Hey readers
I begain to post in "your racers" but now im posting here because that wasnt the right place
The whole idea of my project is to givfe me a fun project to work on and have a cool car in the end. I bought a 1980 Pinto two door this last summer for 100 bucks. She is in really great shape and she would be running now if a had not taken out the 2.3 to rebuild it. I have gotten the engine aabout half way done when i reallized i wanted somthing different. I have a 302 carberated motor hangin around which i took out of my 1985 mustang which i made into a drag car. I am looking in putting this into my pinto. Another thing i woul dlike to do is to put a 4 speed maybe even a 5 speed in it but that to worry about later. I am going to look through the site for ideas. any extra ideas from anyone would be great. i would also like to get inputs on how people like there pintos with a V8 in it and what major problems you came across when buidling it.
Thanks for the help i will let everyone know how my project is coming and ill try to show some pictures
Drive80Pinto,
My suggestion is don't convert a 2.3 car to v8. To much hassle with rear end and front end. Using a v6 car is the way to go. Just put your 2.3 back in and spend a fraction of the money and keep that a good car. You said you were young, well keep your eyes open for a v6 car and do the nasty down the road.
The solid motor mounts are much more smooth then I expected. The motor would not clear the hood with stock type rubber mounts of course i am currently using a low cast 2 barrel manifold with a self made aircleaner and i chopped the air horn/choke off the top of the carb to squeeze it in.
High_Horse
I don't want to "start anything", but I think the V6 cars are worth more stock (in a similar condition) and I would leave one of those stock and build up the not so rare 2.3 car (depending on condition). Not all the V6 cars had the 8" rears anyway, you will need (really should) change the front springs in either car, and those are the easy parts of the swap. The rubber M/M-ed V8 in my car clears the hood; it all depends on HOW you install it as to how much room you have and where. I have a manual rack with about 1/8" of room between it and the pan, and a G/R starter with about 7/16" of room to the crossmember (the stock big one had about 1/8"). I had to do some work to get the hood clearence for both turbo cars too, but is is do-able.
IMHO: Build it the way you want it, don't re-do it later.
Bill
I agree i would still like to put a V8 in this pinto, because i got it so cheap and its in such great shape and i dont want to go looking a a V6 because they are hard to come by. I am going to definetly be replacing the front srings. I am not sure what i am going to to with the rear end. what rear end do you have in your pinto 77turbopinto? I did you get springs for a mustang II ?
I used the fronts for a Mustang II V8. They are new aftermarket ones I just put in so they sit a little high but they should sag a bit.
I have a Pinto/Bobcat/MustangII 8" rear in my wifes turbo Pinto, a Maverick 8" (modified)(5 lug) in my other turbo Pinto, and a 7.5" from a Fox body (modified) in the V8 Pinto. I will be swapping out the 7.5" for a Pinto 8" in a week or two.
The stock 6.5", if your car has it (most likely), will not hold up to ANY power.
The ONLY direct bolt-in rears for Pintos are the Pinto/Bobcat/MustangII ones, 6.75" and 8", NO others.
Bill
Where did you get those aftermarket mustang II springs from? My pinto looks like it has a the 8 inch in it.unless the 6.5 looks like the 8 inch on the outside. What kind of parts can you get for the 8 inch (Gears,Limited Slip)? And were is a good site for me to fine Mustang II or pinto parts im having alot of trouble even finding parts for a Mustang II
The 8" rear has a removable carrier (comes off the front like a 9"), the 6.75" has a cover bolted on the back of the housing.
Lockers, spools, and L/S are avilable for the 8", but pricey.
I got the front springs years ago from a guy selling a bunch of parts. I think you can still get them at NAPA or the like.
Here and ebay are the best places.
Where are you?
Bill
BTW: Mustang IIs are heavier than a Pinto.
yea i know the mustang II weighs more, does your pinto sit up really high with mustang springs? The rear end i have is a 8 inch because it looks just like a 9in. I live in NY on Long Island.
I got MII coils from Napa. They do sit high, and don't settle a whole lot. I ended up cutting one coil, but after that they sit perfect.
Ring and pinion sets, and mini and full spools are easy to find, and about the same cost as the 9". The posi or L/S units can be pretty pricey and harder to find for an 8" than a 9".
Drive80Pinto,
When I did my front end( total stock overhaul-v6 car) I knew down the road that I was going to be converting to a v8. So while I had them out I ran the springs up to the local spring and axil shop and compared them to a set of v8 Mustang springs. Same overall diameter, same coil mill diameter, same number of coils. The only difference was that my 77 springs were 1/2" longer then the Mustang springs so I did not buy them. This was in 97. Go figure.
High_Horse
My MustangII V8 (Vega V8) springs were about 1" taller than the 130K+ mile stock Pinto ones I removed from the car. Yes the Pinto ones have the same # of coils and are .5", but my V8 ones are 9/16". I like it a little high due to how far the radiator hangs down. I tool off 3/4 of a coil, I might do another .5, maybe.
NY? Then you MUST be planning to go to Carlisle.....
Bill
BTW: Beware, there are people out there selling a "V8 Pinto manual" for under 10 bucks on ebay. I got one years ago and it hit the trash can the day I got it. IMHO they are useless and you can get more info here.
Bill
This link should help you with some info and part numbers
http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=57&topic=6622.0
I got my springs and rotors on eBay (new) but Napa should still these springs.