I have had my pinto almost a year now,and had it painted last year.I wanted to keep it a 4 banger and go turbo,after a cost breakdown to do what i want itwill cost too much money.So i will go for the very mild v8 driver with room for upgrades later,you can buy running 86 up 5.0 engines around here for 250-500 and could have had one for free last year{yes i am stupid}.I hope to buy a dugital camera next week so i can post pictures on here as i go.Any tips and tricks i could use people please tell me!
I see you've been to the V8 swap FAQ section - good place to begin.
Follow High_Horse and what he has well-documented with Thunder Pinto.
Radiator: Ranger V6, Datsun 280 which is same size as MII 302 rad for 1/3 the price, 67/8 Mustang, Mopar
22" for Duster/Dart.
Fan: Ford Taurus (95ish) 8-9 blade electric fan.
Front Springs: Pinto V6 springs with A/C - MII V6 springs with A/C. I posted the part numbers on an earlier thread.
Shocks: KYB front and rear
Engine mounts: Pinto / MII
Frame mounts: Pinto w/ mods, MII, custom
Exhaust: MII left & right manifolds, MII passenger manifold, 63-68 289 drivers manifold that goes straight back, 63-68 289 manifolds for left and right that both go straight back, shorty headers turned backward, Hooker headers for the masochistic.
Relocate battery to the trunk - Summit relocation kit.
Oil pan: fabricate one from an existing front sump pan, Moroso deep sump , MII. 86 will be rear sump.
Altenator: 78 Thunderbird look on AdvanceAutoParts website and you will find one rated for 100 amp.
Rear end: 8" rear from MII or Pinto if you want to retain 4 lug. Early 9" (58-63) from right vehicles, 60's
Mustang 8" or 9" with mods, 80-early 90's 8.8 Ford Ranger (change spring perches), IIRC early 90's Explorer 8.8 measures out about the same, also.
Transmission: easiest would be C4, AOD could fit with effort, C6 will require BFH and more determination than reason for a street application, T5, top loader 4 speed (NON-PINTO),SROD.
5 lug rotors: eBay - also get new GOOD bearings.
Front suspension: PST poly bushings.
Sway bar, front / rear: MII, 1" front, 5/8" rear (I think that's correct) and necessary mounting brackets / hardware - eBay search or PST
and 100 other things I've not listed. Hope this is at least a place to start. I've been collecting pieces to perform a V8 swap for a very long time and I'll use a T5. :yinyan:
good job gearhead! One up for ya.
I am not trying to steer you in one direction, just provide info.
I have found good running donor (entire car) Turbo Coupes for 300 to 500 bucks. By the time you do mod.s for each swap, they might wind up the same cost depending on what you do (I.E.: if you go 2.3t, you can keep your stock tranny and driveshaft, but you will need a $90. fuel pump, if you go v8, you won't have heater blower motor issues, if you go 2.3t you won't need motor mounts that are made out of unobtainium...). Either swap will need custom made parts and fabrication.
Contrary to what some Mustang II V8 parts sellers claim, the motor mount brackets do NOT DIRECT BOLT into a Pinto, some fabrication will be needed to install the engine in the correct location.
The Mustang II front sway bars are WIDER than Pinto ones. They will bolt in but they will put the end links at an angle and the will tend to break or rip the rubber out of them and wear the links (ask me how I know). The rear bar mounts will need some fabrication too.
Bill
77turbo, I, too, have read your posts and listened to your advice on a V8 swap and it has been very beneficial and I thank you. I also researched installing a V8 in a Ranger a while back and bought the manual from here:
http://www.mre-books.com/ranger.html
and found it useful as a guide for things to consider in the the Pinto V8 swap. It has some good pics and Ford part numbers when searching for "stuff", whether it be "shiney" or not :D. I was facing a similar decision about the 2.3T or the 302. I found a complete 2.3t for $450 with trans and 8.8 rear from a T-bird. What I bought was a rebuilt (30k mile) complete 302 (attached to a 78 T-bird) for $200 BUT I had already collected a lot of parts for the V8 swap. For me it was a matter of choice because the economics will probably work out about the same for either swap, at least in my case, because of what I had to work with. The 9" rear end I'm using, for instance, has cost me $850 to get it how I wanted it, but it is EXACTLY what I wanted and is from a 58 Ford station wagon, has been completey rebuilt, and now sports a posi unit. So, what I saved on the engine I put into the rear end. I'm trying to go for a "factory stock" look as much as possible so I'm using factory valve covers, air cleaner, exhaust manifolds, etc. with will cut down on the costs somewhat and I already have several sets of them. It just depends on your particular taste.
I think that 77turbo is right on the money by saying that, either way you slice it, regardless of the components selected, be they stock or aftermarket "shiney", there will be a measure of fabrication and creative engineering that is involved in swapping to a V8 or a 2.3T.
Once again, look at High-Horse's pictures and the attention to detail and fabrication that he has implemented in his endeavor as well as postings by 77turbo and several others who done the V8 or 2.3T swap.
I've owned my 80 Pinto for more than 20 years now (have the window sticker and owners manual) and in my day job, I'm an engineer, so I enjoy problem solving, making puzzles fit together, and making things work when someone tells me "that will never work" so for me, the V8 swap is a natural. :yinyan:
Searched and found my post from a while back about springs ;D
I did some cross referencing between Napa and Advance Auto Parts websites and part numbers and came up the with following table that may be useful. I wiil be using Advance Part Number 8542 for my V8 swap . There might be typos...
Application NAPA # Advance Auto Parts # (TRW)
(80) Pinto 4cyl w/o A/C 2773041 8578
(80) Pinto 4cyl w/ A/C 2773042 8576
(77) Pinto 6cyl SW w/o A/C 2773042 8576
(80) Pinto 4cyl S/W w/ A/C 2773037 8542
(76) MII 4cyl w/o A/C 2773036 8558
(78) MII V6 w/ A/C 2773039 8582
(78) MII V8 w/o A/C 2773039 8582
(78) MII V8 w/ A/C 2773038 8556
GH440: Thank you.
Also, thank you for your posts, very good info, thanks.
Bill
I work for a large highway construction co and i run mobile batch plants,when i dont do that i am a mechanic.Alot of the parts we use are fabbed on sight and i have these guys around me more than my family.i have located more than one mustangII for parts,i might just buy the whole car for 500 bucks.When i get stuck i will come to the boards and ask.
what do you guys use for frame connectors?
i have started and it could be my death
Stever,
Here's a coffin nail for ya :search:
http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=57&topic=6997.0
Good luck, use the force and walk away often.
my v8 springs have me a little upset today.plus it was 75 yesterday and 42 today,got cold quick >:(
Update time,all the suspension is done,and all of it is new.The engine and trans is in the car,and should have it running in a few weeks.This is a major job the engine was easy it was the underside that was hard.When this is done i think i will do another one turbo 4 next time ;D
Here is my Pinto
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k46/robsta11111/DSCF2065.jpg)
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k46/robsta11111/DSCF2064.jpg)
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k46/robsta11111/DSCF2067.jpg)
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k46/robsta11111/DSCF2066.jpg)
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k46/robsta11111/DSCF2062.jpg)
I have since put on a set of Weld wheels and run a 295/50/15 on the back and runners on the front
see if these come out.
Engine is a 91 mustang 5.0 30 over,has a ford motorsports E cam with ported e7 heads and roller rocker arms.Holley carb air gap intake and msd ignition.Trans is a c4 with a 3200 stahl,rear is a 8 inch with 3:55 gears and a spool.will post more pictures and other info as i go along over the next few weeks.
I sure like the look of sliding a v8 into a Pinto...Sweet,Stever...Real sweet!!!
High_Horse
Well i have pulled the 306 back out,i dont like it.The whole thing feels funny,and does not look right.I got a turbo2.3 out of a 87 tc today for 200 bucks and it runs.I will be posting v8 swap parts for trade only soon for this new engine project.