PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Shiny is Good! => Your Project => Topic started by: beegle55 on January 09, 2012, 10:59:19 AM
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Hello all...hope all has been well within everyones Pinto world. I myself am embarking on a jouney down Pinto restoration lane with my 1976 Ford Pinto Runabout. For those of you who don't know the car, its a V6 w/ C4 automatic 8" rear with A/C woodgrain leather etc etc...one of the most fully loaded pinto's you could order complete with a vinyl top.
Bought car at an auction house which purchased the car off of the original owner's estate after her passing...33,000 original miles. The downside to its lightly driven history is that it sat for a good while in an area of WV that recieves the most snow in our fine state and from what I can guess it was under a carport with the driver side exposed. It has extensive rust damage to the driver fender, doorskin, and quarter with some creeping in on the rocker. Although it has the cool pop-out quarter windows, those leaky things caused extensive rot in the rear floor pan and I just recently noticed that the cowl must be leaking and my passenger floor board was soaked >:(
Minus the rust, need of a new paint job and body work, the car drives like new because...well ..with the mileage why shouldn't it. Made the 200 mile trip home without a hitch averaging over 25 mpg on the highway from the V6.
I'll be posting the before shots here shortly and then when I get home tonight will upload pictures of my current progress. Hope everyone is ready to answer my questions!
-beegle55
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(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0231.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0230.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0229.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0228.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0227.jpg)
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That about does it for the most current before pictures. Those were taken yesterday (1/8/2012) and the following are pictures of the first moments when the car was back at its new home.
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/1976%20Ford%20Pinto%20Runabout%20V6/103_1884.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/1976%20Ford%20Pinto%20Runabout%20V6/103_1888.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/1976%20Ford%20Pinto%20Runabout%20V6/103_1887.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/1976%20Ford%20Pinto%20Runabout%20V6/103_1885.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/1976%20Ford%20Pinto%20Runabout%20V6/103_1886.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/1976%20Ford%20Pinto%20Runabout%20V6/103_1883.jpg)
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(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/1976%20Ford%20Pinto%20Runabout%20V6/103_1882.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/1976%20Ford%20Pinto%20Runabout%20V6/103_1880.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/1976%20Ford%20Pinto%20Runabout%20V6/103_1881.jpg)
And I've consider this idea for quite some time and it is tempting but I think I'm still gunning for originality due to the low miles...
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/1976%20Ford%20Pinto%20Runabout%20V6/1971-1980-ford-pinto-1976.jpg)
-beegle55
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Wow. She must've been gorgeous when she was new. I can see it even through the roughness. I know you'll do the car proud. Are you restoring the vinyl-top? ;D
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I like that interior you got there. Nice diamond in the rough!
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Welcome back! Looks like a really nice find. Do you still have your orange Pintos too?
Dwayne :)
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This I am looking forward to. Love the interior!
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Great Looking little car there. I like your idea of maybe making it a Stallion. Good Luck!!!!! Larry
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Thanks for all the kind comments! This site has been a great find just like the cars themselves and it really helps keep you motivated in your project when you have a wonderful group of people to share your common interest with.
To address the questions...ye p I still have both my oranges...'79 Sedan and '78 Hatch drag car. I'm also moving on a possible purchase of my uncles '80 Cruisin Wagon although in the midst of three restorations (finishing my '79, this '76, and a '87 Dodge Omni) I really don't need the wagon nor do I want to spend could be restoration funds...but I get first dibs on the car and if he offers it for sale I will most likely buy it anyways :o
-beegle55
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And to address the vinyl roof, yes it will go back on if I go with a originality restoration. I like the look of it on the Pinto pretty well. I need the Pinto faithful to chime in on my below findings of the carnage from interior removal last night. All that remains is the dash and headliner which will both be removed soon. Here is the quick and dirty on my findings so far and what the car needs. After my conclusions I've been seriously considering hunting for a better shape and maybe rust free West Coast '76 body (Fred Morgan ;) ) and using all my good parts (which are plentiful) from this car and switching it all to a cleaner body. Here is my breakdown:
-Needs fender patches both sides
-Needs hood and roof straightening
-Driver side quarter replacement
-Driver side rocker repair
-Weatherstripping
-Passenger side needs minor R&R on the sheetmetal
-Cowl is leaking and needs repaired
-All floorpans need repaired minus the bracing and transmission tunnel
-Inner fenders need replaced
-Spare tire well needs repaired
-Dash pad replaced
-Headliner replaced
-Carpet replaced
-Engine detailing
-Possible engine overhaul (rings aren't sealing and its burning some oil)
-Wheels R&R
-New tires
-New brakes, brake lines and hoses
-Stripped, primed, painted
On to the pictures...
-beegle55
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(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0232.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0233.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0234.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0235.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0236.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0237.jpg)
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(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0246.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0245.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0244.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0243.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0242.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0241.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0240.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0239.jpg)
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0238.jpg)
And I'm sorry about the quality of these pictures they were taken in the dark or in my garage so you may need to study them closely to figure out whats going on. One thing is for sure, let there be rust!
Opinions please and thanks in advance!
-beegle55
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Oh and I forgot to mention...if anyone believes they may have parts that will help my cause for sale feel free to PM me with information. At the moment this is what I am looking for:
-Blue dash pad
-Blue deluxe steering wheel insert
-Blue E-Brake cover assembly
-Good info on who to order a headliner and carpet from
-Middle A/C vent for '76 model
Shoot me a PM with what you have...a may need it or be interested in them for spares.
-beegle55
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Last things to do to the car...remove door panels so I can get the door moldings off. Remove tail lights and bumpers. Remove the fenders. And then the parts ordering begins...
Fred Morgan will hopefully be able to supply most of the sheet metal that I need to replace. I'll be sending him a PM shortly to see what we can work out.
Thoughts and ideas appreciated.
-beegle55
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Well I thought I would share an update...got the ball rolling on price quotes for sheet metal from Fred and have been ordering small parts and tools to help get the project rolling.
Finished disassembling the front clip last night...took the hood and both fenders off and took the bumper off. Underneath the metal all is looking pretty decent...seam sealer in desperate need of replacement and only a pinhole in the passenger side of the firewall which I expected due to the condition of the passenger floor pan and apparent cowl leak. Only one picture for an update today...more to come tonight probably because I plan on taking the door panels off and stripping the rest of the trim from the car as well as the rear bumper and tail lights. Enjoy.
-beegle55
(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/beegle55/IMAG0269.jpg)