Author Topic: The Restoration Of my 1977 V-6 Pinto Crusing Wagon (Read 53353 times)

DBSS1234 · « **on:** May 07, 2013, 02:48:33 PM »

After sitting for far too many years I am finally going to start the restoration of my crusing wagon! I ordered this car new in the late fall of 1976 and it was delivered in the early spring of 1977. My plan is to do a ground up rotisserie restoration on the Pinto to as new factory stock condition and retrace the honeymoon trip my wife and I took in 1978 up the north shore of Lake Superior and across northern Minnesota. Over the next several months (hopefully not years) I plan on sharing the process via this web site. For my first post I am sharing some proof that quality was NOT always job 1 at Ford in the late 70's. Notice how the stripes end short of the front door edge and are not centered on the bubble window, and the door speaker holes look to be cut out with a dull hachet! I also included a picture of the original window sticker.

TIGGER · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2013, 12:16:30 AM »

The doors speakers on my dad's 79 wagon were cut out the same way. Post some more pictures of your CW please.

D.R.Ball · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2013, 01:47:41 PM »

You do know that the Cruising Wagon Package was not installed by the factory but installed as a dealer option ?....That's why there is no information on how to install the panels in the factory Body and Chassis book. From 1977 on wards.

Cookieboystoys · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2013, 03:25:02 PM »

Quote from: D.R.Ball on May 10, 2013, 01:47:41 PM

You do know that the Cruising Wagon Package was not installed by the factory but installed as a dealer option ?

I've never heard that before, find it really hard to believe...

cruising wagons included...

sport mirrors
front spoiler
bigger sway bar in front
front disk brake coolers
special gauge package (would have required new wiring harness)
then the dealer would have had to remove the windows to install the cruising panels...
then the sticker package

that is an awful lot of work to expect a dealer to do IMHO

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2013, 04:14:36 PM »

Quote from: D.R.Ball on May 10, 2013, 01:47:41 PM

You do know that the Cruising Wagon Package was not installed by the factory but installed as a dealer option ?....That's why there is no information on how to install the panels in the factory Body and Chassis book. From 1977 on wards.

I disagree with this also, I was there when my Crusing Wagon came in on the transport. All striped and ready to go. All I had the dealer do was dealer prep and under coat (wish now I had not done the under coat as I now have a lot of little holes to fill)

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2013, 09:06:07 PM »

My guess is a 3rd party did the conversions kinda like Shelby doing the Mustangs.

289Wagon · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2013, 05:13:06 AM »

Also the entire metal part of the dash board was different - the center heat/air register was moved to the right due to the gauge panel. The instrument cluster is different due to the use of the tach. And there are 6 (3 per side) metal tabs spot welded to the quarter glass pinch weld to retain the inner trim panel(s).

gt mayoh · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2013, 02:06:35 PM »

then what about the ads for these awesome utes.it just dont make much sense to ad for a car that always has to be assembled but then again we are talking ford but still

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 03, 2013, 09:23:11 AM »

Look what I found hiding under the carpet last night! Not sure what all the codes mean but the vin number matches so it is the build sheet for my car! The hole is from the seat belt mounting bolt driven right thru the paper.

flash041 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 03, 2013, 08:46:39 PM »

I have my original build sheet also. I believe it found it under the passenger seat.I cant really remember that was 34 years ago! The Cruising wagons were built at the factory. At Carlisle in 2011 , I talked to a guy that worked in the New Jersey plant. He sad that the cars that needed special attention were puller off the line and put on a "dead line". There pannels and decals were added for the Cruising Wagons and wood grain for the Squires.

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 05, 2013, 01:55:15 PM »

I am going to redo the original multi-color stripes as per factory but in paint instead of decals (cheaper and if done correctly more durable and you will not be able to tell the differance). To duplicate the pattern I am using the following process. As the pics show I locate a large piece of paper on the panel and do a "rubbing" of the stripes. After I paint the new panel silver, I will transfer to pattern onto the panel using a pounce wheel and a pounce bag. When I get to this point I will be sure to post the process.

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 25, 2013, 11:00:10 AM »

The disassembly is going along very well on the cruising wagon. You guys in Californis and the desert south west may not be impressed by these pictures but us midwestern guys are, look NO rust.

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 25, 2013, 05:47:06 PM »

That is sweet!

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 26, 2013, 01:57:44 PM »

Another picture of the floors.

And a couple of before and after pictures. Soon I can mount it on the rotisserie!

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 05, 2013, 10:09:13 PM »

It is finally on the rotisserie!! Now the undercoating scrapping and the sand blasting can begin.

bbobcat75 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 06, 2013, 10:48:05 AM »

Looks like a great start!! No rust or damage!!!

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 06, 2013, 10:59:43 PM »

Quote from: bbobcat75 on July 06, 2013, 10:48:05 AM

Looks like a great start!! No rust or damage!!!

Yeah, I'd love to have just one Pinto that looks like that before I dig in.....

Flygirl62 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2013, 11:28:29 PM »

Good stuff; I'm still kind of tripping on the build sheet and also the hatchet job on the speaker installation.

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2013, 10:17:41 AM »

Been working almost every night to get all the messy undercoating off. Propane torch, putty knife, flat blade screw driver to scrape it off and then a paint brush, solvent, and several old rags to mop it off. Did find an interesting paint detail under the undercoating. It looks like the black was painted first and then masked off with plain old masking tape and paper before the silver was applied (see pics).

74 PintoWagon · « **Reply #19 on:** July 24, 2013, 10:38:13 AM »

Looking good..

Alpine615 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 24, 2013, 11:37:40 AM »

Good progress so far...I'm definitely going to follow this project. Keep up the good work!

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 12, 2013, 10:01:17 AM »

I thought the under coating scraping was a dirty job, I forgot just how bad the sandblasting part of the job is! Lets just say even with an air supplied sandblasting hood, the damn sand gets every where! The first pics are of the engine compartment sandblasted and with a light coat of epoxy primer to prevent flash rusting. The last ones are of the bottom sandblasted but not yet primed (ran short of primer).

OhSix9 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2013, 09:19:21 PM »

If you have not done the rest yet might I suggest getting a gallon of por15 for the undercarriage. it's a cynoacrylate based product that is almost unchippable. It's essentially black spray on crazy glue. won't fall off if it gets brake fluid on it, will go on over your epoxy too. Best stuff ever. Wear a mask!!! Looks awesome so far though. Did the same process on mine 'cept I went straight to blast. after 3 days of waving around a blast nozzle Was gonna go down to city hall n change my name to Sandin. middle name every, last name McCracken .

TaylorT · « **Reply #23 on:** August 13, 2013, 07:01:31 PM »

Looks great. And I absolutely love those high resolution scans of the papers... thank you. If I can't find my papers, I think I'm going to print yours but first change the numbers in photoshop to fit my pinto

Pinto5.0 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 14, 2013, 09:23:34 PM »

Ditto on POR-15 under there. I got a gallon of Rust Bullitt cheap so I used it a couple times & I'm not impressed with it. Go with the POR brand.

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 16, 2013, 08:39:35 AM »

DO NOT store your Pinto long term with the battery installed, here is what happens. After some quality time with a wire feed welder and a little body work it is as good as new, even the pitting is fixed. As for the battery tray I got lucky and found an NOS part.

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 17, 2013, 10:09:23 AM »

The cost of refinishing stock hardware can be very expensive so I decided to refinish my own at home. The following pictures show the refinishing of some phosphate and oiled parts. In this case they are the rack and pinion mounting bolts.

This is the refinishing set up, Phosphoric acid solution, water bath, denatured alcohol bath, and the oil bath.

The bolts as removed from the car before cleaning.

The bolts after sand blasting and wire wheel brushing.

One of the bolts in the phosphoric acid solution.

Refinished bolts, nuts, and washers after the oil bath.

If anyone is interested in the process you can PM and I will forward you a link to explain the process in detail.

Hairball · « **Reply #27 on:** September 24, 2013, 12:24:54 PM »

I had the same paint on my 77 also, only a 2.3 and 4 speed.
The speaker holes bring back memories.
Your car will be awesome!!!!!
Nice job.

Dave

dianne · « **Reply #28 on:** September 24, 2013, 08:12:27 PM »

WOW is all I can say!!!

DBSS1234 · « **Reply #29 on:** September 25, 2013, 08:42:05 AM »

Somebody once told me don't restore a car you restore the parts and reassemble the car. With that in mind I tried something new in the restoration game. Zinc plating my old fasteners at home. Below are pictures of the restoration of the starter cable assembly and explainations of them. If anybody wants to now how, PM me and I will forward you a link that explains the process in detail.

This shows one of the cable assembly before cleaning.

Cable assembybefore cleaning.

Cleaned brackets, parts must be perfectly clean. Plating does not cover dirt or rust!

Plated parts.

Restored cable assembly.

Home plating setup. DC power source, solution bucket, water rinse bucket, and denatuered alcohol bath.

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Author Topic: The Restoration Of my 1977 V-6 Pinto Crusing Wagon (Read 53353 times)