Pinto Car Club of America

Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: Freakzilla on December 23, 2003, 07:53:55 AM

Title: what is the best engine
Post by: Freakzilla on December 23, 2003, 07:53:55 AM
quite simply what is the biggest, i want a v8, thinking a 302, but is that the biggest and most power i can fit in a 76 Ford Pinto, right now it has the 4 cylinder but i have to waste my dad's 67 cougar with a small block in it, reply with whats the best and roughly how much it'll cost to put it in, i can find the engine easy
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: 78pinto on December 23, 2003, 08:42:24 AM
the biggest engine that will fit without major reconstruction is a 351w (it can be bored and stroked to achieve up to 418 ci on the stock block and 454 on an aftermarket block). You can stuff a 460 in but it will require MAJOR modifications...but can be stroked to over 600 ci with aftermarket block or about 514 ci on the stock block. The cost....it really depends on you. you could just throw a bassicaly stock 351w in and run 13's or you could do a stroker, spend $$$ and run 9's it just depends on your budget, the sky is the limit i guess! Headers can be pricey for these conversions and you will need at minimum, an 8 inch rear because the factory 6 3/4 will blow apart in no time with a  V8!
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: turbopinto72 on December 23, 2003, 06:50:51 PM
 Just a thought here but My 289 has MORE than enough power to over power any street tires I have had on it. You put a stroked anything in it and end up with a bizillian ft lbs of torque and your low/2nd gear will be useless, unless you run a 2.00 gear. John, want to chime in???
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: 78pinto on December 24, 2003, 12:32:18 AM
Oh i agree Brad, but he was asking what was the biggest that will fit, keeping in mind that that tricked out 600CI motorsport crate motor would be a harry ride with a set of 4:11's and a set of 215-60-14's! It would be like driving on ice.....white nuckle ride for sure.
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: The Lemonator on December 24, 2003, 05:08:25 AM
I will agree that a small block ford is the best way to go. The are cheaper to build and maintain, parts are mor readily available, and they are easier to cool. My buddies tube chassis 72 hatchback has a 460 and he is considering going to a small block for those reasons.
He is alway doing maintainance or fixing something on his. I just pisses him off that I never have to do anything to mine. I just hook up to the trailer on Satudays and head to the track. His is definately faster than mine, but I will take reliability over a little speed any day.
Just my opinion.
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: 78pinto on December 24, 2003, 08:49:42 AM
Amen to that!
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: turbopinto72 on December 24, 2003, 11:53:24 AM
 If you ( front halfed ) your car you could probably squeez a 800 CI mountain motor in it.......... ;D.
 ( that one was for Jeff).......... :D
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: 78pinto on December 24, 2003, 11:57:47 AM
i'm....ah.....workin on that now! :o :-[
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: turbopinto72 on December 24, 2003, 12:09:49 PM
 He He He........ I can see it all now........., kinda like a pro stock where you cant see streight ahead becouse you cant see over the blower/twin 1100 hollys/custom hi-rise manifold/5/8 braided lined hood scooped monster..................... ;D
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: 78pinto on December 24, 2003, 02:17:23 PM
Crap......you seen my plans eh?! ;D
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: Underdog76 on December 30, 2003, 03:11:47 AM
Try 806 ci with a SVO racing block, that would be sick ;D
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: david_dicosol on January 01, 2004, 12:56:40 AM
Why not really surprise them and build a turbo 4 cylinder that'll take a lot of V-8 cars and still get decent gas mileage?  It'll cost a bit of money, but I've seen some amazing things done with a 2.3 Turbo EFI 4 cylinder.  Those require very little modification to install as well.  Just a thought...
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: Glassman on January 01, 2004, 09:57:47 AM
Quote from: david_dicosol on January 01, 2004, 12:56:40 AM
Why not really surprise them and build a turbo 4 cylinder that'll take a lot of V-8 cars and still get decent gas mileage?  It'll cost a bit of money, but I've seen some amazing things done with a 2.3 Turbo EFI 4 cylinder.  Those require very little modification to install as well.  Just a thought...

Thats what Im going for. For now it will be stock turbo motor. This is my first turbo anything.
I was thinking of going the V8 route. The low end torque, great sound and wow factor were the reasons.

I want something a little less common and I like the idea of the lighter wieght of a turbo motor. At work we had a Powerstroke and thats what got me thinking of the turbo.
Title: Re:what is the best engine
Post by: crazyhorse on January 01, 2004, 04:31:43 PM
Now wouldn't THAT be wild in a Pinto? The Powerstroke deisel, those've got what like 500ft/lbs of torque? you'd hafta put a cage in, the motor would twist the body like a pretzel!!!