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Author Topic: Restoring my 78 Sedan  (Read 114871 times)

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Offline dave1987

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Restoring my 78 Sedan
« on: May 25, 2007, 01:09:26 AM »
My 78 Sedan has run in the family since it was purchased for my mom as a graduation present in 79. Since then my oldest brother had it during his teenage years as his first car and took it to autobody shop with him as his project. He gave it a nice peral metalic blue paint job. Shortly after, he wore the engine out and it was time for a rebuild, which he wasn't up to doing. So it sat on the side of my parents house up to about three years ago when it was my turn to have the car. I pulled the engine with my dad and my cousin (who builds race car engines), helpped me get the block bored and the head rebuilt, as well as put some bigger pistons in it. It now has a new paint job, new clutch, new brakes, and now a new engine to!

Now that I have the car is good operational condition as well as decent exterior condition, I'm wanting to fix up the interior a bit. It needs new carpet, front dash pad and a new headliner. The back seat needs some seem work done in the middle and a new steering wheel.

I'm considering taking out a $500 loan to get this car in tip top shape as I REALLY love driving it. I'd rather drive my 1978 no-AC pinto than my friend's 2002 buick sedan in 100 degree weather. I just love this car so much.

$500 should cover the dash cap which I can get for under $100, carpet is about $200-ish, and a headliner is about $100 for a kit. Then I could have someone locally seem up the back seat a bit. If it needs more than a simple seem job, I'll just not have it done and find a replacment and dye it black.

So is pulling out a $500 loan a good or a bad thing for this project? I REALLY want to get this car's interior to a condition that I don't shreek at each time I look at my dash with a 1" split above my gauges.
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Pintony

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2007, 06:49:04 AM »
Hello Dave,
 Have you thought about selling something you are not using on ebay to make the money to fix-up your Pinto interior. Most banks will not loan less than 1000.00
 From Pintony

Offline 77turbopinto

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2007, 06:58:51 AM »
I agree with Pintony.

Don't pay intrest and or loan fees when you don't NEED to. If you needed to fix the car to drive to work or school, a loan MIGHT be in order. Save money and buy the parts one at a time. If you do that and take your time, you might find better deals on parts and save even more money on the long run.

Just my $.02

Bill
Thanks to all U.S. Military members past & present.

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2008, 08:42:47 PM »
I'll be getting a nice large tax return back this year and the interior restoration will be finished by the summer time!

Leather seat covers, carpet, a new dash cap and new door glass.

The brake rotors are slightly warped but those are getting changed out to, as well as my windshield gasket, the trunk seal and new shocks.

A few modifications will be done as well. I will be putting a new pioneer stereo system in as well with four pioneer speakers. Replacing the two dry rotted 6x9 speakers in the back and adding two 6 1/2" speakers in the door panels.

Last but not least I will be putting a Mustang II center console in the car if I can find one in black. They are a big expensive and hard to find around here but in time I will find one.

Thank you everyone for all the help I've recieved on my project thus far and pictures will be plentiful this year, I promise.

I spent the whole night last night buffing out hard water spots from the paint and fixing my exhaust leak at the down pipe. All that will be left after this year will be a new Stallion paint job, but isn't 199% necessary.
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2008, 08:47:41 PM »
Here are some photos from last summer.

1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2008, 08:52:42 PM »
And some more.
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2008, 10:25:35 PM »
More.
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2008, 10:30:48 PM »
And the last of last year...It's not every day you get to see a pinto in the dark. :)
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline Cookieboystoys

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2008, 10:40:56 PM »
Hey Dave, looks sweet and sounds like you have the plan well in hand   ;D

(I pulled my post and added to the end so I wouldn't break up your pics... very nice collection)
It's all about the Pintos! Baby!

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2008, 01:11:37 AM »
Thanks cookieboy! I can't wait to get this all finished into presentable shape and bring it to the local fair car show and hopefully to a few of the get togethers here.
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline Cookieboystoys

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #10 on: January 26, 2008, 08:09:32 AM »
Dave sent me more pics and picked a song... another video by Cookieboy  ;D

http://www.fordpinto.com/video/view_video.php?viewkey=b633e50cdf1b20de6f46

It's all about the Pintos! Baby!

Pintony

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2008, 08:33:57 AM »
I agree with Pintony.

Don't pay intrest and or loan fees when you don't NEED to. If you needed to fix the car to drive to work or school, a loan MIGHT be in order. Save money and buy the parts one at a time. If you do that and take your time, you might find better deals on parts and save even more money on the long run.

Just my $.02

Bill

 That seems a bit high Bill....... :evil:

Offline Trigger01

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2008, 11:03:19 AM »
Your car looks great and makes my very jealous. My Pinto has  along way to go before it will look that good! The interior work is a good way down the road for me, rust repair first.
-Mike
MCarrTrigger01@aol.com

SOLD
1978 Pinto Runabout
2.3 liter 4-cylinder
4-speed manual trans.

Daily Driver:
Heavily Modified Lifted '01 Ford Ranger Edge

Offline High_Horse

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2008, 07:35:26 PM »
Dave1987,
    Very, Very Nice car!!!!!

                                                                                 High_Horse
Started with a Bobcat wagon. Then a Cruising wagon. Now a Chocolate brown 77 wagon. I will enjoy this car for a long time. I'm in. High_Horse

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #14 on: January 27, 2008, 04:38:59 AM »
Thanks guys!

As you can see in the video, the passenger side floor pan had some minor rust issues, but the driver's side floor pan is horrible and I can see right through one of the 1/4" holes. I have an old raggy bath towel under the carpet right now to keep it from getting to much worse. I also hit it with the wire "brush" on the pneumatic die grinder and some "rust converter", covered by some primer.

The body is in rough shape as far as paint goes. There's a 1" diameter spot on the right fender that the paint chipped out of, which I am currently figuring out the best way to fix that. I have filled it with bondo but I still need to fill it one more time, sand it down and paint & clear coat it. Hopefully that will be done before the summer comes. So aside from the paint, not to much bad with it aside from some under paint rust in the bottom of the passenger's side quarter panel.

The car looks a lot better now than it did last summer as I have done some paint touch up all around (the scratch above the gas cap and on the middle of the trunk lid). I have painted the trunk interior black and am currently working on the inside of the hood too.
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #15 on: January 28, 2008, 01:58:53 AM »
Just finished a tune up on the car and put the steel pump-to-carb fuel line in tonight.

I went to a salvage yard today to see if I could find a Mustang II center console but everything was stripped. Tomorrow I will try one more yard and see if they have anything.

I was going to install new shocks on the car but the front ones haven't come in yet. Autozone said the order was canceled for some reason. They re-ordered them and said if the order goes through this time they will have them in on Tuesday. Which means on Wednesday I should have new suspension!

Carpet and dash cap have been ordered, and I'm just waiting for packages in the mail. How long does it normally take to get an order from stockinteriors .com?
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline Cookieboystoys

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #16 on: January 28, 2008, 07:07:55 AM »
How long does it normally take to get an order from stockinteriors .com?

as I recall they make to order but it was quick... a week?? 10 days??
It's all about the Pintos! Baby!

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #17 on: February 01, 2008, 03:21:45 AM »
Cool. I'll keep checking up with my apartment office to see when it comes in next week then.

I put the new stereo system and the shocks two days ago.

The stereo system is kickin, no distortion anymore!

The new shocks are amazing! The front shocks were in dear need of replacement. After removing them (taking 45 minutes on each side due to rust), I tested the front pair. To put it simple, after compressing them they did not retract. I'm wondering if my springs need replaced too now, considering I might as well not have even had shocks in the car the time I was driving it, since they didn't do anything. What's everybody's input on that?

The rear shocks wern't bad at all. They compressed and retacted pretty normally, just slightly squishy and retracted a little bit slower, but I kept them since they seems fairly new.

Today I received the dash cap in the mail. It fits great. I just need to pull up the link to one of the member's (cookieboy I believe) videos of installing it.
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline Cookieboystoys

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #18 on: February 01, 2008, 05:29:54 AM »
Today I received the dash cap in the mail. It fits great. I just need to pull up the link to one of the member's (cookieboy I believe) videos of installing it.

yep.. it was me...

http://www.fordpinto.com/video/view_video.php?viewkey=3d06de0ca9a15b615367&page=2&viewtype=&category=mr
It's all about the Pintos! Baby!

Offline Pintopower

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #19 on: February 01, 2008, 08:30:54 PM »
I love the color of that car. Is it 3J? Is it original paint? Looks sharp!
I have many Pintos, I like them....
#1. 1979 Wagon V6 Restored
#2. 1977 Wagon V6 Restored
#3. 1980 Sedan I4 Original
#4. 1974 Pangra Wagon I4 Turbo
#5. 1980 Wagon I4 Restored
#6. 1976 Bobcat Squire Hatchback (Restoring)
...Like i said, I like them.
...and I have 4 Fiats.

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #20 on: February 01, 2008, 09:31:53 PM »
Actually the original paint job was the "canary yellow" that so many Pinto's were. My older brother actually owned the car when he was in auto body class and repainted it as his finals project. It's called "Canyon Blue", I believe he ordered from a paint shop down the road.

Going through some pictures of pintos tonight, I just realized. My car does not have a sway bar! Is this normal on a 78 Sedan? If no, can I pull one off another different model car and put one on?



For the gauge cluster chrome trim, is it plated on or what? I'd really like to restore this part of the dash but I have no idea how to attempt it.
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline 77turbopinto

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #21 on: February 02, 2008, 05:03:08 AM »
...My car does not have a sway bar! Is this normal on a 78 Sedan? If no, can I pull one off another different model car and put one on?....

Yes, that's common. There should be the tabs on the lower control arms for the end links and the holes in the "frame" for the perches so installing one is very easy.

There are at least 2 different size 'Pinto' bars; one about .885" and one about .915".


Bill
Thanks to all U.S. Military members past & present.

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #22 on: February 04, 2008, 01:34:18 AM »
Is there another ford vehicle I can pull a sway bar off of that will bolt on to the 77 sedan (even with minor modification)?
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline bobscat

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #23 on: February 04, 2008, 11:58:28 AM »
I have a sway bar out of a Mustang II on my 79 Bobcat, and it fit just like the original.  The only reason I changed mine, was the one I used was from a V-8 mustang and cleared my oil pan when I put in the 302.  However, this may be just as hard to find as one for a Pinto.  If I am thinking correctly, I just saw them listed for sale new on the O'Reilly's website.  Or check e-bay.

Offline dave1987

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Re: Restoring my 78 Sedan
« Reply #24 on: February 10, 2008, 05:57:52 AM »
I've done a lot of work on the car the past week. Here's the update!

New dash-cap from 1aauto.com - $85.90
New carpet from stock-interiors.com - $129.15
New stereo system by Pioneer from Walmart - $284.36
New brake rotors, bearings and seals from fastundercar.c om (purchased locally & highly recomended) - $115.13
New "trunk Seal" from Walmart (You shall see) - $5.95

Onto the progress pictures!
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline dave1987

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Carpet Installation
« Reply #25 on: February 10, 2008, 06:11:30 AM »
First off some shots of the original carpet. It was pretty shot. slightly sun bleached, torn, worn down and just plain tacky. I didn't vacuum it before removing it, I figured what the heck since it was going into the trash anyway.

Things removed before the carpet:

Seats
Seatbelt restraints
E-brake cover
Lower center console and bracket
Rear seat cushions
Kick panels
Door jam screws for inner quarter panels
Door jam chrome trim

1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline dave1987

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Carpet Installation
« Reply #26 on: February 10, 2008, 06:14:23 AM »
One more of the old carpet:

1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline dave1987

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Carpet Installation
« Reply #27 on: February 10, 2008, 06:18:53 AM »
Once that was all pulled out and tossed aside, the new carpet was installed. I let it sit for about 4 days before I installed it so the folds and wrinkles would settle out and the carpet could take it's original molded shape. The 78 Sedans used a two piece carpet set. The largest section for the passenger area and the second piece for the drive-shaft tunnel between the two rear set cushions. Why they didn't make it one piece I will never know...
1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline dave1987

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Carpet Installation
« Reply #28 on: February 10, 2008, 06:22:55 AM »
I won't post pictures of the entire car with the new carpet quite yet, primarily because I don't want to show the whole interior until I post the pictures of the car with the new dash-cap installed.

In the mean time, feast your eyes upon new carpet on the driver's side floor pan, around the shifter and the rear passenger area. The two worst places on my old carpet and the one spot that won't spoil it all. :)

1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!

Offline dave1987

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Dash-Cap Installation
« Reply #29 on: February 10, 2008, 06:26:45 AM »
So the carpet was finished after about two hours of work. I wanted to be sure it was perfect. Next up was the Dash-Cap taking around an hour of work time and four hours drying time.

The first step was removing any high spots on the original dash so the new Dash-Cap would fit properlly. My original dash wasn't to bad, except for a grand canyon crack down the center of the gauge and a hairline crack on the passenger's side.

1978 Ford Pinto Sedan - Family owned since new

Remembering Jeff Fitcher with every drive in my 78 Sedan.

I am a Pinto Surgeon. Fixing problems and giving Pintos a chance to live again is more than a hobby, it's a passion!