I get PMs too about this topic often, so here is the deal:

Are Pinto's and Mustang II's the same?

NO, NO, NO......

I see talk from time to time about these cars being identical, especially when it comes to V8 swaps (parts), including the sellers of Mustang II V8 parts, here or on ebay, that OUT-RIGHT LIE about them fitting in a Pinto.

Yes, some of the Mustang II suspension parts will interchange with the 74 and later Pintos, and the Mustang II V8 specific parts make the swap easy-ER, BUT the ENTIRE front "frame" is DIFFERENT. This means that V8 motor mount frame brackets and the V8 radiator WILL NOT DIRECT-BOLT into a Pinto.

As far as a V8 swap, IMHO: Get cheap aftermarket motor mounts and modify or make your own frame side brackets. If you do it this way, you won't have to pay big bucks for those rare mounts, or big bucks on the brakets that you can't use without modification anyway.

Don't get ripped off, ASK questions!

Not having a Mustang II kicking around, I can only use the front sway bar to illustrate; the upper one is a Pinto bar, the lower is from a Mustang II.

I hope this helps.

Bill

Coming from someone who owns three mustang II's and a 78 pinto I can say they are different, even the v6/4cyl frame perches and radiator are not the same although they might interchange with little effort they are different. But the 74 is the closest thing you can get to a pinto, though it has a tad more room than a pinto the 74 stang radiator support makes the engine bay shorter than 75-78 which those v8 parts come from so anyone thinking those parts will just swap in a pinto won't be too happy. Plus (don't quote me on this)the frame rails seem to be a little wider on a pinto because i tried the flipped 5.0 shorty header trick in the v8 FAQ on a II and it didn't come close to working. I'll check for more differences when i get time.