Author Topic: Restoring my 78 Sedan (Read 116470 times)

dave1987 · « **Reply #180 on:** March 25, 2009, 07:27:47 AM »

I know, I had been thinking about it for the last few dozen trips I have made to the junk yard, but it didn't really "click" with me until I went to find a smog pump for my car, from a different model ford/lincoln/mercury!

It is sometimes surprising how much Ford recycled parts back then. Too bad they don't do that anymore and save themselves some money....Maybe then they wouldn't be so far in debt!

dave1987 · « **Reply #181 on:** March 25, 2009, 01:41:23 PM »

The project of the day is.....

VALANCE!

Photo is kind of cruddy, took the picture with my phone as I don't have any batteries for the cameras right now. I primed it, speed-dried it really well with the heat gun, the painted it. It's going to be black, but is coming out very nicely! It's supposed to be a satin black, but it is coming across a bit more glossy, but that's okay! Once it is on the car, I can paint the rocker panels black (there are spots of yellow showing through) and the whole car will look semi-correct!

discolives78 · « **Reply #182 on:** March 25, 2009, 11:21:51 PM »

I need one of those! :surprised:

dave1987 · « **Reply #183 on:** March 26, 2009, 08:37:04 PM »

I got it all painted black, mounting hardware as well. Put it on the car today.....

I don't really care for it. The black contrasts too much and it hangs too low on the Sedan to make things look right. Perhaps it may look better with it painted the same color as the car, but I couldn't really tell. After seeing it on the car, I can kind of understand why I have only ever seen it on a wagon in the past, it just doesn't look right on a sedan!

I may keep it around until I get my car painted and have it done too, just to see how it might look. If not, I will let you know Chuck. It would be much easier to put it on your car and have it look better, white is easier to obtain than metallic blue with pearl flake.

discolives78 · « **Reply #184 on:** March 26, 2009, 08:55:47 PM »

Agreed. I touched up my car with generic 'bright white' rattle can paint, and you can't tell unless you really, really look. (same with the mirrors). Heck yeah, if you don't want that valance, keep me in mind...no rush of course, and if you do end up using it, that's cool too.

Chuck :afro:

dave1987 · « **Reply #185 on:** March 29, 2009, 05:40:13 PM »

Finished up a roll of Ilford Delta professional black and white film, on my Canon AE-1 Program (35mm camera). I've been practicing photography for the past year or so and working on some amazing shots of the car. We'll see if they come out as well as I want them to. I may have messed the aperture up though, we'll see. I'll have them back from development (having them done at a professional camera shop so the pictures don't get messed up), and they should be back on Wednesday.

The unique thing about Ilford Delta film, is that it is a true black and white film. If processed through an automated color processing machine, it will wipe out the photos as if you never took any. I don't do much true black and white photography because of this, since it costs me nearly $16 - $18 to take pictures with it, including the film and developing charges. Who knows, maybe we'll see if I can get a really nice photo done and have it it The Pinto Times?

Carolina Boy · « **Reply #186 on:** March 31, 2009, 10:00:22 PM »

That valance looks nothing like mine. mines pert much flat.

discolives78 · « **Reply #187 on:** March 31, 2009, 10:14:04 PM »

Quote from: Carolina Boy on March 31, 2009, 10:00:22 PM

That valance looks nothing like mine. mines pert much flat.

On the 78's, Rallye cars and Cruising Wagons had this 'valance' (i.e. chin spoiler) under the front bumper. The other cars of this year (like mine) have nothing under the bumper. Are we talking apples or oranges? This isn't the 'gravel guard' that sits in the top of the bumper under the grille.

Got a pic of yours?

Chuck :afro:

Carolina Boy · « **Reply #188 on:** March 31, 2009, 10:18:01 PM »

Senior moment again, I looked at it again and yeap that's a spoiler. Does it bolt to the bumper? I want one for my car to go with the rear spoiler.

discolives78 · « **Reply #189 on:** March 31, 2009, 10:25:40 PM »

It bolts to the bottoms of the fenders.

Chuck

r4pinto · « **Reply #190 on:** March 31, 2009, 10:55:06 PM »

Quote from: dave1987 on March 23, 2009, 11:28:00 PM

I got the pump from an early 80s Mercury Grand Marquis, and the Pinto correct pulley from a late 70s Lincoln Continental! What a combo, huh?

I also found a couple glove box lights with the switch, as well as the ashtray lighting. Just need to figure out how to wire them up now!

Dave,

I have a factory Pinto wiring diagram book for the 1980. Tomorrow I can take a look at the diagrams & let you know what goes where. I might even be able to get some copies made of the pages.

dave1987 · « **Reply #191 on:** March 31, 2009, 11:03:45 PM »

It's a valance, I should have taken pictures of it while it was on the car, just to show you guys how goofy the car looks with it on! lol

r4pinto: Thank you, but no need to worry about the wiring diagram. I got the lights wired up and they work great! I don't think a diagram would have helped to much, as my brother and dad have chopped the under-dash harness a lot over the past 20 years. Not really any connectors left with the added gauge lighting and radio swaps done through-out the years.

dave1987 · « **Reply #192 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:47:50 PM »

My new household adventure....F inding the original gas cap. My dad said that he kept it and thought that maybe he stowed it in the quarter panel. After I started doing work on the car, I cleaned the quarter panels out and all I found was the original ignition switch, a few rags and a lot of rust flakes. Looks like it's time to explore the attic!

r4pinto · « **Reply #193 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:54:20 PM »

That sill beats what I found in my quarters. Is that a spare switch or one you previously replaced?

dave1987 · « **Reply #194 on:** April 13, 2009, 10:47:23 PM »

It was the original one from the factory that my dad had replaced in the 80s!

So I scavenged through every last box in the attic. No gas cap, but I did find the ORIGINAL insurance paperwork from when the car was first purchased in 1978, up to about 1983! I'm pretty excited about finding more original paperwork to add to the Pinto's physical history. I also found the Fel-Pro fender mat that my dad used to use in the 80s while working on the Pinto!

larjohnson · « **Reply #195 on:** April 14, 2009, 06:56:13 AM »

You know...anythin g you find from the past history of your Pinto, is a true treasure. Glad you at least found some paperwork on it. I'm sure the gas cap will show up as you explore....Lar ry :police:

dave1987 · « **Reply #196 on:** April 29, 2009, 10:30:56 PM »

Today I installed the front valance that I purchased from Carl Harris. I used up the last of the old can of paint from my car. The paint on the valance is slightly darker than the car itself, but since it is UNDER the car, it doesn't look too bad at all! Here are some shots of it in the garage. I will get some better pictures while I am at the car show on Saturday.

r4pinto · « **Reply #197 on:** April 29, 2009, 10:34:56 PM »

Dave, seeing your 78 look that good makes me want to keep going on my 77. She's a total wreck with lots of rust underneath but seeing a beautiful 78 like yours helps keep me going. I do like that color. It has been narrowed down to one of a few different shades of blue I might paint mine.

dave1987 · « **Reply #198 on:** April 30, 2009, 12:23:24 AM »

Thanks r4pinto! The color is actually a Chrysler color, Canyon Blue to be exactly. It has a tinge of pearl flake added to it though, so it gains a slight yellow sheen in the sunlight. Still debating whether or not to repaint it this color or the stallion scheme.

larjohnson · « **Reply #199 on:** April 30, 2009, 06:05:28 AM »

Dave: The Pinto looks great....the valance is a nice feature. Yes, I agree with the color of blue you've painted it, it really compliments the design of the car well. Great Pinto, glad to see someone enjoy it so much.....Larry :police:

dave1987 · « **Reply #200 on:** May 09, 2009, 05:26:38 PM »

So I went out to the junk yard today to kill some time, and to search for the mysterious 12 point head bolts that are reuseable up to 2-3 times. I got distracted and ended up pulling a 2.3 auxilery shaft in case my fuel pump lobe ever decides to grind away into nothingness, and the alternator harness from that bobcat.

After pulling those, I moved on to a 91 mustang with a 2.3. It has been there longer than the bobcat has been but I never thought anything of it until I popped off the valve cover to check the head bolts, and low and behold! It had a roller cam! Not only that, but it also has the EIGHT plug 2.3 head with the static ignition (no distributor). I couldn't pass this opportunity up to get my hands on a roller cam, so I nabbed it and the followers with the rest of my goodies and went on my way. All they wanted for the cam and followers was $20 even, what a steal! For the aux shaft and the alt harness, it was $6. So for $26, I got the roller cam and followers, a spare aux shaft, and a replacement alternator harness, not a bad day at all!

Funds for gas will be tight until the middle of next week, but I think it was well worth it, as the cam should pay itself off after a month.

I also met a nice gentleman and his son who are building a 2.3 mustang II race car. We chatted for about an hour, off and on, about Pintos and mustangs. He is looking for a few things I have in storage, so we swapped numbers and we should be meeting up quite a bit in the future.

One question, should I go back and snag the lifters to? Mine are not that old, so I was thinking I could get away with using my existing lifters and just swap the cam and followers/rollers.

r4pinto · « **Reply #201 on:** May 09, 2009, 06:21:38 PM »

It couldn't hurt. If anything you will have a spare set if anything goes wrong with the set in your car. I think you are right about the roller cam. I'm not 100% sure, since when I installed the one on my car a lifter failed, then the bottom end went out. Man, I wish I had your luck at junkyards and with the Pinto in general.

dave1987 · « **Reply #202 on:** May 09, 2009, 06:58:16 PM »

Looking for anything odd or specific? I may have it in storage or be able to get it at the junk yard for cheap.

dave1987 · « **Reply #203 on:** May 14, 2009, 11:05:17 PM »

Well yesterday I got the roller cam in, and set my timing dead on! The Pony's valve train noise is gone and she seems to accelerate much smoother now, which is a relief. I went and pulled the lifters from the Mustang and used them with this cam just so everything is matched, glad I did since it has eliminated my lifter noise. Now I have the Crane Cam's "Blue Racer" cam as a back up in case anything happens, which I hope does not!

Next thing in plans, is to figure out how to use a set of pneumatic hood lifts instead of the stock prop. It beats having to replace that prop pivot every couple years (I have my hood up a lot!

.

phils toys · « **Reply #204 on:** May 15, 2009, 02:09:55 AM »

dave check with pintoman about the hood supports he or one of his friend helped designe some for a pinto and can get the info for you
phil

dave1987 · « **Reply #205 on:** June 05, 2009, 11:19:54 PM »

Thanks Phil. I actually did some junk yard hunting and a lot of measuring to rig up a setup that worked. It involved parts from three different cars, but it works like a dream! Something I've always wanted on my Pinto!

Upper hood brackets are from a 92 Pontiac Grand Prix, Lower pivot studs are from a 97 Ford Taurus, and the struts themselves are from a 92 Mercury Cougar.

The struts used in the kit from Redline Tuning are 20.5", from what I can tell judging by measurements, angle when fully extended, and location of their mounting hardware. I tried to find a good set of 20.5" struts at the junk yard, but the best I could do were 20" from the 92 Mercury Cougar. I used the same mounting hardware locations as the Redline Tuning kit does, but I moved the hood stud back 1/4", and the inner fender stud location forward 1/4" to compensate for the 1/2" difference. As with the Redline Tuning kit, I had to remove material from the battery hold down, but not so much that it weakens the structural integrity of it.

All I have at the moment is my phone to take pictures with, so these arn't the best photos, but the modification can be seen. I will try to get better pictures and a video of it up soon too.

dave1987 · « **Reply #206 on:** June 05, 2009, 11:33:04 PM »

I forgot to add that I do realize the struts are on upside down (withe the cylinder mounted on the bottom). I haven't had any issues with them mounted this way, but if anyone knows the specifics of why they are usually mounted with the cylinder on top, I would be happy to hear!

pintogirl · « **Reply #207 on:** June 05, 2009, 11:35:27 PM »

Quote from: dave1987 on June 05, 2009, 11:33:04 PM

I forgot to add that I do realize the struts are on upside down (withe the cylinder mounted on the bottom). I haven't had any issues with them mounted this way, but if anyone knows the specifics of why they are usually mounted with the cylinder on top, I would be happy to hear!

My guess would be to keep water out of them?? Other then that, I don't know!! I would be interested in finding out too!!

dave1987 · « **Reply #208 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:22:48 PM »

About a month and a half to two months ago my car was hit in the passenger side quarter panel. I posted pictures of the damage and spoke about it in another thread here. Seeing as this is my project thread for my car I figure I should at least post the progress photos of the repair. Also shown is the color difference between the existing faded paint on the deck lid as well as the new paint on the quarter panel. Not to noticeable in the shade, but in the sun you can tell it has been painted.

r4pinto · « **Reply #209 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:33:31 PM »

Dave, looks good. It's still a shame but atleast it wasn't any worse than it was.

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Author Topic: Restoring my 78 Sedan (Read 116470 times)