'77 Pinto

[Can-Con]

Started on this AMT '77 Pinto a couple days ago. Pretty simple kit, the MPC Pintos were much better kit but ya gotta use what ya got, right?

So far I've blended in the front clip and made simple inner fender walls.

I'll also be cutting the bumpers away from their filler pieces and making new ones attached to the body so they'll be easier to paint body color. I think I have a better rear bumper without guards from an MPC '77 that I'll use on this car. The rear bumper in the kit looks like one from a later car.

I think this should be an interesting little build. Not gonna be a drag car but will have a roll cage.

[doorsovdoon]

Look forward to seeing it come along. I like the Pinto, though I've always been a sucker for the underdog.

[Erik Smith]

[Can-Con]

Looks like I'm gonna have to make some motor mounts.

I checked the instructions and the rest of the kit parts and this is all there is.

Only gluing points are the transmission crossmember and drive shaft.

[Sledsel]

Being a Pinto fan, I'll be watching. Nice job on the inner fenders. Put a flat piece on top the chassis and it will look pretty good.

[Can-Con]

42 minutes ago, Sledsel said:

Being a Pinto fan, I'll be watching. Nice job on the inner fenders. Put a flat piece on top the chassis and it will look pretty good.

I will. 

Say, looks like the one in that pic still has the front wheels and metal axle on it. ?

[Sledsel]

4 hours ago, Can-Con said:

I will. 

Say, looks like the one in that pic still has the front wheels and metal axle on it. ?

HAHAHAHA.....

[doorsovdoon]

Lol. The kit looked pretty accurate to the real thing then.

[Can-Con]

On 12/31/2020 at 12:07 PM, doorsovdoon said:

Lol. The kit looked pretty accurate to the real thing then.

LOl,, pretty close after I added the sheet plastic under the hood.

Looks like I'll have to add that crossmember and some motor mounts yet though.

[slusher]

Steve,you got room for a V8 in there?

[Can-Con]

1 hour ago, slusher said:

Steve,you got room for a V8 in there?

Lots of room Carl but I have something else in mind. ?

[espo]

What all do you have planned for the engine?     I remember guys picking these Pintos up for next to nothing after they were a couple of years old and the "Gas Tank Fiasco". They were putting small blocks in them, made some pretty quick machine's.  

[afx]

The "Pinto" engine hops up very nicely.  Used the the MkI and MkII Escorts among others.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto_engine#:~:text=The Ford Pinto engine was,called the "metric engine".

 

[stitchdup]

The pinto is also the basis of the cosworth turbo engines. If you have a pinto engine with 200  or 205 stamped on the block you have one of the better blocks. It was also used in the sierras in both carb, injected and turbo versions. In the uk we still tune the bejesus out of them and 550bhp isn't out of the ballpark, or up to 350bhp on stock internals. They can be tuned to much more but they lose reliability then. Severn valley motorsport put one of the cossies in an rs200 to take to pikes peak during the 90s but i'm not sure if they made to washington or not, but it was a impressive piece of rebuilding being fully carbon bodied and 950 bhp to all 4 wheels.

[Can-Con]

I was thinking turbo but since a turbo setup is in the custom reissue, I didn't want to be that obvious.

SO, now I'm thinking something along these lines,,,

[Rockford]

Even in stock form, a pinto is a beautiful, free revving L4. You could have one in pieces in an hour. I loved them.

[NOBLNG]

On 12/27/2020 at 8:29 PM, Can-Con said:

I think this should be an interesting little build. Not gonna be a drag car but will have a roll cage.

I guess you need somewhere to mount the fire extinguisher eh? ?

[Can-Con]

59 minutes ago, Rockford said:

Even in stock form, a pinto is a beautiful, free revving L4. You could have one in pieces in an hour. I loved them.

One of my first cars was a '74 Bobcat wagon. 

It rusted out from under me never had a problem with the engine.

Edited January 3, 2021 by Can-Con

[afx]

Here are a bunch of reference photos I collected on the twin cam BDA engine, similar to the Pinto, might be useful to you:

https://public.fotki.com/steelers43/my-model-projects/ford-bda-engine/

I went all out detailing the BDA engine in the Revell Escort RS1800 kit a few years back.

Edited January 3, 2021 by afx

[Can-Con]

6 minutes ago, afx said:

Here are a bunch of reference photos I collected on the twin cam BDA engine, similar to the Pinto, might be useful to you:

https://public.fotki.com/steelers43/my-model-projects/ford-bda-engine/

I went all out detailing the BDA engine in the Revell Escort RS1800 kit a few years back.

Thanks JC. I'll be able to use some of those for sure. 

[Can-Con]

Was thinking red-orange but decided on Grabber blue. I had some but couldn't find it si I bought a can of Tamiya French blue last week. It seemed a bit darker than I wanted so I mixed in some Duplicolor white lacquer to lighten it up a bit.

Not exactly as I pictured it but close enough.

These are the wheels and tires I'm using and it's sitting about right. Maybe a bit higher in the back when finished.

[slusher]

Looks nice Steve. I like how you cleaned up the engine compartment.  Did you bend your sheet plastic or is it two pieces?

[Steve H]

Hi Steve,  very cool build. I like the motor you used for inspiration. For some reason I can’t see all of the photos, I’ve been having issues since the server upgrade there are now random photos I can’t see... What I see of yours looks great ?? 

Cheers, Steve

[styromaniac]

On 1/2/2021 at 10:17 AM, afx said:

The "Pinto" engine hops up very nicely.  Used the the MkI and MkII Escorts among others.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto_engine#:~:text=The Ford Pinto engine was,called the "metric engine".

 

I used to work with a stone mason in the DC area by the name of Bob Bernardon.( In the early 60s he pretty much owned the C-gasser class in the entire east coast with his 39 Chevy Coupe. Google his name or the cars name "Jolly Dolly").                            Anyhow...he was a top notch mechanic and craftsman. If I recall correctly...he used to salvage and hop up Pinto motors for use in racing boats.                                                       P.S. My first car was a 77 Pinto....I drove the wheels off that thing. 

[espo]

I like the color, so Ford looking.