Author Topic: Another Pinto, this one is a 79 (EFI Build and project) (Read 4671 times)

dianne · « **on:** May 11, 2015, 03:39:32 PM »

I had to grab this last Pinto. It's a 1979 and a new project and a decent start. Have to get a transmission for it, it's slipping. Body is easy, hatch doesn't open and the sun roof needs work.

But I finally have a runabout

dianne · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2015, 03:39:59 PM »

One more picture. I'm thinking grabber blue of course LOL

dianne · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2015, 12:36:14 PM »

Got the car on the lift. What a mess! LOL Ordered all the parts for the front end from rock auto and the rack and pinion. Should have a new front end by Saturday.

Didn't think it was going to be that bad

But the good news is that it will all be new and replaced!

dianne · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2015, 03:30:08 PM »

Fixed the crack and fender

Ready for body work on that one!

This car is gonna be awesome!

76hotrodpinto · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2015, 11:33:10 PM »

No wonder you've opened a shop. You need your own fleet maintenance team! Cool runabout though.

dianne · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2015, 06:23:54 AM »

Quote from: 76hotrodpinto on May 12, 2015, 11:33:10 PM

No wonder you've opened a shop. You need your own fleet maintenance team! Cool runabout though.

Thanks

No LOL But lets me do more now

I do most of the work myself on the cars when I have a free bay, someone doesn't show up, or one of the guys isn't busy. This one needs a lot on the front end. Maybe the engine rebuilt and a bunch of bodywork. But the seats are pretty good

Not that many cars, want to get rid of my king cobra

dianne · « **Reply #6 on:** May 14, 2015, 07:43:31 PM »

Honestly, this was more than I thought. Nothing has been done on this car on the front end since it was built. Things are so fused together it's a pain. Broke a chisel from Harbor Freight, those tools stink, and got one from the MATCO truck. But having to cut and chisel everything out

This is what that poor thing looks like now. But getting nice MOOG parts from Rock Auto and some TRW parts also, no Chinese parts going into this one!

dianne · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2015, 12:04:18 PM »

This car sux LOL Everything is fused and the sway bar isn't a standard size. Did these cars come with more than just one option on a sway bar? Well, gonna get it going!

I hoping it's finished today on the front end.

dianne · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2015, 07:41:41 AM »

This 79 will be getting the 2.3 EFI swap with wiring and ECM. I found a turbo that will be going into the 73 wagon.

This one burns oil and instead of rebuilding it I looked and got lucky and found a turbo, what I wanted for the wagon in the first place.

Yesterday cured all rust under the car and primed and under coated the bottom of this one.

dga57 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2015, 07:42:59 AM »

Sounds like you're making great progress!

Dwayne

dianne · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2015, 07:45:29 AM »

Quote from: dga57 on May 17, 2015, 07:42:59 AM

Sounds like you're making great progress!

Dwayne

Trying Dwayne

But a 2.3 EFI is going in it now and the wagon is getting a turbo. It's going to be a longer term project though. But that motor has been sitting months waiting on my friend to finish the paint on the wagon. This one is a fix.

Know if anyone looking for a King Cobra? LOL

Everyone thinks I'm nuts, but I like these little Pintos more than the Mustangs

Unless I find a 70 Boss or something, these are my cars. Or unless Hoss brings his 429 here LOL

dianne · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2015, 11:34:25 AM »

I rebuilt the entire front-end with the exception of the front sway-bar bushings. It's funny, the one on this car is thicker than the ones listed. I thought it was aftermarket, but I don't think so, they were on tough.

Were different sway bars on different cars?

dianne · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2015, 07:45:48 PM »

Picked up a NOS bumper. It's not the same but chrome and I like it a LOT better than what's on there. I think it must have come off of a Bobcat, but I really like it.

Is it a Bobcat bumper?

TIGGER · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2015, 02:48:05 PM »

Quote from: dianne on May 19, 2015, 11:34:25 AM

Were different sway bars on different cars?

In my experience, front sway bars appear to be an option for the hatchback/sedan cars. I have had cars that had them and cars that did not? The ones that did not had no evidence of ever having one.

Wagons came with the largest front sway bar and I believe it was standard as every wagon I have had or stripped has had the larger front sway bar on it. The sedan's and hatchback cars came with a smaller diameter front bar.

None came with a rear bar from the factory.

dianne · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2015, 03:39:55 PM »

Quote from: TIGGER on May 20, 2015, 02:48:05 PM

In my experience, front sway bars appear to be an option for the hatchback/sedan cars. I have had cars that had them and cars that did not? The ones that did not had no evidence of ever having one.

Wagons came with the largest front sway bar and I believe it was standard as every wagon I have had or stripped has had the larger front sway bar on it. The sedan's and hatchback cars came with a smaller diameter front bar.

None came with a rear bar from the factory.

On the repair site we use here it shows one and there is a standard bushing for them. That's weird that they didn't all come with them, maybe someone took them off? I dunno. It shows them though, this one just is big and not a standard one.

Did it look like something was bolted there?

dianne · « **Reply #15 on:** May 27, 2015, 12:14:45 PM »

This is the Pinto with the engine pulled and being prepared for the EFI swap.

The 2.3 from this Pinto will be built for a replacement in the mini stock.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 29, 2015, 01:51:24 PM »

I think there were 3 sizes of sway bars. I have a dinky one in my 73 that came from a later year car & was retrofitted, The normal sized version that came stock on my 80 & is identical to my 74 & 76 wagons & a thick one that came on my 77 Rallye package V6 car which I think also came on V6 cruising wagons.

dianne · « **Reply #17 on:** May 29, 2015, 01:53:38 PM »

Quote from: Pinto5.0 on May 29, 2015, 01:51:24 PM

I think there were 3 sizes of sway bars. I have a dinky one in my 73 that came from a later year car & was retrofitted, The normal sized version that came stock on my 80 & is identical to my 74 & 76 wagons & a thick one that came on my 77 Rallye package V6 car which I think also came on V6 cruising wagons.

This is a thick one and think it may have been refitted with it sometime in its life. It may be a rally and have come with it, I dunno know but it has stripes on the bottom that look like they are original to the car.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 29, 2015, 02:01:24 PM »

Yeah, all the bushings I found are for the medium sized bar. Luckily the original bushings were nice on the V6 bar so I used them. The U clamps were deeper than the standard bar U clamps as well.

dianne · « **Reply #19 on:** May 29, 2015, 02:03:52 PM »

I know where to get them, but the engine is out and getting the EFI now. So no rush until that conversion is done!

dianne · « **Reply #20 on:** June 02, 2015, 12:05:12 PM »

They got the EFI in, I wanted them to wait for me LOL

Now ripping out the wiring and getting the new in with the ECM.

Oh boy! It's got a computer going in LOL

dianne · « **Reply #21 on:** June 02, 2015, 06:00:34 PM »

Better engine bay picture of the 79, nice and clean EFI

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 02, 2015, 08:26:10 PM »

That's the same EFI on the 87 Stang I bought to do my swap. It's supposed to be simple to keep only the engine wiring but I want to keep the cruise control while I'm at it. Been dying to do this swap for 2 years but can't even find time to strip the Stang of parts & scrap it.

dianne · « **Reply #23 on:** June 02, 2015, 09:30:10 PM »

Quote from: Pinto5.0 on June 02, 2015, 08:26:10 PM

That's the same EFI on the 87 Stang I bought to do my swap. It's supposed to be simple to keep only the engine wiring but I want to keep the cruise control while I'm at it. Been dying to do this swap for 2 years but can't even find time to strip the Stang of parts & scrap it.

This was an 89, but the engine is stamped Thunderbird for a turbo, but not a turbo? I guess they swapped them around. I didn't even think about the cruise control to be honest, hmmmmm

This seems simple so far, now we just have to change the wiring and keeping some. I could document it well if you need it.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 03, 2015, 01:25:20 AM »

It couldn't hurt to have a guide. The Mustang still runs & drives so isolating the engine wiring should be fairly easy but it never is like you plan.

dianne · « **Reply #25 on:** June 03, 2015, 06:57:06 AM »

Quote from: Pinto5.0 on June 03, 2015, 01:25:20 AM

It couldn't hurt to have a guide. The Mustang still runs & drives so isolating the engine wiring should be fairly easy but it never is like you plan.

I'll make certain we do. If I'm not there I'll make certain the guys do. This should be cool. I'm getting rear springs next also!

dianne · « **Reply #26 on:** June 06, 2015, 06:56:04 AM »

If I don't get an answer, I'll post this somewhere else.

I dropped the 2.3 EFI engine into the Pinto. The engine seems to stick up too high where the EFI is. Did everyone just scoop the hood?