Found a non common vacuum leak

[Angie]

This is not in a Ranger, however, something that could happen in any vehicle so I thought I would share this.

Last year my 78 Pinto developed an odd vacuum leak. Searched all hoses, joints, metal unions etc. ... even went as far as taking off the intake manifold thinking there could be a blown gasket on a motor with less than 10K from rebuild....

Still nothing... took the carb off and searched everywhere on it. took it to a shop for a second check... nothing. checked timing, checked this and that to no avail. the car pretty much sat for most of the driving season last year.

Yesterday we were moving the cars around in the shop to make some room... the pinto started but ran like crap, sputtering and coughing.... got it to idle in a sorta way and it kept going... then I pushed down on the brake to place it in gear... that is when I heard a whooosh sound... huh??? the car died instantly!!!

restarted the car and tried again.... whooosh.... found the vacuum leak... tied off the tube for the power booster and the car ran like a charm!!!!

needless to say..... the new power booster will be here tuesday from the parts store....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It makes them run pretty weird when you forget to hook that hose up too. I had my carb off for something once and it would not adjust for anything...

 

[Denisefwd93]

my car (in the avatar) had a bad booster. for years and years. and me the hvac "engineer" who just happens to know about pneumatic devices, never considered it! Put one in about 2 years ago.. baby stops like a car should! I wonder about the one in my Ranger now.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I have a bad leak in my 94 I can't find. I haven't checked the booster.....
Thanks for posting.

EDIT; I disconnected the booster vac line and held my thumb over it, no change in rpm. I decided to hook the iac I've had disconnected since way back when and....voila, the idle is working correctly. I'm stumped why this happened because when I originally removed the iac connector it was the only way to get the engine to run at an acceptable rpm.

 

[gw33gp]

I had this happen on one of my vehicles nay years ago. I think it was on my 73 FJ55 Landcruiser.

 

[Curious Hound]

Am I the only one to notice you have a 78 Pinto? And it runs?

Why?

Which body style is It? I had a friend in high school with a Pinto station wagon - the one with the round bubble windows on the side. He sold that and got an old Bronco.

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[alwaysFlOoReD]

I grew up with them, they were nothing special. Of course, having one in driving condition now is an accomplishment to be proud of.

 

[Denisefwd93]

I get a shudder when I let off the brake when in gear. I've assumed it's the transmission

 

[Angie]

Am I the only one to notice you have a 78 Pinto? And it runs?

Why?

LOL.... It was for sale as a project in 2009. paid 300 for a very sound car but was in need of major repairs. (have a build on it from different site) was sold from the second owner who had it in school then parked it at his dads place under cover. sat for roughly 20 years.

dad sold the farm so he deiced to sell the car complete with papers. wife and I looked at it then said... why not... don't see them any more and when it is out and driving it turns heads.

It is a run about with the factory starsky and hutch stripe... we painted the stripe on the car after the rebuild.

can post link if you want to see it

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

can post link if you want to see it

Yes, please.

 

[Angie]

http://www.fordpinto.com/your-project/project-'78starsky'/

ok, the pics are loaded to photo bucket and they should still be there. i have never deleted them. i was wrong it was 2010 when we started on the car ....

cheers

 

[Curious Hound]

That's cool. I just never heard of anyone spending the effort to keep a Pinto running this long. Never thought of them as collectible.

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[Mark_88]

Cool...I haven't seen one like that for a long time. I remember the "Starsky" and had a friend with one (I think...lol)...or maybe that was the Boss or Cobra Maverick...they were hot back then too...

Looks like a project and a half. Any problems getting parts for that one?

 

[Angie]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the compliments on the car and the project, It was a fun build (still not 100% finished) lol. going to redo the interior. angie wants to recover the seats and i want to redo the carpets.

parts actually weren't that big an issue, we were able to rescue a decent parts car complete with all the spare glass in case we ever need a new top or hatch.

on that site they were many guys that had the main missing parts we needed.

I don't know how collectable the cars are, however, they are pretty well liked at shows when we take it out. popular cars in the 70's, today here in my area we have only seen 1 other car running. so kinda rare i guess.

cheers

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That's cool. I just never heard of anyone spending the effort to keep a Pinto running this long. Never thought of them as collectible.

People collect everything. At our car show last year a showroom perfect Pinto placed in its class (just a year range, I forget exactly) Still had the 2.8 and everything, straight out of the catalog.

It is actually kind of a neat changeup, not yet another muscle car or boat.

Just had a Pinto wagon drive past where I work on Monday, I thought "there is something you don't see everyday" Looked decent, must have been later because it didn't have the round window.