Pinto engine conversion

I am considering putting a pinto engine in my 30 coupe. At one time I knew there was a person marketing the entire set up. Would you know anything about that?
 
Bobalong said:
I am considering putting a pinto engine in my 30 coupe. At one time I knew there was a person marketing the entire set up. Would you know anything about that?
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Pinto engines and all of the peripheral equipment have become VERY pricey as there is a huge cult following for Pintos & Bobcats. There are more 2.5 litre Ford Ranger pickups that could be used as a donor however those are EFI equipped and would require a custom manifold if a carburetor was to be used.

While I have not priced it for a comparison, my guess is that it would be close on $$ to rebuild and install a 2.0 or 2.3 OHC Ford vs. just rebuilding and installing an original-style Model-A 4 cylinder engine.
 
I saw on 60 minutes the reason for the fires was the Pinto came with a flush mounted Allen head rear end axle oil plug that was hard to remove because the gas tank was so close to it. When some people removed the Allen plug they replaced it with a hex head plug that stuck out, easier to access but would split the gas tank open in certain rear end collisions.Nothing to do with the engine causing fires.The conversion makes the car lighter with more horsepower and a 4 speed or automatic transmission .
 
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Early Pintos offered the 1.6 Kent engine - same as in the English Ford Cortina. Then they went to the 2.0 and later 2.3 OHC versions. LP (propane) has 110 octane so it's great for making power. It has lower BTUs than gas so the mileage sucks. The early Pinto with a trunk and the station wagon weren't the fire traps. The runabout was like the Mustang and used the top of the gas tank as the floor of the trunk when it got crushed in a crash it sprayed the interior with fuel. Yes it wasn't any deadlier than any other small car. But, like the Corvair that was vindicated by the NTSB in 1972 it had been killed by bad publicity and Nader is still seen as a genius car guy to this day by the media. The Pinto finally got a V8 when it was restyled and called the Mustang II. Never forget 60 Minutes also brought us the unintended acceleration problem with Audis that never existed. After all the hoopla it was determined that people with big feet shouldn't buy an Audi.
Figure out what your swap will cost.
Pinto swap - 2 grand for fresh engine - unk source and price for adapter - extra parts/labor to install. I'd wager the same cost as getting your current engine rebuild - 4-5 grand. New Burtz using all new parts up to 10 grand. A used but good engine from someone who installed a Burtz - will probably be your best deal. 500-1,000 has been the going rate here in SoCal.
Finally factor in the cars value when done. Cars with a Burtz have asking prices 10-12 grand above similar stock engine cars. Ones with a 4 or small V6 engine swap have a lower value than similar stock cars. The only engine swap that seems to garner more money is a V8. Flatheads are good because you can still get away stock frame and brakes. A small block Ford/Chevy will require frame reinforcement, juice brakes to make it safe to drive.
 
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I would think first of replacing the engine with an original one. If I went later 4 cylinder I would go to 4 cylinder Chevy II, Chevrolet Industrial, or Mercruiser marine. There is an adapter to use a '39 trans but you need to make your own brake and clutch pedal assembly. Inquire about these on HAMB: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forums/the-hokey-***-message-board.5/

Charlie Stephens
 
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40 Deluxe said:
There seems to be some kind of difference in the exhaust gas content of LP versus unleaded gasoline. In my career as a mechanic I saw a lot of LP engines with sunken exhaust seats, but very few gasoline engines.
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LP was called a dry fuel and it had no lubrication properties. The harder valves would wear the cast iron heads (or block). It also did not contaminate the oil. Early cars didn't really need lead since the valve spring tension was so low they didn't eat the seats. Ethyl was used mainly to increase octane in aircraft engines to begin with. After WWII compression ratios were going up so they started adding it to all gas. Dow had built a couple big plants to produce it. 2,000 gallons of seawater made 1 pound of bromine and they were producing 15,000 pounds a day.
https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2016/01/10/bromine-extraction-kure-beach
They sent my grandfather to the Ethyl plant as head of maint. He lived on site and they got shelled by a Uboat in WWII (it missed entirely). Later he oversaw the building of the Texas plant. Pretty good for a kid that started out at the Dow family chauffeur - his sister got him the job. She was Mrs Dows seamstress.


Tetraethyl lead (TEL) in gasoline was initially used to increase octane and also acted as a lubricant for valve seats, preventing valve seat recession.
 
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Hello, as a side note Ford used a1930-31 coupe in advertising when the Pinto was first introduced. I had a 74 Pinto , driving it back from Hershey with 2 1946 Ford fenders stuffed in the back. Car was new at the time .
 
Not often I agree with Brent, but he's right about the price of Pinto engine parts. Speedway Motors offers a lot of speed equipment for these engines as there are lots of race tracks that promote pony stock racing. When I built the 1800cc Mazda/Courier engine, I had over $1600 in the Weber side drafts, intake manifold and linkage.
 
Charlie Stephens said:
....... If I went later 4 cylinder I would go ....... Mercruiser marine.
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I vote for the Mercruiser with a BOSS 429 head. The engine uses the same cylinder spacing and bolt pattern as the 429/460 Ford so head swaps can be done fairly easily.
 

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Brad, I tried to PM you but they won't let me until I have nine posts. I have just joined so that will take a while.
When I used to subscribe to "Old Cars" magazine in the 70's and 80's there was a company, maybe more than one, that ran an ad offering plans and parts to do the Pinto conversion. If memory serves, it was reversible; just brackets and plans and such, no cutting or welding required. I cannot find them online now doing a search. I have just bought a "barn fresh" '28 coupe that would be perfect for a Pinto transplant. Can you help? Thanks, Larry in Oklahoma.
 
denis4x4 said:
When I built the 1800cc Mazda/Courier engine, I had over $1600 in the Weber side drafts, intake manifold and linkage.
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I've still got a pair of 40DCOE Webers (real Italian ones) and manifold w/linkage for a 2.0 Pinto. I should sell them but they look good hanging on the wall.
 
Nanovan, you might want to think twice about using a 2Liter or 2.3 as an engine replacement is aa Model A. You won't like it; it has no low rpm torque.
 
Herb Concord Ca said:
Nanovan, you might want to think twice about using a 2Liter or 2.3 as an engine replacement is aa Model A. You won't like it; it has no low rpm torque.
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My original Model A engine is stuck. Hard. I have two Model A's with Pinto engines, but I did not build them myself. I know that it can be done, just not by me.
 
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