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To Pinto or not to Pinto....?
Meistre - 22/9/15 at 11:14 AM

Just a quick finger in the air guide question.

I'm now embarking on my kit car journey and I've recently acquired a pile of steel to be made into a chassis and a 2 litre Pinto currently in bits.

I've yet to check over the lot but I've been assured that the head has an FR32 cam and that the rings on piston 2 need replacing before putting it all back together. It's in fair condition but a little surface corrosion has started to build on bits and is not been oiled or kept in a clean environment. In short is going to need a little work putting it all back together, and whilst apart it might be best to recondition it.

I've been doing a little reading up and the cam is fast road giving an extra 16bhp according to Kent Cams, the most I could hope for being around 125 at the wheels assuming a few things are done like porting and such. I've a few ancillaries including a starter motor and the original engine mounts, a full gasket kit but I seem to be missing the dizzy and the waste pump looks mullered.

My skill level would best be described as enthusiastic novice so anything really challenging would be to go a specialist.

So, budgets being tight like most of us at present, what do you think would be the best option to take?

Recondition and use?
Recondition and sell?
Sell it now and go Zetec?
Do something else?

Mr Whippy - 22/9/15 at 11:25 AM

I'm a big fan of the pinto and it's a good novice engine to get you started but it's heavy and the power along with mpg are very poor in standard form but if you are put off by modern electrics it may be the way to go at first.

Saying that modern engines arn't anything like as complicated as they first seem and aftermarket control systems to replace the factory ones have been around for ages.

Paul Turner - 22/9/15 at 11:26 AM

Go Zetec. As much power out of the box as a well tuned Pinto with absolute reliability and no oil leaks.

Get a pre 95 one and no Cat needed for SVA. Might be difficult to find a good one that old now, that is why I have kept one under the bench for a possible future project.

SJ - 22/9/15 at 11:56 AM

IMHO the only things the Pinto has going for it is that you already own it and emissions will be easy at IVA. I would be looking at a Duratech / MX5 if I was building with a car engine now, though Zetecs are pretty good as well.

nick205 - 22/9/15 at 03:42 PM

Well IMHO the Pinto is a good motor - maybe there are cheaper ways to more power, but if you have it use it I say!

snapper - 22/9/15 at 05:31 PM

Cheap Pinto power solution
You have an FR32 cam, a good start as the kit is £350
An injection head is far superior to a carved head £150
A thinner gasket will give more compression so Felpro 1mm from Burtons or an Adjusa £40 other alternative is a 1.3mm Rheinz for £15
Set of bike carbs and a manifold
Megajolt or modified distributor
That's an easy 130bhp possibly more if rolling road tuned
These mods make a swift but easy to drive car.
More than that and you are getting into Zetec territory but there is always hidden costs with Zetec & Duratec
Bike carbs can be made to fit a Zetec or Duratec
Pinto exhaust 4 branch can fit a Duratec with just a new manifold plate

perksy - 22/9/15 at 08:15 PM

Nowt wrong with the Anchor its proven engineering


BUT I'd go either Zetec or Vauxhall XE

The Zetec would probably be the more cost effective route in the long run ....

ianhurley20 - 22/9/15 at 09:12 PM

That sounds like the engine that came with mine. When I looked very closely I found the cam wasn't as described, it was from another manufacturer. That and other reasons I sold the engine, bought an MX5 and stripped it. the MX5 cost £360, so far parts have sold for £570 with probably another 100 to go, the Pinto raised another £100, I have a free engine, gearbox, wiring loom, ecu, brake and clutch master cyls, radiator fan, propshaft etc etc.

Mine happens to be a 110bhp 1.6 but a 140 something bhp 1.8 would follow the same economics.

That was my choice and so far it has worked well for me, maybe it will work for you

ncoll - 24/9/15 at 06:34 AM

quote:
Originally posted by snapper
Cheap Pinto power solution
An injection head is far superior to a carved head £150

Snapper what do you mean by a carved head?, there is nothing special about an injection head, a carburettor head can be made to outflow it by quiet some margin with only modifying the port 3/4" in from the valve seat. I would put an article on to show people how to do it, but unfortunately ill health and old age dosent help, but I will try and get around to it

ncoll

nick205 - 5/10/15 at 11:00 AM

I suspect he means a carb'd head.

The ease is an injection head is slightly better in it's standard form without resorting to modification.

The Des Hammill book on Pintos is worth a read and available from most libraries.

mcerd1 - 5/10/15 at 12:08 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ncoll
Snapper what do you mean by a carved head?, there is nothing special about an injection head, a carburettor head can be made to outflow it by quiet some margin with only modifying the port 3/4" in from the valve seat

^^ as nick says the injection head does have an advantage if your not going to port it (some folk seem to estimate its as much as 10bhp on an otherwise stock engine, i.e. the fuel injection system itself makes no difference)

also some of the injection heads have hardened valve seats from the factory, again you can fit them to any head - but if you don't need to it'll save you a few £