i have a standard 2ltr pinto and know nothing about them .the question is i want more power out of it is there any one round scunthorpe area who can rebuild it or do what ever it needs to get more power.Do i need to spend a fortune on it and what can be done to them

Hi,

I'm kinda in the same boat, and looked into doing the works on my Pinto, but the costs were pretty high (well I thouht they were) and it would probably only make around 150bhp (not too shabby in a lightweight car)

The price I was quoted for a full rebuild with a big valve head and FR32 cam was about £1700.

A lot of money considering the results, the guy said you could build one with around 180-190 bhp, but you would almost double the price, and it would probably need rebuilt regularly.

You can pick up redtops cheap enough nowadays with 150 bhp on tap as standard and very good tuning prospects, 200bhp without breaking a sweat.

There is absolutely loads you can do to a pinto to get more out of it.
just a taster would be:

GAsflowed head
uprated cam
carb/injection system/throttle bodies
bore out to 2.1 (2.3 is possible but not reliable)
The list is endless.

Even turbo/supercharger conversions have been done.

Have a look at Burton Power for performance parts, specialised engines deal in upgraded and rebuilt ford engines.

I did a Capri before being lured into the locost scene and built an EFi pinto pushing out 150bhp.

quote:

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Originally posted by phoenix70
Hi,

I'm kinda in the same boat, and looked into doing the works on my Pinto, but the costs were pretty high (well I thouht they were) and it would probably only make around 150bhp (not too shabby in a lightweight car)

The price I was quoted for a full rebuild with a big valve head and FR32 cam was about £1700.

A lot of money considering the results, the guy said you could build one with around 180-190 bhp, but you would almost double the price, and it would probably need rebuilt regularly.

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The Lighning Rod boys (Sierra oval racing)
have to use a standard engine but are free on cam and carbs.
So an easy cheap power fix is an injection engine with rods that can take 7,200 and the better flowing head, 300 duration cam and the carb of a V6 Essex (DGAS)
As the Pinto is cheap and easy to pick up, I would fit what you have and modify as you go along.
Don't spend £1700 on a Pinto, thjere are a lot better lighter engines you can fit

quote:

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Originally posted by jacko

quote:

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Originally posted by phoenix70
Hi,

I'm kinda in the same boat, and looked into doing the works on my Pinto, but the costs were pretty high (well I thouht they were) and it would probably only make around 150bhp (not too shabby in a lightweight car)

The price I was quoted for a full rebuild with a big valve head and FR32 cam was about £1700.

A lot of money considering the results, the guy said you could build one with around 180-190 bhp, but you would almost double the price, and it would probably need rebuilt regularly.

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How much
1 have 150 bhp on zcars rolling road last weekend and it cost me about £400 to do it
1 bike carbs
2 home made inlet manifold
3 piper 285 cam
1mm planned of the head
5 re bore and new pistons
6 light flywheel
7 new shell bearings
8 polish & port head by me
if you want to know how to do it get a book by Des Hammill
How to power tune a Ford Sohc
this will help you
or

Fit a bike engine On i said it dam dam

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Its not what you know its who
+ Ebay & looking around for bargains
if i paid for it all I'm sure it would have cost more but not £1700

I built a 160 bhp pinto for about £500 based on a late 205 injection block.

Complete set of bearings and rings £50
Bore hone - by me
Gas flowing - by me
FR33 cam kit - £60
45 DCOEs - £150
Lightened flywheel - came with my £30 engine!
Balanced bottom end - by me
Felpro blue head gasket - £25
H&H ignition dizzy £200

Its all just a case of keeping your eye open on ebay and ebid.

For example My set of DCOE45s cost under £150, did all the rebuild work myself and the gas flowing (buy a copy of Des Hamills book -£10 off ebay!)

I know I have suprised more than one person with how well a pinto engined car can perform....and perform very well on a budget.


Biggest gains on the pinto, gas flow the head and stick a cam in. The std valves flow enough unless you are trying for 175bhp+

Its getting a supercharger and injection next, cheap too, but labour intensive.

Cheers,
David

Ive got 120bhp at the back wheels by;
DIY porting the head, got a pro to skim it and reseat the valves.
FR32 cam (a bit too mild but cheap on ebay - try to get FR33, Piper 285 or Piper A8)
Lightened flywheel.
Bike carbs
Rolling road set up.

Ive also fitted megajolt but this on its own probs doesnt improve performance, make car easier to tune and smoother.

The mods probs cost me £600. I started with a good low miler injection engine.
I also fitted a good exhaust system when car was first built.


For the total overall cost including engine, exhaust, etc etc - id probs have been better off sourcing a zetec or XE. Thats a lesson learnt for the future though.