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Author Topic: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster  (Read 111518 times)

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Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #120 on: October 30, 2022, 07:04:58 PM »
Wittsend:  I would love a Tiger.  Poor Man's Shelby.  Is yours a 260 or 289?

Today was to be the day I assembled the front suspension.  It didn't go as planned.  I enlarged the lower control arm mounting holes to 5/8" as the instructions stated, but that's as far as I got.  I thought that if any part of this project would be a brainless, bolt together process, but I was wrong.  The lower control arms do fit as I would have expected.  The front tube hits the horizontal flange of the crossmember so it doesn't fit as it should.  I also tried to install the steering rack.  The mounting bolts are 4 1/2" long.  The cross member alone is 4" and there is about 2" of the mounting bushing on the rack so the 4 1/2" bolts aren't even close.  I will be calling Speedway tomorrow to talk to their Tech Dept.  I need this to work.  Maybe whoever picked the parts off the shelf for the kit pull incorrect parts.  I was hoping to have it on 4 wheels today but it wasn't in the cards.  I'll find out more tomorrow.  I did put the rims and tires on the rear to see what it was going to look like.  The good news it that I will have the paperwork I need to register it this week. 
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Offline Wittsend

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #121 on: October 31, 2022, 12:34:33 PM »
The Tiger is an early car, the 101st one made. Originally it was a 260 car but somewhere in life it got a 289 (5 bolt). I did a lot of work on it between 2000 (when I bought it) and 2004. Then for one reason or another I always had some other car (including my Pinto Turbo engine swap) that I felt I could get done faster and the Tiger always sat. Family obligations got in the way too. I retired in 2014 but that didn't seem to change anything. In 2019 I actually did some quarter panel repair but as winter approached I again got diverted.


I have a 1961 Corvair Lakewood station wagon. I actually have had it longer than the Tiger (since 1995).  So in the winter of 2019 I decided that I would work on the Corvair ONLY IN THE WINTER and only when the days were nice. Then Covid came and the Corvair just kept rolling into Spring , Summer etc., etc. and here we are with 2023 staring us in the face and nothing done on the Tiger and the Corvair with significant done..., but still a long way to go. Such is life.




Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #122 on: November 01, 2022, 07:10:46 AM »
Your Tiger looks cool.  Hopefully you can finish it some day and also the Corvair.  I like the 1965 and up COrvairs more than the early cars but they are all cool.  There s a 327-powered one that goes to a cruise in that I go to.
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Offline PintoTim2

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #123 on: November 01, 2022, 09:10:49 AM »
Sweet Tiger!   My friend Randy has a super nice Alpine (the 4 cylinder version of the Tiger) and had a Tiger that came disassembled with the parts in bushel baskets!   After 20+ years he finally realized that he'd never get to it, so he sent it all to a restoration shop.  After they stripped the paint off, they discovered the whole bottom of the car was made of pop rivited heating duct metal.  He was so disappointed he sold it off.   

Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #124 on: November 02, 2022, 07:18:54 PM »
Update on my front suspension setback...the lower control arms that came with my kit were not meant to be used with a stock Pinto crossmember.  I was crystal clear when I called to inquire about a font suspension kit that I was using a stock Pinto platform, yet the recommended the kit that I purchased.  It was a $200 upgrade to the kit I originally had selected and the selling point was that the tubular arms were better than the stamped steel arms, and best of all, they eliminated the need for strut rods, providing more clearance for a header.  I felt it was worth the extra $200 so that's what I got.  After calling Speedway on Monday, I have a set of tubular, but stock mount lower control arms coming and should be delivered tomorrow.  That will solve my problem but is costing me more $$$, engineering and work.  The first step for installing the original arms was to drill out the 1/2 mounting hole to 5/8.  You guessed it...the arms I now have to use use 1/2 bolts.  Now I have to close the holes so I can use the 1/2" bolts.  I have a plan that includes using 7/16 Grade 8 flat washers (opened up to 1/2"), welded to a 5/8 OD x 1/2 ID sleeve.  The sleeve fits nicely in my enlarged mounting hole and the washer will be welded to the outside of the crossmember where the mounting bolt goes through.  I will send pics after I do the work that will better explain.  I have layed awake the last three nights trying to come up with a good way to return the mounting holes to 1/2" and came up with this plan.  I will do it on Saturday and am confident it will work.  My next challenge is that I don't see the mounting tab for the sway bar on the control arm.  I have reached out to Speedway to see if they sell a bracket that I can weld to the arm.  I'm pretty sure they do.  I don't know why it wouldn't be included if these are supposed to be tubular, stock replacement arms.  I'll find out soon enough...
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Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #125 on: November 06, 2022, 06:18:35 PM »
Over the weekend I fabricated my bushings that returned the lower control arm mounting holes back to 1/2" after enlarging to 5/8" for the control arms I wasn't able to use.  I made two trips to the hardware store to buy the bolts to mount the lower arms.  I initially went to there to buy 1/2" x 5" but made a call at the line of scrimmage to buy 4 1/2" as the 5" looked too long.  I should have stuck with my first idea as I went back to exchange the 4 1/2" for the 5" bolts.  Today I found the original bolts that are perfectly serviceable but too late now.  I also found the one steering rack mounting bolt that I was able to salvage.  I had to cut the other one off as no amount of penetrating oil, heat and hammering would budge it.  I need to buy another one:  5/8" x 7 1/2" or x 8", Grade 5.  Today I screwed the ball joint into the right lower control arm.  I had to use a 24" pipe wrench with a 2'+ pipe for extra leverage.  Speedway sent me two right lower control arms so I am waiting on the left arm.  I hope it will be here before Friday.  I took Friday off (Vet's Day) and it will be warm enough to paint the arms and other misc parts black.  Today I sprayed primer on the two upper arms and the right lower arm.  I wire wheeled the sway bar and attaching brackets, and the brackets that mount the front brake hoses to the frame.  I sprayed all those parts and the driveshaft with rust converter.  They will get painted on Friday.  By Sunday the paint will have cured so I should be able to get the front suspension assembled.  I am eating the elephant one bite at a time!
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Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #126 on: November 13, 2022, 05:22:48 PM »
I had a busy weekend doing other than Pinto/Mustang work but on Friday I painted the upper and lower control arms.  Today I mounted the upper and lower control arms.  I haven't installed the coil springs yet.  When the lower control arm is horizontal, the compressed length of the springs are about 9".  The new springs are 13.5 inches.  The instructions say they need to be cut but they don't say how much to cut off.  I am going to start by cutting 1/2 of a coil off and see how that sits.  It could be trial and error...I don't want to cut too much off.  The only weight on the front end will be the frame, bumper, headlights.  There will be no hood, fenders, doors, so I won't have much weight to compress the springs.  I ordered the 300 lb springs with the kit. 
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Offline Wittsend

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #127 on: November 14, 2022, 11:08:53 AM »
Take your time cutting the springs. Better to cut numerous times then to cut them too short. Remember too that you are cutting for compressed height equivalent, not free length. Lastly every time the spring gets cut it makes it stiffer. So what measurement had one effect, the next successive cuts will be somewhat different. Given the weight distribution of this configuration I would also put equivalent weight in the seats of the driver and passenger.

Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #128 on: November 15, 2022, 06:46:45 AM »
I don't plan to get crazy with cutting.  I am going to try to get this done next weekend in between working, hanging Christmas lights and whatever other activities that present themselves.  I keep saying that I should put it away for the season but I can't stop myself while I continue to make progress! 
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Offline Wittsend

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #129 on: November 15, 2022, 12:36:15 PM »
"I keep saying that I should put it away for the season but I can't stop myself while I continue to make progress! "

I hear you. I have a 61 Corvair station wagon that has sat for nearly 28 years. In the Fall of 2019 I told my wife I'm either doing something with it..., or getting rid of it. I slow down my car activity in Winter (I get cold REAL EASY). But the Winters in So. Cal. have been rather mild and dry. So, starting with the Winter of 2019 I adopted a "Winters Only" approach to working on the car (as whether allowed). Well, Covid came and I just kept going, all seasons, all years from 2019 to present. This week I hope to start the rebuilt motor, but still a lot more to do. But, yes, I know the drive to get (just) one more thing done and it just keeps rolling.

Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #130 on: November 15, 2022, 07:28:23 PM »
Good to hear there is progress made on the Corvair.  I wish our Winters were warm enough to continue on my project.  Of course my job success relies on cold weather so I can't complain about the Winter weather.  Our highs are in the 30's now so it's only a matter of time that I will be forced to put it away.  If I can get the front end together and on 4 wheels I'll be satisfied.  I'll have to see if I can use the floor jack to compress the springs of if I have to use a spring compressor.  I'll know on Saturday...
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Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #131 on: November 20, 2022, 06:37:23 PM »
I did practically nothing on my project this weekend.  I went to the office both Saturday and Sunday mornings to try to get caught up on things.  The heating season is here and the ops-tempo is fast and furious.  The threat of the Lake Effect Snow in Buffalo and Watertown puts panic into our customers so they all think they need propane deliveries.  While Buffalo gor over 6' in some spots, we had next to nothing for measurable snow in the Rochester area.  I spent Saturday and Sunday afternooons hanging the exterior Christmas lights.  I did the ones that require the 28' extension ladder yesterday and the lower ones today 

Pinto content:  I placed the firewall/cowl in place to get it off the sawhorses it has been on for the last couple of months.  I'm trying to make space for Winter parking.  It isn't sitting correctly as the ratchet strap that holds the tranny tail shaft in position prevents the tranny hump from sitting down into position.  It is tilting forward but I think it is coming together and looking kinda cool!

I plan to try to install the coil springs and spindles on Thanksgiving.  It is supposed to be in the mid 40's.  Today it was in the upper 20's. 
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Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #132 on: November 24, 2022, 06:49:42 PM »
Happy Thanksgiving All! 

This morning after some food prepping and dish washing I snuck out to the garage and installed the coil springs and spindles.  I cut 1/2 coil off each spring.  Not sure if that was enough but I didn't want to cut off too much.  I can always cut off more later.  I had to go back in to help the wife so I didn't do anything else out there.  Saturday is supposed to be a nice day so I will install the steering rack and tie rods and probably install the rotors, wheel bearings, calipers, sway bar and other related parts.  I am going to have to heat and slightly bend the strut rods to get the bolt holes to line up at the lower control arm and get the rod to go through the frame as it should.  The strut rods are from Speedway, not the factory rods.  I am going to have to grind a little material off the strut rods too so they will fit with the sway bar mount in place.  The mounts need a little massaging with the grinder too.  I'm surprised they didn't fit out of the box.  Anyway, pics attached.  I haven't tightened/torqued anything yet.  I am still on the front caster so no weight on the front suspension yet.  Once I have weight on it I will see how the suspension sits.  It looks a bit off right now and the springs look somewhat bowed so I may have to cut some more off.  I am looking for anyone's opinion on this...
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Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #133 on: November 27, 2022, 06:34:06 AM »
Yesterday I made some progress and hit a speedbump.  I installed the sway bar mounts and sway bar except for attaching the end links to the lower control arms.  The sway bar bracket I bought from Speedway doesn't allow for connection to the factory-style end links.  I will have to fabricate something at a later date.  I also mounted the caliper adapters to the spindles, but only finger-tight.  Pic attached.

My speed bump is that the steering rack that came with the kit has mounting holes that are about 3/4" to narrow.  My subframe has 16" on center mounting holes; the rack mounting holes are 15 1/4". I have e-mails to Speedway and am hoping that tomorrow (Monday) when they get to work they have a different rack that will mount to my factory crossmember.  I am finding that even when Speedway claims that parts are for a 1974-80 Pinto or 1974-78 Mustang, what they really mean is that you must use their crossmember, not the factory crossmember. 

I will update on the steering rack.  In the meantime, I decided to cover it and push it into its Winter spot.  I wasn't ready to put it away but will have to see what Speedway can provide. 
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Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #134 on: November 27, 2022, 07:07:46 PM »
I found an offset bushing kit that allows the 15 1/2" mount rack to mate to the 16" crossmember.  I will hopefully confirm this with the Speedway Tech Support person tomorrow and order it so I can continue...
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Offline Wittsend

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #135 on: November 28, 2022, 12:54:41 PM »
You were at it deep into the cold weather so that has to bring a degree of accomplishment . Spring will come soon enough.


We still have 70 degree days here in So. Cal. The bad news about that is mosquitos. I am SO susceptible to getting bit that I use to joke that there were only four mosquitoes in California, and they all knew where I live. Meaning, there are VERY few mosquitoes in California..., until last year. Now we have some mosquito from Asia and here it is late November and the other day I had 9 bites on my foot even though I ALWAYS wear sox and shoes. Regardless I was able to get the Corvair engine running after its refurbishment. My son was in town for Thanksgiving and shot a You Tube video of it.

Offline dga57

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #136 on: November 30, 2022, 10:20:03 AM »
Congratulation s on getting it running!  Quite an achievement!!!

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

Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #137 on: December 02, 2022, 08:09:59 AM »
Glad to see the 'Vair runs!  That will motivate you to continue on it!

I am hoping my steering rack offset bushing kit arrives today or tomorrow so I can get the rack bolted in.  I am going to try to find sway bar end links that mount differently than the stock ones, utilizing the lower control arm mounting brackets I bought from Speedway.  It will save me fabrication time and effort.  I already bought stock end links so I would have liked to use them, but may not.  If I find a suitable substitute the brand new Moog end links will become available.  They are a somewhat hard to find part in case someone is looking to score a pair for use or for stock.  I contacted the guy I gave my factory strut rods to and he hasn't used them so I will be going over to get them from him tomorrow.  I will see if Speedway will take the ones back that I bought from them and give me store credit.  In order to use them I would have to heat and bend them as the angle is different than the factory rods.  I really don't want to modify them.  I don't recall my old ones having any defects so if I can use them after wire-wheeling, prime/paint, I will.  My weekend is a little full:  Saturday 0800 haircut, 1000 funeral that is an hour away, run to get the strut rods, then home.  Sunday I have a VFW gathering to attend that involves adult beverages and a dinner, so I may not get much done on the project but I will keep you apprised.  I'm on borrowed time anyway so anything I get done at this point is a bonus. 
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Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #138 on: December 04, 2022, 05:59:18 PM »
Yesterday I went to visit my old Pinto...it looked pretty sad sitting in the field.  Mice chewed up the rear seat bottom.  The interior was in really great shape.  It's a shame it has gone to waste.  I was able to get what was left of the two front suspension assembles.  This morning I removed the strut rods.  Penetrating oil, heat, and impact got the nuts off.  I had forgotten that the sway bar end link mounts were attached to the factory strut rods so now I have them back too!  I should now be able to use the factory end links I bought.  I had to go to a VFW function today so I had to stop playing with my Pinto stuff at 11:30 to get ready.  I didn't have a chance to compare the angle of the OEM strut rods to the Speedway arms, or wire wheel them, but I will get to that.  See my "treasure" in the attached pics.  I made an ebay purchase today...a Mustang II grill assembly.  I am going to build a nose cone around the grill.  It has the light assemblies so I think the Pinto running light/blinkers will  pop right in.  It has the Pony and looks to be in real nice shape in the pics.  I would like to find an inexpensive header panel so I don't have to build my nose from scratch but it looks like I may have to.  The header panel includes the headlight surrounds which I really don't need and they are fairly expensive, or at least more expensive than I want to spend.
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Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #139 on: December 07, 2022, 08:00:12 AM »
Last evening I removed the old bushings and washers form my re-acquired OEM strut rods and placed the old one on top of the Speedway rod to see what the difference was in the angle.  I knew if was different as the Speedway arms won't line up with the frame mounts when attached to the lower control arms.  The attached pic shows how much they differ.  It was more than I thought it was.  There was quite a bit of exfoliation corrosion under the bushing area on the OEM rods, so I have decided to bend the Speedway rods to the same angle as the OEM rods and use them rather than using the 40+ year old OEM rods.  I will transfer the sway bar link brackets from the OEM to the Speedway rods so I can use the new, factory links that I already own.  I have been warned that heating the rods to facilitate the bend will weaken the rod, but there isn't much stress on them and I don't think it is going to cause a catastrophe so that's how I plan to make the bend.  I will bolt the two rods together so the lower control arm mounting holes are lined up, then clamp them in a vice, heat the new rod, the bend it to the same angle as the OEM rod so I can use it with my stock crossmember.  As with everything with this project, I engineer it as I go.  I also will be removing the steering rack mounting bushings and installing the offset bushings so I can use the 15 1/2" mount T-Bird rack on my 16" Pinto crossmember.  I don't know how difficult it will be to remove them, but will find out this weekend when I go out to play in the garage.
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Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #140 on: December 10, 2022, 05:13:39 PM »
Some progress made today...Last week I ordered and yesterday I received a Mustang II grill.  I think it will look cool.  I will need to fabricate a surround to make it look like it belongs on there.  I mocked up the steering rack to my crossmember.  Even with the offset bushing kit that was supposed to allow the 15 1`/2" on center rack to bolt to my 16" on center crossmember, it was still about 1/8" off.  I had to resort to removing a little material from both mounting holes on the inside edges.  It is in place but I need to buy longer mounting bolts.  I bought 8" Grade 5 bolts but now know I need 9".  I'll have to see if the hardware store has them that long.  I also heated and bent my Speedway strut rods to match the OEM strut rod angle.  I test fit them to the lower control arms and through the frame and the sway bar end links to the brackets I salvaged from the OEM strut rods.  Everything seems to line up.  I am only doing finger tight.  I will anti-seize everything when I do the final assembly.  I will do a little more tomorrow...
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Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #141 on: December 12, 2022, 07:47:39 PM »
Yesterday (Sunday) I returned the 5/8 x 8 steering rack mounting bolts hoping to find some 5 x 9 1/2 bolts.  8" was the longest they had.  I ended up ordering them on line.  Not cheap...$32 including shipping.  I also put together the strut rods and bushings so I could see everything in place.  My next issue is figuring out a way to adapt my new, stock, aftermarket power steering hoses to the T-bird-style rack that came with my Speedway kit.  The T-bird rack has o-ring to 6AN flare fittings, and the Pinto hoses are inverted flare.  I don't know if there is some sort of adapter fitting or if the inverted flare can be cut off and the end flared and use a 6AM flare nut.  I will post the question on the Ask the Experts forum.  I will also enlist the guidance of my local hydraulic shop.  I don't want to have to buy new hoses or pump.

I got good news when I opened the mailbox tonight...the transferrable registration arrived in the mail from the previous owner.  In NY, vehicles older than 1973 do not get issued a title.  Proof of ownership is with a transferrable registration.  I can now register this thing in my name as a 1967 Ford.  I plan to do that ASAP before our governor decides to make it harder to register an old vehicle. 

I need to check with the upholstery shop to check on my seat frame and cover.  He's had it since August.  He knows I don't need it back right away, but I would like to get it back so I can check seating position and for adapting the steering wheel/shaft to the rack.  I am going to have to shorten it some but until I get the seat in place I can't do anything to it.

I am pretty much done working on this thing until Spring.  I covered it back up, pushed it back into the corner, and backed the Ranger up to it so it's "trapped" in its spot until April or May. 
rob289c

Offline dga57

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #142 on: December 14, 2022, 03:54:41 PM »

I am pretty much done working on this thing until Spring.  I covered it back up, pushed it back into the corner, and backed the Ranger up to it so it's "trapped" in its spot until April or May. 

Well, at least you've had a productive summer!

Dwayne :)
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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #143 on: December 15, 2022, 06:03:50 AM »
Yes, I did...and got a bit more done than I originally planned.  I'm looking forward to Spring so I can get this thing done and drivable.  When I wake up in the middle of the night I can't get back to sleep because I lay there engineering the next steps in my head.  Once it's don I won't have to think about it other than to just enjoy it (I hope!).  I know I will be tempted to do a few things over the Winter nd will keep y'all updated...
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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #144 on: December 15, 2022, 10:52:47 AM »
Here's hoping for a few warm days so you can get a good nights rest. LOL   I know the feeling. Our 35 night/60 day California temps are freezing to me. How I ever survived my New Jersey childhood I don't know.

Offline rob289c

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #145 on: December 15, 2022, 04:12:41 PM »
Winter is finally upon us and being in the Propane business, we pray for cold.  I don't expect to do much on the project until Spring.  Maybe some day I will live in a warmer climate so I can play with my cars and motorcycle for more of the year, not to mention, maybe get away from the NY politics...
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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #146 on: December 15, 2022, 08:05:27 PM »
I'm thinking the same, too cold for these bones in Wisconsin.  I used to like the cold in my younger days.  I'm eyeing up Florida myself.  The hot humid days will be bad, but at least my body will function correctly lol.
'79 Pinto auto hatch back with an '80 2.3L and 4 speed transplant.  A 2.3 Turbo and T5 are waiting for the next transplant.

Plans changed, going V8 with TKX!

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #147 on: December 17, 2022, 02:59:02 PM »
Yesterday I went to the DMV and registered my project as a 1967 Mustang.  I had to insure it, then register it, then cancel registration and turn in the plates (Pay $1.00 to turn in plates), then cancel the insurance and wait for my refund.  It it was a 1973 or newer, I could have titled it in my name without having to insure it.  Anyway, I am officially the owner and now I can put it on the road once it is roadworthy.  That had been a concern and I had a backup plan but now I feel better about getting it on the road "legally".  ;D  Also, my steering rack bolts arrived but I haven't gone out to install them.  I worked today so no garage time.  I may go to the office tomorrow too; I have a project I need to complete so likely no garage time this weekend.
rob289c

Offline dga57

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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #148 on: December 17, 2022, 11:27:00 PM »
Well, congratulation s on becoming the legal owner!  Some states can make titling/registering an older car an absolute nightmare.  Virginia is one of them, and put me through hell before finally titling my '79 Continental Mark V.  It took almost a year from the time of purchase until I had it legally on the road.  So much nonsense!


Dwayne :)
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Re: Pinto Powered Mustang Roadster
« Reply #149 on: December 18, 2022, 06:32:11 AM »
I got lucky...when I first got the back half of the Mustang the plan was to make it into a trailer to tow behind my 67 Fastback.  It was to provide more cargo space for travelling when the kids were small, plus be a novelty for car shows and cruise-ins.  It didn't have a title or registration but I figured it would be easy enough to register it as a homemade trailer.  As time went on and I decided to make it into a drivable vehicle, I had some concerns but did research what I would have to do to register it as a homemade car in NY which I figured would involve jumping through a lot of hoops.  When I got the Pinto, I titled it in my name so I could have titled this vehicle as a 1980 Ford, but pursued other options to get a title for the Mustang portion.  I was able to get the vehicle abstract form the PA DMV which included the VIV and previous owner and after contacting the guy I got it from (not the last registrant), said he found the PA title.  The previous registrant had passed away but had signed over the title to the other guy.  I compensated him for his troubles to register it in his name, then transfer ownership to me.  Long story short, I now legally own it and should have no trouble registering and getting it inspected when I get it ready for the road.  The stars aligned for me... :)
rob289c