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Author Topic: New project... 1980 Runabout  (Read 65004 times)

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Offline russosborne

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #600 on: November 23, 2018, 03:52:33 AM »
Yeah. Not the best place for a starter.

If you have it in a place that isn't needed  for something else, try to just leave it there and forget about it until you feel like doing something to it again.

I'm really bad with hobbies. I have too many, and I tend to focus on just one until I get sick of it. I haven't touched my bass guitar in almost a year. I even bought a new to me one at a thrift store, and other than checking out the frets there I haven't touched it since bringing it home last spring. And we don't even want to get started on my model car stuff.

But right now I am enjoying playing with the 79 Pinto and am bound and determined to get it on the road by March. Although so far it is spending money 99% of the time, working on it 1%.

Just don't be like me and sell stuff, and then end up buying similar stuff later when I realize I still want to do it. Done that a few times with basses. I finally learned to at least keep one bass around no matter what. Much cheaper that way.

Russ
In Glendale, Arizona

RIP Casey, Mallory, Abby, and Sadie. We miss you.

79 Pinto ESS fully caged fun car. In progress. 8inch 4.10 gears. 351C and a T5 waiting to go in.

Offline r4pinto

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #601 on: November 23, 2018, 02:17:33 PM »
Yeah. Not the best place for a starter.

If you have it in a place that isn't needed  for something else, try to just leave it there and forget about it until you feel like doing something to it again.

I'm really bad with hobbies. I have too many, and I tend to focus on just one until I get sick of it. I haven't touched my bass guitar in almost a year. I even bought a new to me one at a thrift store, and other than checking out the frets there I haven't touched it since bringing it home last spring. And we don't even want to get started on my model car stuff.

But right now I am enjoying playing with the 79 Pinto and am bound and determined to get it on the road by March. Although so far it is spending money 99% of the time, working on it 1%.

Just don't be like me and sell stuff, and then end up buying similar stuff later when I realize I still want to do it. Done that a few times with basses. I finally learned to at least keep one bass around no matter what. Much cheaper that way.

Russ
Yep you hit the nail on the head. I’m selling off my old Omni GLH since I don’t do anything with it. The Cavalier is a running, driving car and doesn’t need much. The pinto is well, hibernating lol. After I got sick this year I didn’t go back to it. Who knows maybe next year.


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Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom- 1980 parts provider & money machine for anything that won't fit the 80
1980 Pinto Runabout- work in progress

Offline r4pinto

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #602 on: June 01, 2019, 01:41:29 PM »
Nothing done with the car. Leaning towards scrapping it. Depression is real. Don't want to deal with it. If I do get rid of it I'll call a wrecker and have it junked
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom- 1980 parts provider & money machine for anything that won't fit the 80
1980 Pinto Runabout- work in progress

Offline dga57

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #603 on: June 01, 2019, 09:49:17 PM »
Nothing done with the car. Leaning towards scrapping it. Depression is real. Don't want to deal with it. If I do get rid of it I'll call a wrecker and have it junked

  Hi Matt!

It would be a shame to scrap it now but of course, it's your car and you can do as you wish. 

You're absolutely correct, depression is real.  Fortunately, there is a lot of real treatment for depression out there too.  It's never easy but, for your own sake, reach out and seek help before you do anything else.  The right treatment can make all the difference in the world.  We care.

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

Offline r4pinto

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #604 on: June 02, 2019, 09:37:29 AM »
Unfortunately it's been rough since last year. Flu twice, Quad injury and a job change that made life miserable effected me majorly. Didn't even touch the Cavalier for months. Been hard to find joy in anything, and put on about 20-25 lbs. I'm back in my old job now and will be locating a counselor once the insurance kicks in. Just irritating to get in the garage and see the car in the same state as when I was wiped out by the flu last May. Dead starter and torn apart front suspension. Just bad.
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom- 1980 parts provider & money machine for anything that won't fit the 80
1980 Pinto Runabout- work in progress

Offline russosborne

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #605 on: June 02, 2019, 03:12:21 PM »
Hey, Matt.

At least you only have one car to get irritated with. I have 3. And everything is my fault with them.

Trust me, I know how you are feeling. I've spent literally thousands on this 79, and it is basically in the same condition as when I bought it over a year ago. I have to see it everytime I go out the front door. Sometimes I wish I would go out there and find it gone.

Wish I was still in Ohio. We  could go get drunk.

What starter do you need for the Pinto? I've also got poly rack mount bushings, forgot I didn't have a stock rack on this car. Plus new T bolts for the upper control arms, 2 sets even. Forgot I had already ordered  one set from Speedway when I bought the second from Summit. If any of that will help you just send me your address. Don't need either, the tubular arms I bought came with them.

I've been living-or more like existing-with depression for over 30 years. All the drugs do is keep me from killing myself. Not a fun way to live. Not at all.

Russ
In Glendale, Arizona

RIP Casey, Mallory, Abby, and Sadie. We miss you.

79 Pinto ESS fully caged fun car. In progress. 8inch 4.10 gears. 351C and a T5 waiting to go in.

Offline r4pinto

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #606 on: June 02, 2019, 07:46:53 PM »
Only one car? Not exactly. My other one is a Cavalier with a messed up steering column lol! The starter on the car was 8 months old when it failed. Damn dumb design being so close to the exhaust so it took all the heat. I know that's what literally cooked it. I had the battery tested since it was cranking slow and I thought no way could it be the starter. Even though both were newer. I don't go in my garage much due to a parts Cavalier wagon that I still need to pull the dash out, so I can get rid of the shell.

The rack itself is still mounted in the car, although the entire rack should be replaced due to bad seals. For now it just gets new tie rods, and bellows to replaced the one that melted from the fire of 2013. I have the suspension bushings but haven't done anything with them to get them in the replacement control arms I got from Carlisle 2011.

Unfortunately my job change made me more miserable than before to where I quit caring.This week was the Ford Nationals in Carlisle, but haven't wanted to even do little car shows. My Dad wants to go to the Chevy Nationals in Carlisle and take the Cavalier. Hopefully that'll help ignite the spark that has fizzled.
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom- 1980 parts provider & money machine for anything that won't fit the 80
1980 Pinto Runabout- work in progress

Offline russosborne

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #607 on: June 02, 2019, 09:50:21 PM »
Hmmm, something is wrong. The starters on these lasted years in that position. Was this most recent starter new when you got it? Assuming not, since if so you could get a replacement free under warranty.
Have you checked/replaced the battery cables? Don't go stock size, go up one or two. Like 2ga instead of 4ga.
DEI makes a heat shield wrap that you can wrap around the starter if it really is a heat issue.
https://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/design-engineering-dei/part-type/starter-heat-shield-wraps
But again, if it is, there is something else wrong. Unless you are running a header, and I don't think you are.

Is your rack power or manual?

Russ
In Glendale, Arizona

RIP Casey, Mallory, Abby, and Sadie. We miss you.

79 Pinto ESS fully caged fun car. In progress. 8inch 4.10 gears. 351C and a T5 waiting to go in.

Offline pinto_one

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #608 on: June 03, 2019, 09:10:59 AM »
I see this offten when luck turns bad and want to give up ,  Don,t .  just take a few steps back and look things over and hit the problem .  I have been there quit a few times in my life , knowing these cars (pinto ) they will run forever with some care and fixing problems before they get too big ,, a starter problem is no diffrent than the starters on the airfraft I work on , (Cessna aircraft use the same kind of alternator the pinto has )  and we have to find why your starter failed , guy come to me and ask why his $1000 buck stater died , my reply is I dont know and put on a new $1000 buck starter and then find out why it failed ,  the engine is very hard to start and he just keeps on cranking untel it does , I saw in past post you had carb problems and a small fire , one is you car hard to start to begin with , two , are the cables to the starter are the org ones that came with the car ? same for the battery cables , got a good battery , great . just work on the starter and cables , once you get that fixed your half way there, if the car is hard ti crank got to look at the carb , was it damaged from the fire or replaced after ?  the back fire when cranking might also point to ign problem , bad cap and rotor from age , cheep to replace , and when you do try to start the car again do not crank more than 10 seconds at a time , a min rest between starts , after the third try give 30 mins cool time ,  the location of the starter is fine , they last for years , best if you buy one from napa with a lifetime warnity ,and last , do not scrap the car , waste to do so , too many have been sent to the yards when they can be saved , hope this helps you in some way , later Blaine
76 Pinto sedan V6 , 79 pinto cruiser wagon V6 soon to be diesel or 4.0

Offline r4pinto

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #609 on: June 09, 2019, 07:22:25 AM »
Hmmm, something is wrong. The starters on these lasted years in that position. Was this most recent starter new when you got it? Assuming not, since if so you could get a replacement free under warranty.
Have you checked/replaced the battery cables? Don't go stock size, go up one or two. Like 2ga instead of 4ga.
DEI makes a heat shield wrap that you can wrap around the starter if it really is a heat issue.
https://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/design-engineering-dei/part-type/starter-heat-shield-wraps
But again, if it is, there is something else wrong. Unless you are running a header, and I don't think you are.

Is your rack power or manual?

Russ

Yeah, the starter that was on the car was an older unit that worked great when I bought the car, and died days after I changed the engine. I was not happy about that since I had the old one tested before installing it. The replacement I think was a new unit, with the lifetime warranty. I THINK. I'm certain about the warranty,  but not certain about it being new vs remanned. Nope, no header. Only difference is it's got the down pipe from my 77 parts car, instead of the original 1980 downpipe that had the pre-converter set up

Power rack
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom- 1980 parts provider & money machine for anything that won't fit the 80
1980 Pinto Runabout- work in progress

Offline r4pinto

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #610 on: June 09, 2019, 08:29:40 AM »
I see this offten when luck turns bad and want to give up ,  Don,t .  just take a few steps back and look things over and hit the problem .  I have been there quit a few times in my life , knowing these cars (pinto ) they will run forever with some care and fixing problems before they get too big ,, a starter problem is no diffrent than the starters on the airfraft I work on , (Cessna aircraft use the same kind of alternator the pinto has )  and we have to find why your starter failed , guy come to me and ask why his $1000 buck stater died , my reply is I dont know and put on a new $1000 buck starter and then find out why it failed ,  the engine is very hard to start and he just keeps on cranking untel it does , I saw in past post you had carb problems and a small fire , one is you car hard to start to begin with , two , are the cables to the starter are the org ones that came with the car ? same for the battery cables , got a good battery , great . just work on the starter and cables , once you get that fixed your half way there, if the car is hard ti crank got to look at the carb , was it damaged from the fire or replaced after ?  the back fire when cranking might also point to ign problem , bad cap and rotor from age , cheep to replace , and when you do try to start the car again do not crank more than 10 seconds at a time , a min rest between starts , after the third try give 30 mins cool time ,  the location of the starter is fine , they last for years , best if you buy one from napa with a lifetime warnity ,and last , do not scrap the car , waste to do so , too many have been sent to the yards when they can be saved , hope this helps you in some way , later Blaine

It's more than the car. When you're dealing with depression you don't want to do anything. I've been fighting it on and off for close to 20 years. I don't ever touch the car due to one event or another. It's to where I don't want to touch the car, and scrapping it is a way to get rid of it. That's how it's being looked at currently, and it's due to the depression.

As for the other issues I've checked everything and know it is the starter. The car ran fine before, other than the choke issue. Carburetors are not my specialty, as I went to both Eastland Career Center and college for Automotive Technology but dealt with more modern fuel injected cars, not to mention bad advice on carburetors I received in the past from certain people who shall remain nameless. I have replaced everything as a precaution due to the fire, so I know what you're saying about those particular parts. Battery was the first place I started since it's right there. The carb came off a good running car. Same car as the engine. Wiring was donated by another member on this site since I didn't have a good harness after the fire. Distributor was shot due to the fire, so I used the one that was on the engine that was installed. A distributor that was rebuilt in 2009 and worked perfectly when the engine was in the 77. Timing spot on, as was the timing belt. I get what you're saying, but you're not hitting on the one thing Russ did... Where I got the starter from. I bought from Autozone, which is hit or miss. This time it missed. Starter is pulling too many amps, and needs replaced.  I just got off the phone and found it was a new unit, but unfortunately those can fail, like re manufactured. Good thing since reman only had one year.  I know the carb isn't correct for the year, and have the old one for a core. The engine ran great with that carb. Good power and starting. Just not running the best when cold due to the choke issue. Will a different carb fix that? Possibly, but not certain.

In my case it sits in the garage, untouched with the front end halfway torn off, and a dead starter. I appreciate your encouragement and suggestions, but the bigger issue is just not wanting to work on the car, and lack of motivation. It's nice when people you don't know offer words of encouragement. I know the depression is a big part of the lack of motivation. Haven't wanted to do anything, let alone touch that car.

 If I do get back to the car I did put fuel stabilizer in the tank, so that'll help keep the gas from turning on me.
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom- 1980 parts provider & money machine for anything that won't fit the 80
1980 Pinto Runabout- work in progress

Offline dga57

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Re: New project... 1980 Runabout
« Reply #611 on: June 09, 2019, 01:44:25 PM »
Matt,

I've only met you once in person, as you know, but have known you through this forum for the entire twelve years that I've been here.  Between Harold II and this Pinto, you have often been one of the more prolific posters on the site.  I understand how clinical depression can affect your interest in doing anything, but I, along with most of the long-time members here, would hate to see you throw in the towel after all the hard work you've done.  If there's anything we can do to help, let us know.  We do care!

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