pinto ? tell me more .

[dennismk3frontier]

I have a mk3 camper . Everytime i talk to a ford man . The first thing they ask . Has it a pinto ? Seems like a big thing . Could someone tell more .. cheers

[dumper]

A pinto is a1.6 L or 2.0 L overhead cam petrol engine

[jonochap]

Main stay of the ford fleet in the 80's, the preferred weapon of many locost kit car builders. Meant to be bullet proof (ha ha ha ha...ha ha...ha) but easy to fix and get bits for. Usually about 100 bhp on a 2l but getting over 140 bhp gets very expensive

[pelmetman]

But it ain't an Essex ..........

[DodgeRover]

Main stay of the ford fleet in the 80's, the preferred weapon of many locost kit car builders. Meant to be bullet proof (ha ha ha ha...ha ha...ha) but easy to fix and get bits for. Usually about 100 bhp on a 2l but getting over 140 bhp gets very expensive

Everybody apart from Jono can drag a siezed pinto from the bottom of a river free it off by hitting the pistons with a big hammer change the oil and expect to do a fair mileage with it. That's exaggerating slightly but they are tough. A friend is running 25psi boost on stock internals making 180ish bhp till it melts

[dennismk3frontier]

Boys heavy sh*t to take in for a newby . But u got me hooked. Want stainght motorhome . But that can hold its own .

[jonochap]

Yip, they can hold their own...you and any other motorhome maybe

[dennismk3frontier]

Just sont like them air cooled things getting pass me haha .

[jonochap]

On the whole I've found they're quite friendly...or they just hold up their hands in fear...not sure.

[robbie.cee]

Mine cost me.100 quid from a mk1 or 2, thrashed the granny out of it on unleaded with electronic ignition kit and it happily sat at a ton all day and was absolutely spot on! Only went as its replacement was a v6

[robbie.cee]

Although a weber 32/36 made 100mph possible vv carbs are sh*t in my opinion

[Mr RVM]

In "bog standard" transit spec (with a v v carb) a 2 litre Pinto will put out 78 bhp it'll have low compression pistons (so it can run on sh*t fuel) the high compression version has more torque as well as being easily "tuned" to around 90/100 bhp

They are quite strong and will last if looked after properly (the standard internals will stand 6500 rpm's but for over 7000 you'll need to get the conrods lightened or they'll break just under the gudgeon pin eye)

They'll "eat" camshafts every 40/50k if worked hard (but full kits are only £70/£90 (for standard lift) and a rebore and new pistons/rings (around £210) will still be sealing well for over 60k

Still lots of bits available fairly cheap and simple to look after

Not quite "Bombproof" but if well maintained....very nearly

[bortaf]

In 30 years of running a pinto i have never had one eat a cam, had many many failiers but never eaten a cam, they will if you never change the oil but it hasn't been a real weakness for decades, my EFi pinto is well over 180K with nowt but yearly oil changes.
The earlyer 2.0 engines are the weaker of the selection, later 205 blocks were better built with closer tolerences, the EFi block was the base for the cosworth 16V turbo unit and has stronger con rods so is THE block to start with if you are after power it will also take 7000+ rpm safely with nowt more than decent bolts on the mains and big ends.
The Efi head is basicly a stage 1 head (better flowing inllet ports) from the factory and can be ID'd by it's egg shaped inlet ports, a HC block with EFi head, TC carb will put out about 110 BHP.
There are many differant blocks, 1.3, 1.6, 1.6E, 1.8, 2.0, 205, 207 ect ect

[darkbluevanman]

Not quite "Bombproof" but if well maintained....very nearly

70's/80's oils weren't the best, nor were the idots that bought fords, had loads on pinto'd cars, I've never had a failure of any kind.... I even had a sierra estate what burst it's rad, I only noticed as the motor felt sluggish.... pulled over, nipped the core, some radweld and some water in (left cap loose) got me home from manchester airport no probs, replaced rad, perfect.... would liked to have seen a vauxhall cav survive that