PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Shiny is Good! => Your Pintos/Bobcats & Racers => Topic started by: otnip on November 27, 2012, 09:20:53 AM
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I've been working on this for the last 6 years, little here, little there, whenever I have time.
Did it all myself, I'm a "jack of all trades, expert at none" type guy.
Finally painted and driveable. Still have a few small things to do. It still has the original 2300 w/ 4-speed, but I do have a 302 w/ a C-4 auto and all the needed parts for the swap, hope to do it next summer.
I just posted some pics in my gallery.
Here's some specs and notes:
Started life as a 1974 wagon I bought on ebay. I cut the middle of the roof out, and moved the upper back section forward, made it like an extended cab. The window section of the tailgate became the upper back part of the cab, the lower section was made from the back side of the fold-down back seat.
Used a second wagon tailgate from a donor 72 wagon for the box tailgate. Made a top edge cap from sheet metal, and used Ranger tailgate hardware for the latches.
The piano hinge is cut from the fold down back seat.
The box trim was made from pieces of the trim that goes around the side windows.
Shaved the door handles and fuel filler opening, put in remote door poppers, and electric windows kits. Side marker lights bezels are filled in.
The box and interior wood is all white oak stained with Golden Oak color, with lots of poly coating. The floor rails are the roof rails from the luggage rack. The floor opens to access the fuel cell and battery, the supports are from an early trunk model Pinto. The latch is also activated by a remote popper.
Added sport mirrors, both remote.
Made my own bumper brackets and pulled the bumpers in as close to the body as I could.
Hood scoop is Mustang II replica, not fuctional, but does house the GPS antenna.
Installed a 14 x 28 pop-up sunroof.
The Pinchero emblems were made from Pinto and Ranchero emblems pieced together. The Pinto emblems I used were all NOS, never been on a car till now. You don't know how bad it feels cutting up an NOS Pinto emblem! There are 5 emblems in all, including one on the dash, and one on the back wall, in the carpet. I used little 3mm stainless steel pierced earrings to dot the "I"s.
Had to custom make a headliner, stock material.
Carpeted shelf and storage boxes take the space where the back seat was, lot's of room and storage inside. Also house's the rear speakers and a pop-out cup-holder and coin tray, I think from a Ford Taurus. Wanted to put it in the dash, but no-go, to deep to fit.
Fuel tank was pulled, and the spare tire well cut out, replaced with a 16 gallon Jaz fuel cell, and battery box. Electric fuel pump and all new 3/8" fuel line. Fuel setup should be good for 500hp+.
Added homemade full length frame rails, 2" x 3" box steel, 3/16", cut into the back floor, all welded.
Made a set of homemade Caltrac type traction bars, and all new bushings, etc.
Rear spring are the stock heavy duty wagon springs.
Rear end is an 8" from a donor Mustang II, 3.00 gears right now. Might change it, but I like the highway gears. Lookin to cruise, not drag race.
Front suspension is all new, mostly Speedway motors parts. V8 springs, so it sits about an inch or so higher right now with the 4 banger in it. The V8 will drop it down just right.
Wheels are 14 inch Centerlines, tires are BF Goodrich, 185/60 on the front, 245/60 on the rear.
Interior has real oak wood replacing the factory fake ones on the doors and back side panels.
Mustang II center console, the back ashtray is now a dual 12v accessory outlet under the lid.
Gauges are installed where the center vent used to be. Tach is mounted on the steering column. It blocks the turns signal lights on the dash, so I wired in some leds on the inside edges of the dash bezel where you can see them.
The stereo is a VR3 VRVD640G with GPS and DVD player, and more. 4 inch diagonal wide-screen touch screen. Being that I'm in the cable and phone business, it's only befitting that I put a digital TV tuner in the glove box also! It has an audio and video input jack also, and an SD card slot, and USB port. Power antenna replaces the factory one.
The car color is Ford Performance White. 3 coats acrylic urethane. Painted under a tarp in my backyard, so it's not the best paint job you'll ever see, but not bad for a rookie if I may say. I may spray it again after the V8 is in.
The whole interior was done with FatMat, with new carpet and seat covers. I gotta say, the FatMat makes a BIG difference in road noise, stereo sound quality, and insulation. Seat belts are new with softer more modern material.
That's about all I can think of right now.
Comments?
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nice..... looks good....
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need pics of the back
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Nice build for sure.. I wouldn't worry about cutting up the badges, they look stock.. Great Job!!
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One of the best conversions I've seen. Nice job 8)
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need pics of the back
Check my gallery, lots of pics
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I did... That's why I'm giving it two thumbs up!! 8)
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VERY cool!!!
Dwayne
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Love the customization! Looks great!
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awsome. now I got to find me a wagon. LOL
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Nice job!!!! like how you used the wagon hatch for both the tailgate and the rear window....
almost did this to my 73 wagon back in the mid 80's
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Awesome job! Two thumbs up for sure. Can't wait to se more pics.
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Wow- that is really sweet... I did the slideshow in the gallery.. very very nice!!
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Thanks for all the great comments everyone!
And thanks again to Scott and everybody else that makes this site what it is!
Lot of great people here..
I met a bunch of you at the summer Carlisle in 2008, but the only Pinto I brought was my hot-wheels pocket version, pic below...
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You Sir, have tallent !
Two thumbs up for sure !