PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Shiny is Good! => Your Project => Topic started by: Vicrydr on June 27, 2016, 09:41:22 AM
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In swapping the 86 Ranger 2.3L EFI into my 77 Pinto CW, I left the Ranger clutch on the engine thinking it may be a better clutch. Now I found out why I should have used the Pinto clutch as the clutch pedal is very hard to push now. I'm thinking I should change clutches now as I don't know how long the clutch cable can stand the extra strain. Any thought out there on this? I hate to pull the tranny for this again as I am getting tired of laying under the car. A broken clutch cable wouldn't be all that pretty either.
Thanks.
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Are you using the Pinto 4 speed, or a T-5? The Ranger clutch might have been set for a different cable pull arrangement. I don't have an answer for you, but I have the T-5 using a 86 T/C bell crank bell housing with 71-73 pedals and the clutch pressure is very manageable. In fact it almost seems too soft. The engagement is very linear. Great for teaching someone how to drive a stick. So, if comparison helps in any way - there you go. Do parts books show a different clutch for the ranger than the Pinto?
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Pivot pin (ball ?) is the right length for the arm ?
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I am using the original 4 speed, bell hsg and clutch arm. I should note that I never drove the car as the motor was bad (original motor), but even so I believe that I pushed the clutch pedal and would have noticed a very hard push. I did get a clue on this as the Pinto manual I have does list problems with a hard push clutch and one of the problems can be a heavy duty clutch installed. First item is that I don't like the hard push and second I wonder if the cable will stand up to the extra tension. I would guess that others have had heavy duty clutches installed. Maybe with the t5 and different arm and hsg the pull is softened by different geometry built in to compensate. I'm still thinking I should pull it down and install the original Pinto clutch.
Thanks
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The ranger used a hydraulic throw out bearing and a pressure plate with a lot more spring pressure you will need to swap out the pressure plate or convert to a hdy clutch both will mean time on you back under the car and the tranny will have to come out.
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Thanks Chero, I was afraid of that. But it must be done. At least the tranny doesn't weigh a ton. I do have a jack for it anyway.
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So I got a load of ambition today and changed out the flywheel and clutch back to the original Pinto parts. Clutch pedal works real nice now. Live and learn. Now if all my rewiring works and the motor starts and runs I'll be a happy camper.