Orange 1977 Pinto

[cbxer55]

Put
In
Nickle
To
Operate

My brother's first car, years ago, was a pinto that someone had put a 289 4 speed in. To this day, I still say that was not a good first car. Too much power for little short wheelbase car.

 

[SenorNoob]

..pinto that someone had put a 289 4 speed in. To this day, I still say that was not a good first car. Too much power for little short wheelbase car.

Sounds almost like a Hayabusa swapped smart car. A few friends were talking about it when the smart car was in the news. Another guy overheard them talking about doing donuts with it. Says I'll save you $5000. Just climb in my washing machine and bypass the lid switch. LOL

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I needed new tires as these, tho really good tread, are old and cracked in all the wrong places. I was surprised to find I could still get both summer and winter tires in 13" rims, but the sizes are severely limited. Cost is $400 for 5 winter tires. Or I could buy new 5lug rotors, bearings, and seals for $436. Seeing as I have lots of Ranger rims and tires and some other 15, 16, and 17" rims I went for the rotors. This future proofs tire selection... Ordered from EBay.ca today. Hoping I don't need new calipers... Probably on a slow boat but I have a bit of time. Now I will need to pull a rear from one of my rangers and adapt it in for the 5lug pattern.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Well, in the spirit of full disclosure may help someone else in the future....
I didn't have the battery positive from the alternator hooked up to the solenoid terminal (battery positive)....
Not sure if that may have cooked my alternator because there was no place for the magic smoke to go. (No, I didn't see any magic smoke, thankfully)
@Curious Hound

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

And another kick myself in the keester moment...
I don't think the "I" (key on power) is hooked up to the regulator. And I think this means that the alternator won't make power...
Will trace wires a bit more shortly.

Perhaps my original alternator was fine...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Ok, I have the wires fixed. Because I was jumping starting the engine I wasn't getting current on the "I" terminal of the external regulator. Once I hooked up the wires to work off of key all the problems disappeared. New alternator is working even with a short brush. I ordered some brushes from Mac's Auto Electric (I recommend them) in NE Calgary last Thursday. Came in yesterday. Special order so I paid a hefty surcharge but I'm happy with their service. Now I'm going to put a brush into the old alternator and see if it works. If it does I'm going to have a sore butt from kicking myself....

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

So on to a different problem, the fuel supply. I did a little digging and disconnecting of lines. After separating the tank and fuel pump from the steel line, I was able to blow air thru. So thats good news. The tank I cannot blow air into from the suction side, so that tells me that it's probably varnished up inside. I bought some Startron Fuel Tank Cleaner on the advice of a highschool shop teacher that's been helping out. I'll see how that goes... I will be using my home made vacuum bleeder on the tank, maybe that will get some flow going. Eventually I will mount an electric fuel pump that I already have on hand near the tank and bypass the motor driven pump. I should be able to do that using no more than a foot of flex fuel line at either end. And... There is a bunch of issues with wiring still. Some parking lights are on even with the key off, I have to disconnect the battery. The in dash brake light is on. I removed the steering wheel and will remove the drivers seat so I have easier access to the under dash wiring. That's it for now...