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Author Topic: my 76 wagon  (Read 4913 times)

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Offline pintmobile76!

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my 76 wagon
« on: April 28, 2014, 09:31:31 AM »
So the day I turned 16 I drove two hours with a truck and trailer to go look at a 76 pinto. I didn't know much about the car when I got there all I knew is that it had been sitting for ten years in a dirt floor barn, and it was originally from California.  To my surprise the car was actually very clean Eden I got there there was no rust just had some mice make a nest in the heater. So I bought it for 1000 had no clue if it would even run brought it home and put a battery in it cranked it a few times and the car started on the ten year old gas that was in the tank! And the car drove off the trailer and into the garage. After doing further investigation I found there was a leak in the transmissions the front seal was leaking so I dropped the transmission and fixed all the problems cleaned her up and it was actually a really straight car. Since then I have had to replace the timing gears put new aluminum on and I have had to rebuild the transmission. I put a set of mustang rims on it and a new radio, I also put some gauges in it for my comfort not a big fan of the dummy lights. First picture is the day I brought it home after rubbing it out and the rest are just updates I have done and I painted the engine and engine bay when I had the engine out

Offline pintmobile76!

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2014, 09:35:47 AM »
Sorry y'all it would not let me post pics I will when I get home and can use my computer

Offline dianne

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2014, 03:33:21 PM »
Sorry y'all it would not let me post pics I will when I get home and can use my computer

You need to make them under 100k.

Looking forward to seeing the pictures!
Vehicles:

- 1972 Plymouth Duster (To be a Pro Street)
- 1973 Ford Pinto wagon (registered ride 195)
- 1976 Mustang II mini-stock
- 1978 Mustang King Cobra II
- 1979 Ford Pinto Runabout
- 1986 Chevy K5 Blazer
- 1997 Suzuki Marauder

FORD: Federal Ownership Respectfully Denied

Offline pintmobile76!

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2014, 04:40:44 PM »
How do I get them under 100k ? Do I need to shrink them?

Offline pintmobile76!

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2014, 10:37:20 PM »
there i was able to get all the picture up of the car the picture in this post is where i got it to so far!

Offline dga57

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2014, 11:18:38 AM »
Lookin' good!


Dwayne :)
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Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2014, 11:26:07 AM »
Looks great..
Art
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Offline pintmobile76!

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2014, 01:02:50 PM »
Thanks I'm going top look into a different set of rims and two inch drop spindles

Offline popbumper

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2014, 06:03:59 PM »
Good grief that's fantastic! I've spent thousands on my resto of a '76 wagon, and it's in its sixth year - getting there. Your car is a beaut!!
 
Chris
Restoring a 1976 MPG wagon - purchased 6/08

Offline pintmobile76!

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2014, 10:23:11 PM »
Thank you and out really is amazing what just pulling the engine out and painting the fire wall and the engine will do  for a car only has two things wrong with it before I got it. It had lost the left rear wheel but I got that fixed and my grandfather backed into the passenger door I had it pulled and repaired but I am not happy with it I'm going to get a new door for it and when I do that I may paint the whole car it will stay blue but I may darken it up.  That the dash pad is really cracked bad and the carpet is faded but I love it!

Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2014, 03:15:54 PM »
It looks great. I love the color. Just a heads up but 2" drop spindles will need aftermarket brake lines. I used 18" braided street rod lines on mine. 7/16-24 inverted flare AN to be exact. Also wheels under 14" may rub the LCA & some offsets of 14's may rub as well.
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Offline dick1172762

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #11 on: May 14, 2014, 06:46:02 PM »
If you have a flat with dropped spindles and 13" wheels, the lower ball joint will drag the ground. Cut 1/4 to 1/2 coil off the front springs will lower it down as much as you can stand on the street.
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Offline jeremysdad

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #12 on: May 14, 2014, 07:16:00 PM »
If you have a flat with dropped spindles and 13" wheels, the lower ball joint will drag the ground. Cut 1/4 to 1/2 coil off the front springs will lower it down as much as you can stand on the street.

And the top leaf of the rear leaf spring pack will make the rear match the front. *not responsible for lack of street driveability, or ability to actually haul stuff.

Offline jeremysdad

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #13 on: May 14, 2014, 07:17:51 PM »
Also, DO NOT cut coil springs with a blow torch. Like ever.

They're spring steel, gents. The heat will make them brittle, and brittle steel breaks in corners. ;)

Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #14 on: May 14, 2014, 10:04:56 PM »
Always use a cut-off wheel to cut springs..
Art
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Offline pintmobile76!

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #15 on: May 19, 2014, 06:52:16 AM »
We cut coil springs allot I was just going to do the spindles because I was going to put upper and lower tubular a arms. as for the back I was going to make a steal spacer to go between the leaf spring and the rear end, I feel like that will give me the lower look without taking away from drive quality as much had any one tried that before?

Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #16 on: May 19, 2014, 07:47:30 PM »
If you want drivability from a lowered car the best solution is air bags. I have Firestone 2600# bags for my wagon all around. They fit the front of MII suspensions & out back I'll run the single main leaf to locate the axle & the bags to set ride height. My compressor is overkill but I got a killer deal. I've spent about $300 so far & another $150 max should finish the system.
 
Now if I just had time to work on the car......
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Offline pintmobile76!

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #17 on: May 19, 2014, 11:01:08 PM »
That's a great idea I never thought of that and air bags to ride nicely

Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #18 on: May 20, 2014, 05:46:52 AM »
That's a great idea I never thought of that and air bags to ride nicely

I plan to tow several different trailers so the bags will be my best bet for that. If you lack the skill or equipment to fab bag mounts there are kits but it will raise the costs & some welding is required. The rear will still need some welding & reinforcement but any shop can weld things up.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-1974-78-Mustang-II-Front-Air-Ride-Conversion-Kit-/131187572211?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e8b637df3&vxp=mtr
 
 
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Offline pintmobile76!

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Re: my 76 wagon
« Reply #19 on: May 20, 2014, 07:52:50 AM »
No I will be able to do that, we put them on my grandpa dually. has any one put a stroker kit on a 289? I heard they are interchangeabl e from the 302 just wondering how reliable? my dad had done them before I just have never myself I'm looking to get 4 to 500 horse I was going to do a coyote but I don't wanna have to do that much fab work for it.