Current Classifieds

SEARCHING HOPELESSLY
Date: 02/02/2017 07:21 am
1978 hatch back

Date: 11/29/2019 03:18 pm
78 hatchback

Date: 03/12/2023 06:50 pm
Pinto sales literature / magazine ads/ owners manuals
Date: 03/21/2017 07:47 pm
WANTED Hood Prop Rod
Date: 01/17/2017 02:47 pm
pinto floor mats??

Date: 01/11/2017 07:27 am
Front sway bar frame brackets
Date: 07/13/2017 01:05 am
Wheels and Parts

Date: 07/06/2018 04:50 pm
1978 bobcat 4speed shifter
Date: 11/02/2023 09:51 pm
parts needed
Date: 02/20/2017 07:58 am
79 pinto front,rear alum bumpers

Date: 07/17/2018 09:49 pm
need a Ford battery for a 77 Pinto
Date: 02/21/2017 06:29 am

Author Topic: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?  (Read 13300 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Wittsend

  • Pinto Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 2496
  • FeedBack: +241/-0

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Mobile User Topic Starter Poll Voter 1000 Posts Linux User Windows User Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #60 on: September 12, 2021, 12:54:05 PM »
 The driveshaft length is one of the "bolt in" big pluses of the T-9. I thought the crossmember was too but apparently not. Would like to see pictures of what you built.

I was very fortunate. I went from a 2.0 / C-4 /6-3/4" rear to a 2.3 / T-5/ 8" rear and my existing driveshaft also fit perfectly. I assume whatever was gained/lost between the C-4 / T-5 and the 6-3/4" / 8" all compensated.

Offline PintoRoyL

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Mobile User Poll Voter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #61 on: September 14, 2021, 08:16:23 AM »
I'm getting pics as I progress, and when I can figure out why my pics won't load, I'll bombard this thread with a pictorial sequence of events. The crossmember that I built isn't pretty, but it will be functional for a long time.
On Sunday the 12th, I did a little more tune up work on my daily, then worked on the Pinto some more. Way back in the '80's when I drove this car all the time, I had drilled a hole in the driver fender and mounted a  CB antenna. The vibration, and lack of a reinforcing layer of metal caused some damage to the location, then add on all those years of rusting. What I decided, was to pull the fender off, do a repair, add a reinforcing layer, then re-drill a new hole for the antenna, and drill a hole for a battery cutoff switch a couple of inches forward of the antenna. It may be kind of a goofy idea to some people, but I don't want to install the switch in the dash, or have to pop the hood open to switch it on/off.
I was able to get the fender off, and route the new battery cable. I will begin metal repair soon. If you go back to the beginning of this thread, you can see a small dent at the headlight bezel that I will take care of while the fender is off, and you should also be able to see the antenna mount I talking about.

Offline PintoRoyL

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Mobile User Poll Voter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #62 on: September 19, 2021, 09:56:12 PM »
Saturday was rainy and windy here in Seattle, I did nothing outside. Sunday, I installed the fuel tank (but without the sending unit), I installed the radiator and fan, filled the remote oil filter and the cooler with new oil, primed the oil system, and put a new gasket on for the valve cover.
I ordered a PDR body tool set from Amazon, should be here about 1-1/2 weeks. I ordered a Spectra FG178B fuel sending unit from RockAuto, should be here this coming Friday. After I get the fuel sending unit installed, I will locate a place to mount the electric fuel pump, then install the new carburetor I have. After that, I will double check for all the little things that need to be completed, and possibly buy a battery and attempt to start the engine. I believe that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that the carpet kit I ordered had arrived, well on Friday, the new headliner arrived. I will soon be transitioning from running gear, to interior work and looking for tires. Just a thought as I'm posting this, on November 1st, it will be the 40 year anniversary of when I purchased this Pinto. I wonder if I can have the engine running by then, and have new tires.

Offline PintoRoyL

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Mobile User Poll Voter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #63 on: September 25, 2021, 11:29:53 PM »
Fuel sending unit arrived on Thursday, installed the same evening. I finalized the location for the electric fuel pump, and got it installed today, plumbed the fuel lines, and ran an extension to the wiring through a hole and grommet into the cavity below the back seat. I will run power to the pump later. I vacuumed the interior of 25 years of dust/debris. I received a box of PDR (paintless dent removal) tools yesterday, now to get busy watching YouTube videos on how to use them properly. I think that I will practice first on the Taurus, it has a simple dent in the front fender from a parking lot hit and run incident a couple years back.

Offline PintoRoyL

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Mobile User Poll Voter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #64 on: September 27, 2021, 07:45:35 AM »
Yesterday, Sunday, I did a lot of my weekly shopping errands, including a stop at the auto parts store for several items to continue the progress with the Pinto. The most spendy of which was a new battery that will actually go into my daily driver Caballero. It is a dual top and side post battery. The Caballero uses side post, and the current battery is dual top and side with a bad side connection, so I will move it over to the Pinto as a top post. I bought a pump that fits quart sized oil bottles to fill the stick shift transmission, antifreeze, more small and medium hose clamps, spark plugs, points. Need to visit a different store to get the condenser, cap, and rotor. They weren't in stock yesterday. I was able to get the valve cover bolted into place and the spark plugs installed before the rain started falling, so I packed the tools away and went indoors.

Offline PintoRoyL

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Mobile User Poll Voter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #65 on: October 02, 2021, 09:29:09 PM »
Saturday October 2,
Filled the T9 trans with oil, a type F auto trans fluid.
Removed the old, installed new carburetor, linkages, and vacuum lines.
Installed distributor cap, coil, plug wires.
Mounted fuel pressure regulator, partially plumbed fuel lines. I was short a few fittings, had to make a run to the hardware store. Assembled the fittings into a unit to be installed tomorrow, ran out of daylight.

Offline PintoRoyL

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Mobile User Poll Voter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #66 on: October 03, 2021, 10:26:04 PM »
Sunday October 3
Finished fuel line connection in engine bay.
Connected the battery, but no power in the cab through the key switch, so I will need to do some electrical work next. I was able to jump the starter at the solenoid, so I made some temporary wiring connections to see if I would  be able to get spark from the coil. The spark was very weak, so I popped the distributor cap and adjusted the points.  Was able to get good spark after that.
Next I removed extra parts that are stored in the rear. I pulled the two loose parts of the back seat so I can access the electric fuel pump to hook up a 12v jumper pack. Disconnected the main fuel line from the tank, and stuck the hose into a gas can to test start the engine. Got a couple of backfire pops, so I rotated the plug wires 180* and she fired up and ran. Yippee!!
Of course, I had to call my brother and gave him the good news right away so he could hear it run. My brother is the one who located the engine for me. After running it 2-3 minutes I shut it off because I had not filled the radiator, and also did not have a fan belt installed. I pulled the distributor and rotated it 180*, put it back in. I then attempted to install the alternator, but the older brackets are not aligned properly for a newer engine with a ribbed belt. I must now locate the correct alternator bracket for a newer engine, so I will have to start searching and making phone calls. I should begin by popping the parts CD in the computer to get a part # for the bracket.
So with the engine capable of running, I need to finish all the little things, then move on to stripping the interior out, doing the electrical,, then reinstall the interior. I still need to get new tires too. Maybe I'll look for rims at the same time that I'm looking for tires. Haven't decided that yet.

Offline dga57

  • Chief Moderator / Admin
  • FordPinto.com Moderator
  • Pinto PooBAH
  • ***
  • Posts: 7090
  • FeedBack: +208/-0
  • Gender: Male

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Mobile User Windows User 1000 Posts Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #67 on: October 06, 2021, 01:12:45 PM »
Way to go Roy!!!  I just love progress!


Dwayne :)
Pinto Car Club of America - Serving the Ford Pinto enthusiast since 1999.

Offline PintoRoyL

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Mobile User Poll Voter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #68 on: October 10, 2021, 12:11:25 AM »
Thanks Dwayne,
Today, Saturday Oct 9, I stashed away all of the parts left over, and emptied the other extra parts out of the back of the Pinto. The back seat and hatchback area has been my main storage area for the extra tires, and the original T-Bird and Merkur turbo parts that I will someday put back on the engine now that I know it starts and runs. All of the parts went into the storage cabana (formerly known as a carport). Next after that, I pulled the seats out and found room for them in the carport also. My new phase on this resurrection is stripping the interior panels, carpeting, and headliner, so that I can get to all repairs needed to the electrical wiring. I did get the headliner out (with an old mouse nest up inside), and the plastic side panels removed. I've been trying to reduce the rodent nest stink up to this point, keeping the doors open as much as possible to air out somewhat when I am working on the car. Now that most of my work will move to the interior, I am thankful for time spent letting things air out.
We here in Seattle are expecting rain tonight, all the way through tomorrow night. Depending on how frequent/heavy the rain falls, I might or might not get the carpet out tomorrow.

Offline dga57

  • Chief Moderator / Admin
  • FordPinto.com Moderator
  • Pinto PooBAH
  • ***
  • Posts: 7090
  • FeedBack: +208/-0
  • Gender: Male

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Mobile User Windows User 1000 Posts Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #69 on: October 10, 2021, 04:29:55 PM »
Yuck!  Makes me cringe just thinking about it!  Fortunately, I can say that even having owned 68 vehicles in my lifetime, I have never had a problem with rodents taking up residence in any of them.  Wish I could say the same about bees! 


Dwayne :)
Pinto Car Club of America - Serving the Ford Pinto enthusiast since 1999.

Offline Wittsend

  • Pinto Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 2496
  • FeedBack: +241/-0

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Mobile User Topic Starter Poll Voter 1000 Posts Linux User Windows User Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #70 on: October 11, 2021, 12:41:05 PM »
My Corvair station wagon that has been a storage container the past 25 years had a rat in it. I removed everything, put bleach and laundry detergent in a hopper for my pressure washer and power washed the whole inside. It still took 6-8 years for the smell to dissipate that when I open the door I can't smell anything. I've read that after doing ones best cleaning, the only cure is to paint over the area if you want the smell gone in a short period of time.

Offline PintoRoyL

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Mobile User Poll Voter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #71 on: October 11, 2021, 11:28:34 PM »
I certainly don't want to wait years for the odors to dissipate. Just these three months of having the doors and the hatchback opened while I was outside working on the engine bay, the brakes, and underneath with the trans mount, driveline, and fuel tank, has helped quite a lot. If I had pulled the seats, headliner, and carpet out in the beginning, it would even be better still, but it was so rank that I couldn't stand inhaling a single breath.
That said though, I am glad to be as far along as I am, and I am looking forward to getting some electrical work done. The weather is changing, so progress will definitely slow down because the car is outside in the driveway. The garage is crowded with storage, and the carport is also. I am beginning to consider enclosing the carport and setting up three rows of steel shelving, then putting as much storage in there as possible, making room in the garage to set up a small shop. The garage is almost two cars wide, but it only has a one car sized door. I have a very generous workbench that the former owner left when they sold us the house, and a 24" shelf unit with a pathway between the two. The shelving unit is accessible from both sides. The area available for a car is currently filled with various tools or objects too large to put on a shelf (plus about 30 empty boxes from parts, tools, and amazon purchases not yet broken down and thrown away).
Yesterday, no progress on the Pinto at all. We had a fair amount of rain, and we did have several sunbreaks, but I stayed indoors and did some organizing, going through different parts of the basement to clear up some floor space, so I can clear an entire upstairs room to set up as a guest room.

Offline Dtmix

  • Pinto Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 255
  • FeedBack: +7/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Dan and the Orange Blossom (Pinto Squire Wagon)

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Mobile User
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #72 on: October 23, 2021, 02:54:03 PM »
I had a friend whose car was visited by a couple of mice over the winter…sigh! Anyway, he got a couple of Tupperware bowls and filled it half way with charcoal to absorb the odor. He also sprinkled baking soda all over the carpets and the offending area. Another thing he did was pull back the carpeting and removed the carpet padding and replaced it. It seemed to work well. Once all aired out, he steam cleaned the interior and sprayed Fabreeze.

Good luck! Happy
Motoring!
Dan
Happy Motoring!
Dan

Offline rob289c

  • Pinto Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 378
  • FeedBack: +7/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Signature Topic Starter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #73 on: October 24, 2021, 06:52:02 AM »
The EXP I restored and the Pinto I am incorporating into my project had rodent infestation and the horrible smell.   On the EXP, once I found and removed all the nests and had the car down to a bare shell, I was able to clean the interior well enough to get rid of the smell.  I did coat the entire interior with epoxy primer, then industrial-grade enamel which likely sealed in any remaining smell.  Be sure to remove the heater box, vents to the cowl area, and all ducting and soak them in whatever solution you like as those are areas that the rodents like to live in.  I found the entire heater box packed with rodent nest.  If you don't clean all the HVAC system, you will smell it every time you turn on the heat or defroster.

I didn't do anything about the Pinto smell.  I wasn't using any of the soft upholstery so didn't have to worry about the smell.  I am using a lot of the mechanics of the car for my project but noting I am using has any smell...
rob289c

Offline PintoRoyL

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Mobile User Poll Voter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #74 on: October 28, 2021, 10:20:53 PM »
Today, Thursday, Oct 28. I have not worked on any of my vehicles since I last posted here on the 9th. I am having a "life gets in the way" situation that I will not be discussing for a while.
When life begins to normalize I will let you all know, I am still making plans on proceeding with all of my projects, and even adding other projects into the mix that if done soon enough, will allow me to work on the cars through the winter inside the garage. Restoration work will slow, but I will check in every so often. Have fun, have a good Autumn and holiday season.

Offline PintoRoyL

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Mobile User Poll Voter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #75 on: August 20, 2022, 08:13:26 PM »
To all readers,
Today is the first time I've logged in since last autumn. My "life gets in the way" situation was this, my wife of 32 years was deteriorating rapidly from metastatic breast cancer.  Her last days began advancing faster and faster at the end. She passed away on October 19 of 2021.  Throughout the rest of the autumn, and all the way until now, I have not done any hobby/upgrade work on any of my vehicles. Instead, after taking care of estate and legal matters, I purchased a rental property near my brother in southern Oregon.  I traveled from the Seattle metro area to my brother's place to work on my rental property numerous times,  then began a remodel on my Seattle home with the intention of selling and moving to southern Oregon. Well, interest rates went up, housing sales are slowing, so I will remain here in Seattle for a couple more years. I hope to soon get back to work on the Pinto. Not likely to be getting very far before winter sets in, but I  felt now was a good time to give an update.

Offline dga57

  • Chief Moderator / Admin
  • FordPinto.com Moderator
  • Pinto PooBAH
  • ***
  • Posts: 7090
  • FeedBack: +208/-0
  • Gender: Male

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Mobile User Windows User 1000 Posts Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #76 on: August 20, 2022, 10:04:57 PM »
Please accept my sincerest condolences on the loss of your beloved wife.  Life can, and does, sometimes get in the way but it sounds as if you've navigated your way through much of it.  Welcome back to the forum and hopefully you'll be able to turn your attention back to the Pinto project soon.


Dwayne :) [size=78%]  [/size]
Pinto Car Club of America - Serving the Ford Pinto enthusiast since 1999.

Offline rob289c

  • Pinto Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 378
  • FeedBack: +7/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 3
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Signature Topic Starter
Re: Born 1974 - Died 1996 Resurrected 2021-2022?
« Reply #77 on: August 21, 2022, 04:38:49 PM »
Roy, I'm sorry to hear of your wife's cancer and passing.  My wife had breast cancer in 2005 but we were lucky.  It was caught early, she had treatments, and has been cancer-free ever since.  My kids were 5 and 10 at the time and I didn't know how I was going to juggle career, kids, and military duty but as I said before...we were lucky.  Welcome back, and hopefully you're getting back on track in all aspects of your life, including the Pinto project.
rob289c