1977 Pinto

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I've been searching for a candidate for my 2.3 manual fuel injected engine I picked up in trade a couple years ago. Found this Pinto with no motor or gas tank for C$250.00. It's going to be either a 1/4 mile or rally car. Haven't decided yet. Won't be working on it until spring tho as I have no garage.

 

[Blmpkn]

Nice! Looking forward to this.

 

[superj]

Cool. its already painted for racing too

 

[Snoranger]

Cool. its already painted for racing too

It also has the gas tank removed so it’s less likely to blow up.

 

[19Walt93]

I had 3 Pintos in the 70's and 80's, had zero trouble and sold each one for a profit. They were a solid little car but prone to rust like everything else in that era.
The gas tank panic was over sensationalized by 20-20(the TV show). At the time most similar sized vehicles were far more likely to catch fire in a crash, pickup truck gas tanks were behind the seat, VW beetle gas tanks basically sat in the driver's lap. I drove a wrecker from 72 - 82 and never towed a burned vehicle.

 

[Snoranger]

The gas tank panic was over sensationalized by 20-20(the TV show). At the time most similar sized vehicles were far more likely to catch fire in a crash, pickup truck gas tanks were behind the seat, VW beetle gas tanks basically sat in the driver's lap. I drove a wrecker from 72 - 82 and never towed a burned vehicle.

Yeah… but it’s funny.

 

[19Walt93]

Yeah… but it’s funny.

No, it was a TV "news magazine" trying to attract viewers. Funny is some idiot bragging about what a great truck his Toyota is after having the frame replaced when it was 6 years old. If a Ford or GM needed a frame after 6 years, you'd never convince the owner to keep it or get another one.

 

[Snoranger]

No, it was a TV "news magazine" trying to attract viewers. Funny is some idiot bragging about what a great truck his Toyota is after having the frame replaced when it was 6 years old. If a Ford or GM needed a frame after 6 years, you'd never convince the owner to keep it or get another one.

You must be a lot of fun at parties.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I like the second pic sense of humor.

 

[superj]

Thats an awesome flame paint job.

 

[racsan]

early escort wheels fit a pinto, interesting. I never checked into it but I figured the pinto was a sae pattern & the escort was metric.
Mom had a 78 pinto wagon. Automatic but manual steering. We didn’t keep it long, it had compression issues and dad didn’t want to mess with it. A ‘77 mercury comet 302 replaced it. (mercury’s version of fords maverick) . My aunt had a mustang 2 that caught fire but it was parked behind the mall when it happened, I have no idea what caused it. I still see a pinto every once in a while.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I did notice that the rims are 4 stud. I'll be swapping out the rear for a ranger 8.8. I have a set of 5.13 gears for an 8.8. So then I wouldn't mind having 5 stud front. Anyone know what might swap in?

 

[Snoranger]

I did notice that the rims are 4 stud. I'll be swapping out the rear for a ranger 8.8. I have a set of 5.13 gears for an 8.8. So then I wouldn't mind having 5 stud front. Anyone know what might swap in?

The Pinto uses the same front suspension as a Mustang II… maybe the most popular front suspension system on the planet. I’m sure you’ll find 5 lug rotors for it without a hassle.

 

[19Walt93]

You must be a lot of fun at parties.

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That video is complete b/s. The rear of the car has to get hit hard enough to crush the gas tank against the rear end and puncture it.

 

[19Walt93]

The Pinto uses the same front suspension as a Mustang II… maybe the most popular front suspension system on the planet. I’m sure you’ll find 5 lug rotors for it without a hassle.

Any street rod supplier will have them in 5 lug, I know Speedway Motors has them. If it's an 8 inch rear I don't know of any 5 lug axles, I used a spare Mustang II housing and had Currie make a pair of custom axles, the 10 inch Ranger backing plates bolted right on. The register- the part of the axle that protrudes and centers the brake drum- is smaller on a Mustang II/Pinto so use the measurement from a Ranger/Bronco II/Aerostar rear and you can use stock drums on it.