PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Shiny is Good! => Your Project => Topic started by: firemistpinto on May 31, 2012, 12:00:00 AM
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I am looking to replace the front end of my 72 wagon
I found a possible 1978 runnabout donor. Is the front end the same? If not what are some cars with the same ?
Thanks,
Carson Pettie
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Nope, not anything alike. Different front nose style, different bumpers, different front suspension. 1971 to 1973 Pintos are the ones that have the same front end parts.
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That's to bad
All I needed was the front suspension. ill probably still buy it though. For $500 why wouldn't i? There is no way to get it to work?
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I'm thinking that I will take mine to a frame shop and get some advice on if you can just change the front frame clip.
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Front suspension is not the same as 74 and later. the crossmember and steering rack is different, the engine mounts are different. The engine compartment from 74 and later is longer and even the tunnel is larger, that's why you can drop in a 302 in a 74 and later Pinto and have to do some body work to get one in a 71-73. I think you would be wasting a lot of time trying to replace a front clip.
Joe
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What specifically is your issue. you need front end parts but all the ball joints and bushings are available for the early models with a little looking.Replac ing old junk with more old junk doesn't seem to make any sense. for 500 bucks you can have all new parts in the original suspension. Unless the arms are bent it is a matter of 2 or three bolts each to change ball joints and a full set of bushings is only about a hundred bucks. early lower arms are an inch longer than the later ones and don't swap. when its all said and done it needs an alignment anyways. lots of folks like flaming river have early model racks as well if you need one.
R4 your statement is misleading. different visually does not mean that stuff does not interchange.
Now if it is body parts you need then yes some of it works just fine. hoods and fenders will swap around. the difference in the nose is all in the grill fender extensions / headlight bezels. but swapped as a set they fit just fine. early bumpers look better and you can use the front pan on your early model. depending on what you are swapping some brackets may require fabrication
71-78 early fenders are available aftermarket and fred can hook you up with a minty hood i am sure.
sh1t for a hundred and change a piece to scuff and paint a perfect set.... thats cheaper than the labor to prep an old pair.
in fact body wise you can interchange all years so theoretically you could put the 79/80 fenders on the 71. as for why i will leave that up to you... the only thing that doesn't swap is wagon doors as they are specific.
John these are a unibody car and the front member is not bolt in. you would essentially be chopping out the original xmember and welding in the new one. Unless the car is smashed this is a massive waste of time. and if it is smashed that hard strip the good stuff and move it over to a donor that has never been compromised.
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If it's a sheet metal issue you can go with a one piece fiberglass front end and call it a day.Some cutting IS required...