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Author Topic: I'm your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! 1978 Pinto Wagon  (Read 1410 times)

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Offline PBPinto

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I'm your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! 1978 Pinto Wagon
« on: September 30, 2019, 09:32:19 PM »
Hi All,
Gonna try and start a topic of the restoration/modification of my baby, Cherry Bomb, a red Pinto wagon.

Here are a couple pictures in as acquired condition on the previous owners driveway in March of 2018.

Paul
Cherry Bomb
1978 Pinto Wagon
Bought with 21,342 original miles
Currently 22,230 miles
Original: 2.3L - C3 Automatic - 6.75" Open Rear
Current: 8" 3:55 Limited Slip
Coming Soon: 302 - C4 Automatic

Caretaker: Paul B.

Offline PBPinto

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Re: I'm your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! 1978 Pinto Wagon
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2019, 09:45:50 PM »
My original posts are here...

https://www.fordpinto.com/your-pintosbobcats-racers/new-to-me-1978-pinto-wagon/

But now that I have had my car for a year and a half plus... my vision for it has become much clearer so I thought I would post everything here in the "Your Project" section.

Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will get the posts caught up to where the car is now.

Paul
Cherry Bomb
1978 Pinto Wagon
Bought with 21,342 original miles
Currently 22,230 miles
Original: 2.3L - C3 Automatic - 6.75" Open Rear
Current: 8" 3:55 Limited Slip
Coming Soon: 302 - C4 Automatic

Caretaker: Paul B.

Offline PBPinto

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Re: I'm your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! 1978 Pinto Wagon
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2019, 07:14:27 PM »
September 2018 picked up a complete but disassembled non-running 1975 Mustang II as a donor vehicle...for the 302 engine, C4 transmission and 8" rear end.

Kept the wheels, the drivetrain and a basement full of parts and sold the South Carolina body shell last Spring for $50 less than paid for the whole vehicle.

Paul
Cherry Bomb
1978 Pinto Wagon
Bought with 21,342 original miles
Currently 22,230 miles
Original: 2.3L - C3 Automatic - 6.75" Open Rear
Current: 8" 3:55 Limited Slip
Coming Soon: 302 - C4 Automatic

Caretaker: Paul B.

Offline PBPinto

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Re: I'm your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! 1978 Pinto Wagon
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2019, 07:26:47 PM »
Getting ready to pull.

PO said he wipe a lobe on the cam...I see a little sludge in the pan...hmmm.
Cherry Bomb
1978 Pinto Wagon
Bought with 21,342 original miles
Currently 22,230 miles
Original: 2.3L - C3 Automatic - 6.75" Open Rear
Current: 8" 3:55 Limited Slip
Coming Soon: 302 - C4 Automatic

Caretaker: Paul B.

Offline PBPinto

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Re: I'm your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! 1978 Pinto Wagon
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2019, 07:40:45 PM »
Engine dropped off at engine builder in February 2019 and picked up in April 2019.

Upon inspection it was discovered the the engine had been "poorly" rebuilt at one point, PO had said it was untouched.

Crankshaft was damaged by a loose harmonic balancer so a suitable replacement was found.

Added GT40P heads, a mild camshaft and new pistons bring the compression up.

Nothing crazy but shooting for 270hp.

Paul
Cherry Bomb
1978 Pinto Wagon
Bought with 21,342 original miles
Currently 22,230 miles
Original: 2.3L - C3 Automatic - 6.75" Open Rear
Current: 8" 3:55 Limited Slip
Coming Soon: 302 - C4 Automatic

Caretaker: Paul B.

Offline PBPinto

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Re: I'm your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! 1978 Pinto Wagon
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2019, 07:59:53 PM »
Going with an Edelbrock Performer or Performer PRM depending upon what fits under the bonnet...hopin g for the RPM.
Cherry Bomb
1978 Pinto Wagon
Bought with 21,342 original miles
Currently 22,230 miles
Original: 2.3L - C3 Automatic - 6.75" Open Rear
Current: 8" 3:55 Limited Slip
Coming Soon: 302 - C4 Automatic

Caretaker: Paul B.

Offline PBPinto

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Re: I'm your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! 1978 Pinto Wagon
« Reply #6 on: October 15, 2019, 08:07:23 PM »
To avoid any unnecessary engine bay cutting (and spaghetti headers) I am going with stock Ford exhaust manifolds. Using the original MII manifold on the driver's side and an earlier model manifold on the passenger side...note how much smaller it is than the original.

Thinking about using an old hot rodders trick on the manifolds by using muriatic acid to gain a little more volume inside the exhaust manifold for better flow. I had seen a video where the gentleman claimed to have seen a 17-18% increase in volume.
Cherry Bomb
1978 Pinto Wagon
Bought with 21,342 original miles
Currently 22,230 miles
Original: 2.3L - C3 Automatic - 6.75" Open Rear
Current: 8" 3:55 Limited Slip
Coming Soon: 302 - C4 Automatic

Caretaker: Paul B.

Offline TIGGER

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Re: I'm your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! 1978 Pinto Wagon
« Reply #7 on: October 15, 2019, 08:20:00 PM »
Nice looking wagon.  Looks pretty clean.
79 4cyl Wagon
73 Turbo HB
78 Cruising Wagon (sold 8/6/11)