pinto engine problems

[Kevin Hawkins]

the cylinder head gasket has gone on my pinto engine on my campervan.On stripping it down it was found that no 4 piston is so badly burned it will have to be replaced 1, 2. 3. are also burned on the rims .Could any one please tell me what has happened and what i can do to prevent it happening again?

[Kjeles]

Maybe this web page will give some clues?
https://www.enginebuildermag.com/2010/0 ... d-pistons/

[dumper]

Yes a lot of good information on that link before haveing a look weak mixture or pinking top of my list plus is it unleaded compatible

[Chris21r]

The pinto is a good workhorse engine.
Burned pistons and head gaskets as dumper said usually end up being a timing issue and if the engine isn't set up for unleaded.

If you're repairing it now, grab a head from a Sierra, and have the seats done on the exhaust side and fit some pistons from the likes of Burton power that will be rated for what you use it for.

Then obviously once back together set the timing up and if applicable, check the Vac advance is working correctly and not split.

This causes the timing to stay static and draw in extra air and cause lean running, again building heat.

[Kevin Hawkins]

Thank you for your replies. This answers a lot, this engine has been reconditioned last year and has never felt right from day one , hopefully it can be put right now , thanks again kevin

[dumper]

When I re my 2.0 pinto to replace my v4=for vans the advice was to use low compression pistons and a 16 pinto camshaft to give a better torque curve for low down power I ran it on a twin choke Webber .

[PintoBill]

I rebuilt my 2.0 Pinto, New Pistons, Shells, Rebore and Honed, Crankshaft reground, New Kent Camshaft and followers, Cylinder Head Pressure tested, skimmed and new seats and valves. Replaced Fuel Pump, Thermostat, Engine Temp sensor, all new. Engine Gaskets, New Core Plugs,

[I.mcguinness68]

You need to retard the timing by 2 degrees

[bortaf]

Not ALL sierra heads are unleaded safe you need to check the head code
Here on the head

th_unleadedheadcode2.jpg

These are the codes you need

unleaded headcodes.jpg

Commercial engines IE transit use the 1.6L camshaft anyway so no need to change the cam except to swap you old one into the 2.0 sierra head if you go that route

[metalworker0]

You need to retard the timing by 2 degrees

Don't know if a Transit has this ..
if i remember rightly ..on my sierra was MK1 model ..the one with electronic ignition, conventional coil and distributor ..it had ignition retard plugs beside the coil,they were blue and red, plugging them in to another plug lying beside them ..one did 2 degrees ..the other think did 4 degrees ..and both together did 6 degrees ....

all the best..mark