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View Full Version : ok, THIS was pretty cool!!!



Forrest
08-08-2002, 10:22 PM
I've been on a high lately... I'm sure it's partly because I've been averaging 4-5hrs of sleep a night for the past couple weeks getting all my ducks in a row before I leave for my vacation...

combine that with the fact that I FINALLY got my "opus" home and in the garage... (still keeping this project under wraps... sorry gang) and I'm feelin' fine... :D

so I've been wanting to get a pinto for a few years now, and recently my buddy offered me a job delivering pizzas, so I took that as an excuse to finally buy one! I always remember seeing them in Colorado in the autotrader online and thrifty nickel online, so I started searching...

tomorrow I'm going to look at a '74 wagon (2.3/C4) that supposedly only needs a master cylinder (leaking) and a freeze plug on the back of the head... he wants $500 for it.

yesterday I was at the boneyard and stumbled onto a '79 pace car mustang w/ the carb'd 2.3 turbo... now, I'd been toying w/ buying one of these setups from my buddy for whatever pinto I got, but he wanted $200 (the turbo IS rebuilt and the intake bead blasted, etc.) but here I'm figuring I could walk out w/ everything for $50 or so...

so I headed out there about noon and stopped to get a whataburger and stopped in at the turbo shop to eat lunch w/ them and BS before I hit the yards (they're close)

so my buddy at the turbo shop says "so what are you up to today?" and I tell him, and he's like "you know... I've got one of those carb/turbo setups sitting on the shelf in the back... we got it in a HUGE lot of cores a couple years ago... I don't know what condition it's in, but you're welcome to take a look at it"

so I look at it... the way it's set up, you can't really inspect the actual turbo w/out a little disassembly, so I ask, "how much?"

"$25" :D

that turbo uses the same center section as the EFI turbos, and I've got lots of good centers in the garage, so I figure it's a good deal just for the intake and the housings...

I get it home and break the thing down a little and lo and behold, I'll be damned if the little bastard isn't in GREAT shape!!!

sooooo... IF I get a Pinto, it'll PROBABLY be turbocharged before too long! hehehe... I need to get a head ported for the turbo motor (wish I had one of the TWO ported heads I sold last month!!! :rolleyes: ) I've got turbo shortblocks, flywheel, T5's, etc. etc. etc. I'll just put the turbo engine together on the stand and do the turbo/5sp swap all at once...

cool thing is that I can sell that 2.3/C4 bellhousing for close to $200!!!! (only made it for a couple years... I've actually got another one sitting in the garage too) thought about having a C4 built up, but the T5 setup is worlds cheaper and has OD.

anyhow, life was good for a couple hours earlier today! LOL! now I get to go see why my mom's crown vic is spitting AC belts before we leave for Colorado at 4AM! :rolleyes:

take care,

Forrest

maveRick
08-08-2002, 10:47 PM
Ah..the Pinto Bean...the featherweight little brother to 'Maverick' and his other brother 'Mustang'.



I smell a back-half (could be my 'back-half' Im smelling though):D


Good find, good luck, and 'Congrats'!


Keep us posted.


Rick

Forrest
08-08-2002, 11:07 PM
Rick,

not sure if the car's clean enough to "half" it... I have my eye on a BEAUTIFUL '72 Pinto... we'll see how that pans out...

this car won't be making enough power to warrant tubs anyhow... if guys can run 10's on the Mustang II 8" rear, it'll be just fine for whatever I build...

oh yeah... speaking of... dude at the junkyard quoted me $75 for a Mustang II 8" rear and leaf springs (from what I understand, the little locating tits differ, and it's easiest to just grab the leaves that go w/ the 8")

should be a quick job cutting the shackles w/ the cordless sawzall! :D

I'm almost more excited about this car than the other one... (probably because this one will be running LONG before the other! LOL!)

Forrest

Neighbors
08-09-2002, 01:32 AM
Good deal Forrest! Looks like things are aligning nicely for you...

Good luck w/Opus; I'd like a peek when the coast is clear :D

Nay!

Forrest
08-09-2002, 02:28 AM
I'll try to get you some pics when I get back from Colorado... you really should see it in person though! :D

Forrest

Saleen91
08-09-2002, 01:15 PM
Hey Forrest,

Any more updates on your turbo kits?