Pinto Car Club of America

I wish that 35 years ago, I had the availability of equipment, and technical knowledge that is available now.  If only EFI and electronic engine management systems were available then!!!

Waste gates?  At the time there was nothing to be had.  Fuel injection same story.  Intercoolers, nothing near what is available today.  Things just didn't exist at all or in a form which could practically be adapted. We did try to use a Bosch mechanical FI set up from an old 4cyl Mercedes.  Never could get it right.  We tried it on a Pangra that made some attempts at the Salt Flats.  I think it was in 1973 but I/m not sure.  I know that I did go through the traps sideways at 140+.  That was a hell of an experience.  Never could get it to run right.  Tons of power but it would hit too hard at too high an RPM and the chassis (at that time) was a quick & dirty job set up (dictated because it was a last minute decision by Stratton).  Wish I had the thing now.  I don't know what happened to it

Personally, I think that I may have been responsible for the demise of the Pangra itself.  at least from a dealer standpoint.  Seems I rather spectacularly crashed one on a weekend(before bodywork & interior) and a HUGE stink was raised straight from Ford to Huntington Ford in Arcadia.  I'm lucky to have been pulled out of it but sad that it happened.  With money backing up some research into the motor and the car itself the Pangra could have been more successful. 

Oh Well...

Things such as modern advanced techniques in engine building, machining, air flow research, cylinder head modifications, chassis science etc.  Computers for crying out loud, didn't even exist in a way that was probably even dreamed about outside serious 'future events' meeting among the forward thinkers of the automobile industry at the time.

Things have changed so much.