingers.
As I was saying:
I'm not very hopeful of coming across a 4 cylinder Pinto/Bobcat wagon with the larger diameter REMOVEABLE carrier style differential, (which would be an easier swap, but at least according to information I have on hand that type of differential wasn't offerred on any of these cars WITHOUT the vehicle also having a 6 cylinder engine) or the smaller diameter one in a limited slip version, I'm not looking forward to it, but expecting to probably have to do a whole rear end swap.
I'm also intending to end up with a reasonable factory gear ratio for more "normal" as well as highway driving, rather than a performance purposed 4.11 or something else numerically high, but with an automatic trans driving it, it might have to be slightly higher than if it was being teamed with a manual gear box.
If it was a Pinto to Pinto rear end swap, I wouldn't expect it to be much of a problem for clearances and dimensions, and maybe not any problem with mating up the driveshaft with the diff. and transmission, but aren't most of the other Ford rear ends, even those from an early Mustang or a Mustang ll, a wider width than the Pinto ones? I'm asking, I don't have any definitive info.
A link to a site that has the hard info on factory available gear ratios would be appreciated. As would any tips on tag codes for determining if a particular differential is LS, so a visual ID could be done. On the Ford cars I've owned, the axle tag usually had the actual numerical ratio stamped into it, so it could be read directly-without translation. Were ALL of the Pintos tagged this way?
On a related note, I'm thinking of trying to use a Ford AOD transmission if I find a suitable Pinto that has the C-3 or C-4 when/if the original one gives out, (or if it is blown), and if it will fit without much trouble. I don't know if the Mustang ll was sold with one or not, but if so, it may have a small enough housing to work. Any input? I'll post this part again separately later so it's easier to find..
from what i know a early 80's ranger rear end is the same width as the pinto but i'm not sure. but what i am sure of is it is a 7.5'' rear and that jegs or summit sells a limited slip diff, or your could get a 9'' from a early bronco and slip that in there. if you wanted to raise the rear a little bit (about 3 inches) you could always put the springs on top of the axle instead of underneath, youd have to weld on new perchs.
If you have the non removable carrier(bolts on the back of the pumpkin) it is a 6 3/4 inch rear.
You could get an 8" rear in any size pinto, it doesn't have to be a 6 cyl or wagon. Ive had a few 4 bangers with the 8" in it. You will probably be wanting 3.00:1 gears for it. if you want a little more power your next choice would be 3.40. But for a stock street car you will be using as a work vehicle I wouldn't go any lower, than 3.40. If you go higher than 3.00 you wont be able to get out of your own way.
Im not sure on this, but does anyone know, did they even offer the 6.75 with a posi unit??
The guy thinking it is a 7.5" you would be correct if we were discussing 80's mustangs, but pinto's never came with a 7.5" rear.
Hey DTD, 79panel here!
You may want to clean those glasses...or maybe put them on?!? ??? ;D The guy was talking about the 7.5 units in the Rangers and that he thought they may be the same width as the Pinto. I know posi units are still available for those units.
But i look funny with my glasses on!!!!!!!