Ideas wanted: Rebuild 2.0 Pinto or upgrade?

[Leeday]

Hi all.

Due to time scale and limited resources (v6 engines) on the Isle of Wight, have decided to rebuild the Pinto for now and look for a decent V6 that I can then re-build and paint at leisure to install into my van at a later date.
I do need to remove the Ford viscous fan (rad cooling) and fit a decent electric fan.......... does anyone know of a Radiator with fitted electric fans (single or twin) that will fit straight into the van or know of an electric fan and housing that will fit my radiator (not the after market things that attaches with cable ties). Have seen a couple of Sierra DOHC twin electric fans with housing on E-bay but struggling to get the measurements of it from the seller.

Cheers.

[robbie.cee]

Tim got a double fan unit from an ldv pilot when we fitted my v6 ...they so strong they almost pull van forward! only wired one up as so strong!!!
welded shroud to slam panel works a treat!

[Leeday]

Thanks Robbie

[MinorMatt]

I've just scrapped a Cologne to A4LD bellhousing... I didn't know they were rare?

[Leeday]

I've just scrapped a Cologne to A4LD bellhousing... I didn't know they were rare?

They are probably not "rare"...... but as I said "on the Isle of Wight" parts are scarce. Travelling to and from the mainland isn`t the cheapest option and so I will look for one when I am next on the mainland......... if anyone has one then let me know and I will be able to arrange a visit on my next trip to Blighty.

[AlanN]

While clearing the warehouse at work, we came accross a A4LD, one of the guys thought it had a V6 bellhousing on it, Ill find out tomorrow for you

[dieselhead123]

Hi mate,
If you wanted to keep your four speed auto box then the simplest V engine option would be a cologne, utilising a bell housing like the one Matt has just thrown away

But if you wanted to go for the 3.0 Essex, better in my opinion, (only mine ) than the 'missing port' cologne offering, a bit of 'engineering' would be required to connect it to a four speed auto.

Perhaps use the Essex C3 bell housing with an 'adapter plate' to couple it to the four speed auto, re-drill the Essex flex plate to accept the four speed converter.

Just 'throwing ideas' into the pot

TIM

[AlanN]

One of the reason I had to get the Granny/Sierra bellhousing for the A4LD is the oil feed in the front bearing is allegedly different, otherwise I was going to use the C3 bellhousing. I was told this by specialist and AndyG seemed to think this right at the time.
Any V6 Cologne A4LD bellhousing is all you need, if you can get one with the pump still attached, you could fit it yourself, as the pump has to be centralised on the back of the bellhousing, all your'll need is the a new filter, sump and bellhousing gaskets, oh and some dextron II

[Leeday]

While clearing the warehouse at work, we came accross a A4LD, one of the guys thought it had a V6 bellhousing on it, Ill find out tomorrow for you

Cheers Alan always the star

[AlanN]

Sorry mate, as good as sold

[Leeday]

Sorry mate, as good as sold

Hey Alan,

No problem, Thanks for enquiring

[AlanN]

I'll keep an eye out for one, any V6 sierra or granny MK3 will fit, both the 2.8 and 2.9

[Leeday]

Hi all.
Well, after months of using the van (for work) and no maintenance, the van suffered and failed it`s mot on some rust.... chassis corroded on rear leaf spring front mount (when you bounce the van the chassis bit flexes up and down glad I didn`t drive over any big potholes otherwise leaf spring could have been in the van with me
So have removed both springs and reinforced the chassis around both spring mount points.
Awaiting new leaf springs from a company called http://www.ukaftermarket.com/models/700 ... 1985on-/uk who are amazingly helpful and know there stuff ... have some heavy duty ones coming (3 + 1 leaf) and good prices to.
Have also fabricated new mounts/brackets to fit the chrome side steps (from a ford ranger).
Have purchased a Essex V6 Engine with a manual four speed gearbox with a J type laycock overdrive.... As my 2.0 Pinto has the AL4D auto box which I like, my question now is, would I be better fitting the Essex V6 to my AL4D autobox or should I fit the manual box (not sure how good the 4 speed manual with J type laycock overdrive is).
If I do fit the Essex V6 to my autobox does anyone have the parts I need to merge the 2 together.
Cheers.

[darkbluevanman]

100k for a pinto is nowt, most likely if it's leaking oil at the seals then it's most likely the stem seals that are causing the blue smoke, I'd strip/inspect, if no wear on the bores, just re-shell it and a full gasket set inc stem seals valves lapped, at worse, re-ring... and if it's the std low comp motor, some high comp pistons will pep it up no end ... mild poerting and a mid range cam will brighten it up too ..... my old granny pinto was leisurely to say the least, but some porting, mild cam and a row of bike carbs have made it a bit better

[Leeday]

Hi all.
Well, after months of using the van (for work) and no maintenance, the van suffered and failed it`s mot on some rust.... chassis corroded on rear leaf spring front mount (when you bounce the van the chassis bit flexes up and down glad I didn`t drive over any big potholes otherwise leaf spring could have been in the van with me
So have removed both springs and reinforced the chassis around both spring mount points.
Awaiting new leaf springs from a company called http://www.ukaftermarket.com/models/700 ... 1985on-/uk who are amazingly helpful and know there stuff ... have some heavy duty ones coming (3 + 1 leaf) and good prices to.
Have also fabricated new mounts/brackets to fit the chrome side steps (from a ford ranger).
Have purchased a Essex V6 Engine with a manual four speed gearbox with a J type laycock overdrive.... As my 2.0 Pinto has the AL4D auto box which I like, my question now is, would I be better fitting the Essex V6 to my AL4D autobox or should I fit the manual box (not sure how good the 4 speed manual with J type laycock overdrive is).
If I do fit the Essex V6 to my autobox does anyone have the parts I need to merge the 2 together.
Cheers.

......................... Or should I fit the Essex V6 with a MT75 5 speed manual box????