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Readers’ Rides:
1971 Ford Pinto 2.0 Turbo
Added on May 27 by Fastbak390

My 71 Pinto trunk. I bought it off of ebay, after the car had been off the road and sitting for 15 years. It was originally a 1600/4spd car, but it now has a 71 2.0/5spd with a draw through turbo setup (the kit was installed by the PO).

I gathered parts for a year before I put it all together and mechanically restored it in 3 months on an extremely tight budget.

It now has…

—Engine: -Freshly rebuilt 2.0 -Crane turbo cam -Water-cooled Garrett T3 from a Thunderbird Turbocoupe -Vintage AK Miller manifold -Weber 32/36 DGV carb -Ross Racing 8.0:1 pistons -MSD 6AL and Boost Timing Master

—Drivetrain: -T5 trans from a Turbocoupe -Shortened driveshaft -8” rear-end from a Mustang II

—Suspension/Brakes: -Wilwood 4 Piston brakes in front (bought used) -Extra large Mustang II rear drum brakes (converted to 5-Lug to match fronts, actual drums from mid-90s Ranger ) -7/8” Addco Front Sway Bar -Koni Full Adjustable “Special D” shocks -15” Crown Victoria wheels -225/50/R15 Nitto rubber

—Extras: -Junkyard special doors from a Pinto Stallion (Sport mirrors, impact beams, and rust free!) -Mustang II center console -Stewart Warner Gauges -Vintage Sun Super Tach II and Ford Motorsport Boost Gauge -Shift boot from a Maserati Bi-Turbo -Pop-out Windows

—Soon to come: -Water/Methanol Injection -Original “Rallye” Pinto Gauges -Exterior Sport Decor trim around rear tail-lights (with inner black-out)

Comments

Volksrodden:
nice very GRM cant wait to see it after the rattle can job
May 27, 2008 9:13 p.m.
Curmudgeon:
Cool! I had one the same color. :-D
May 28, 2008 6:37 a.m.
MyOldMGB:
One of my dad's friends had one with a turbo kit on it too — very cool to see this one. Great inspiration for what can be done on a budget!
May 28, 2008 4:01 p.m.
DiscoPotatoDesi:
Nice Pintooo! Looks like a mighty fun ride… :-)
May 29, 2008 2:34 a.m.
Fastbak390:
Its a fun little car! The yellow was Grabber Yellow, but since Ive replaced some panels, I tell people its a shade called Primarily Yellow. My 70 Ranchero has been down with some electrical gremlins, so I have been daily driving it for the past several weeks. Its surprisingly economical with mpg well into the 20s.
May 29, 2008 2:39 a.m.
pintoautocrosser:
I love it! I myself have 4 early Pintos. I too have a AK miller set up complete waiting to install after motor is built for street car. Vintage race- 71 H prod Pinto Street-yellow 73 Runabout Street-gold 73 Runabout Street-factory Pink 72 Sedan(someday daughters car) All 2.0 powered w/manual trans
Jul 8, 2008 9:52 p.m.
MikeSVO:
I love it! Makes me miss mine a whole lot. :(…
Oct 18, 2008 6:19 p.m.
Per Schroeder:
Wow. I suddenly have the urge to do a search for an early Pinto. must. stop.
Jan 29, 2009 6:24 p.m.
NewEdgePerf:
Pinto Love! I used to have a ITB Pinto that ended up in a wad! Used the parts from it for a daily driver that annoyed the neighbors and my wife for years! I think the gauges I had in it were worth more than the car! 2.3L parts are still plentiful as that engine is still popular in the Mini Stock racing circles.
Feb 6, 2009 3:59 p.m.
71HANTO:
Looks like the perfect hotrod combination of Power to Weight, Underdog, Sleeper Image, and Bang for the $ …. had to say Bang somewhere….it's a Pinto with a Short Fuse!
Feb 14, 2009 11:28 p.m.
Karl La Follette:
Nice even thru the junk yard and my constant search very rare around these parts ,
Apr 18, 2009 11:29 a.m.
lewbud:
I had a 72 2.0 Wagon as my first car. My dream engine for it was the Cosworth DOHC head with a turbo. Never got it built though. I miss that car.
Sep 23, 2009 3 a.m.
artyboy619:
my first winter beater was an 80 pinto it was a love hate relationship
Jan 6, 2010 11:09 p.m.
orion051570:
WOW!!! Thats really cool , I think Pinto's get overlooked a lot , someone at Bunker Hill Drag strip here in Indiana had one, and it was very fast . Keep up the good work.,
Jan 7, 2010 11:04 p.m.
problemaddict:
Got it painted? Lets see some pix!
Jun 6, 2010 3:01 p.m.
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