Please post more pictures showing your work. I'm sure they will help anyone with a Pinto that is less than perfect including my own 80 model.

Well last time I drove the car I noticed that at higher speeds the car had a noticeable misfire. I pulled the plugs and 1-3 looked really good, but 4 was another story. It seemed to not be burning too cleanly. The cylinder wasn't rich, but at the same time not fully burning either. When I pulled the plugs all four were over .040" with specs of .034". I didn't gap the plugs before since I didn't have a wire feeler gauge, and they were platinum plugs. Well the gap should make a difference in how she runs.

The bigger issue was the #4 plug wire was broken at the plug itself. I did the usual twist to break it loose and gently pull but that's when I found the wire was damaged. I will get a new set of plug wires for the car and keep the other three as spares for the toolbox for when I go to the car show next weekend.

I'm glad to have found this issue before driving to the car show instead of during the drive. The car was running ok except when cruising and since I will be mostly cruising around 65-70 I need it right.

That SHOULD take care of the problem; hope so anyway.  I'm excited for you finally making it to the Pinto/Maverick show.  Whenever I get my orange '74 Runabout finished up and home, that show is going to be one of my top priorities - it looks like a beautiful setting.


Dwayne

Thanks Dwayne. I ordered a set of plug wires from Jegs and they will be in tomorrow. They are rated better than OE and are on sale for two bucks less than oreily auto parts. Only $15 bucks with regular price of $30. I have a week to do additional test drives so I'm not worried about it too much. I am also going to get my Pinto tool box in order so I have plenty of spare parts and tools just in case.


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Get one of those little compressors that plugs into the lighter. I never leave home with out mine.

Already got one. Had one for years.

Get a tube of dow coring compound from your parts store. It looks like clear grease and it will not conduct spark.  Smear it into the boots and you will never have a problem removing the boots in the future. Does not melt or run off ever.

We seem to be reading each others mind's. X files? Keep up the good work. Not only can you never have too many Pinto parts, you can never have too much information.

Only time in the past that I had trouble was a float sticking in the carb. Had to raise the hood and bang on the carb with a wrench. Drive 10 miles and do it again, etc, etc.

Had the primary side of the carb plug up. It would idle but only run wide open on the secondary. Drove it 30 miles home that way, Idle / wide open / coast / idle / wide open / coast / etc etc. Never got stopped even after 30 miles thru Denver.

Think of all the Pinto story's you can tell at the car show. Have fun / that's what its all about.

Lots of good work. See you soon.

Thanks Phil, you had seen Harold II and knew of the issues I had with the fire back in 2012 on this car. It'll be a treat to drive her to the car show Friday night.

So last night I started the car, and it took quite a bit to get her fired up but she ran. Didn't idle too well but I still need to adjust the carburetor's fast idle, and choke. I have an old Sears engine analyzer so I will be able to get her adjusted to 1980 specs. The carb was adjusted to 1977 specs, and ran well once upon a time. When the 77's days were numbered the carb got quirky. I never adjusted it since at the time I was going to use the car's original carburetor. Well, even after cleaning it never ran so I was forced to use the 77 carb.

I am going to make sure I have plenty of fluids in the car, as well as tools so if anything happens I'm covered... In theory. Looking forward to her debut to the Pinto community. Got some 0000 steel wool so I can polish up the trim, as well as clean the windows. There is plenty of overspray on all windows, and read from many sources this will take care of it.

Ain't my first rodeo. I got it covered.


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It sounds like you're about ready to roll!  Should be an exciting trip.  Is your Dad going with you?


Dwayne

Car was cold this morning so I tried to start the car. No luck. No spark again. pushed the wire and connector on the coil and it started to fire up. Plugs  got a little fouled but once cleaned off it ran fine. No fast idle when I got to thinking... The choke assembly came off the car too easy. Missing linkage from the assembly to the carb. Hard for the car to run right without it. It runs ok when warmed up but the choke doesn't do its job currently, and no fast idle without that part. I have the linkage on my spare carb so I will put it on the main carb for now. Better than nothing.

I've seen many on farcebook that didn't know were to put oil into their Pinto. Some didn't know if the thing under the hood was a 2.0L or a 2.3L, I think the people that could help you the most are on this web site. I know you have been fighting the carb issue for a long time. The holley / weber is a very simple carb when you put them along side a carb or FI for a new car. Here is what I know from past over hauls of the carb. #1 Remove the linkage from the choke.  #2 Remove the screws that hold the top of the carb on.  #3  Remove the complete top of the carb and turn it over so the float is pointing upwards.  #4  See where the float is located. There should be aprox a 1/4 (.250) of clearance between the float and the carb cover.  #5  Remove the main jets one at a time so you don't put them back in the wrong hole. Make sure they are clean. Then zoop the remaining gas from the carb. I use a plastic bottle with tube sticking  out of the top. Mash the bottle and stick the tube into the gas. Look in the holes were the jets go for trash. Use low air pressure to blow the holes out. Now look at the power valve in the bottom of the float bowl. If damaged replace it.  #6  Remove the idle mixture screw and blow it out with low pressure air.  #7 Pray its fixed. #8  Put it all back together. It takes very little trash to screw the carb up. Hopes this helps.