Pinto Car Club of America

Ok. So youve all probably read my post about the 79 pinto sitting for 16 years. Trans fluid looked nice and bright red. Still liquid, hadnt solidified or anything. Took it out with the engine. Im 99% sure its a C3 because i think i counted 13 fluid pan bolts and god forbid i ever end up with something thats good or that i dont have to work on or change. However the trans seems good but since the engine is a busted skirt, im wondering if its worth it to even put money into that engine. Im kinda thinking i should put that money into a good used 2.3 turbo engine. The A4LD that came in the TC's i understand were built as a C3 with an overdrive pretty much. If this is the case will the A4LD bolt exactly in place of my C3, driveshaft and shift linkage and all? That way i could just take a 2.3/A4LD out of one car and set it in another. Hook it all up and be done. What problems would i run into in the way of electronics? Or should i just snag a C4 and put in it? The C3 would be fine probably i dont know that ill ever really modify the 2.3t much to speak of. But you never know. If i get carried away it will definantly get a C4 then. Just wish i had the overdrive. :) These are the thoughts going thru my head about now. Id have more in a rebuilt n/a 2.3 that im gonna need an electric fuel pump for anyways...might as well  put that money into a good use 2.3t (i have some of the parts to convert it already) and just put a high pressure electric pump in line instead of the low pressure one. And then i could use a c3 or a4ld if they are indeed as similar as i have heard them to be.

Depends on the year of A4LD.  The earlier ones had less electronic controls, but were also less reliable.  The A4LD is quite a bit longer than the C3.  My 79 Pinto has a C3, and my 87 Mustang has the A4LD.  The A4LD also has a different shifter.  it has 4 different selector points for the forward gears: 1st, 2nd, drive, and OD; whereas the C3/C4 shifter has 3: 1st, 2nd, and drive.

When I had mine rebuilt for my 87 Mustang, they used the best parts they could get.  It only cost me the amount in parts, as the labor was done by my dad, my brother, and a friend of my dad that owns a shop.  Still, it cost nearly 1500 dollars.  Something to keep in mind for those of you contemplating this conversion.

Good luck!
--Doug

Sounds like a C3/C4 is the best way to go then. What changes would a C4 require me to do? The shifter would probably hook up, as would the speedo, i think.  The mount and driveline may need changed i dont know. I'll run the C3 for now. Will it take the 2.3 turbo, even if i push it wide open... as long as the engine isnt modified?