1978 Ford Pinto Pony, what turbo diesel to install?

[vacationtime247]

Got a free 1978 Ford Pinto Pony. Grandmother gave it to me with 29,500 actual original miles. Has an inline 4 cylinder with a 4 speed tranny. Has no options at all. No power windows or door locks. No power steering either. Bare bones model and weighs in at 2400 lbs. Would like to find a turbo diesel engine with a 5 speed for a rear wheel drive application that would get awsome MPG. Can do the fabrication myself with a welder and torch. Want to keep costs down to $1000 in an effort to save $ at the gas pump and my wallet. Know that Ford put inline 4 cylinders in some Rangers. Like to have the turbo and a simple idi system. Goal is 40+ mpg and a daily driver. What motors should I be searching for?
Already get 40+ mpg out of my 1991 Ford Escort Wagon. Use a lot of fuel saving techniques to get that too. Coast off ramps when exiting the interstate, time stop lights to prevent stops, drive the speed limit, leave earlier to allow more time, cut down on idle time when possible, over inflate tires slightly, took out the spare and all excess weight, keep it tuned up, etc.
VT247

[Frank Lee]

That Pinto 2.3 is a good engine, and it's like new. Just drive it.

[NHRABill]

Not many pintos like that left. I would tune that bad boy up and squeeze every mpg out of her that you could great car to have. I would take an extra look and add some padding to the gas tank due to the stigma and issues pinto had. Wait or was 78 the first of the good ones? I can't remember might want to google it to be sure I thought it was 79 but I was too young back then.

My Grandfather had a white and orange pinto we hit some ice in the adirondacks upstate NY smacked off a guardrail 6 times spinning. Car held up great. Many fond and embarassing momments in a pinto. The reason I always preffered a chevette

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by vacationtime247

Got a free 1978 Ford Pinto Pony. Grandmother gave it to me with 29,500 actual original miles.

Is it in good shape inside & out ?
If so it'd be a shame to ruin an original oldtimer by putting in another engine.

Especially if you can get 40+ mpg out of the Escort.

[Big Dave]

If it is pristine as you say, Ziebart that bad boy or park it til April (I do that with my Impala SS).

If you want to put a diesel in it you have to bite the bullet and go with a VW diesel or a M-B 617. The Cummins 4BT3.9T is too heavy for that car.

[Frank Lee]

Well.... if a Pinto was to get a diesel, I wonder if the Mazda 2.0 (NA and turbo) would bolt up to the trans? It is my understanding that the 2.3 bolts up to Tempo transmissions, and the 2.0 Mazda does too.

[vacationtime247]

Thanks guys. Didn't know Mazda made those! Will do some more research on the compatibility of swapping just the motor. Have that feeling as though the stock inline 4 would quickly fall apart once I start driving it.
It's nice and 100% original inside and out, right down to the 32 yr old biased plyed tires. Has sat for years, not sure exactly how many, but guessing at least 20 or more. Inside and outside at times. Tires still hold air though.
Guess I'll just swap out tires and drive it, see what happens. Seems that every car I resurrect back to life always trys to commit suicide on me though! Usually on the interstate, in the rain, with a very loud upset wife making things better.
Was fishing for ideas once that time came to swap engines. Think I'll keep the exterior basically stock.
The 1978 year was the first Ford installed the gas tank / diffential shield.
VT247

[NHRABill]

Just do your traditional pre start work

change oil, replace cracked hoses, replace antifreeze, remove plugs, shoot a little wd 40 in the cylinders, hand crank the engine, replace battery check battery cables check brake lines hard and rubber check wheell cylinders Blah blah blah .. Your big enemy will be bad gaskets from dry rot back in the 70's most were cork, they swell dried and cracked.

You have plenty of work to do to get a 20 year sitter back running properly but if you do it will pay off. the Cool factor of having a stock original pinto is something to be respected by many car enthusiasts like me. I haven't seen a Pinto with those stats in many many years and I visit alot of car shows and events each years, so much I am bored of them lately. A car like yours would excite me to see it in working order

Congrats on the unusual ride and best of luck bringing her back to life

If you had your heart set on an ecomod project then you will probably be able to sellthe Pinto for a rather good price if you find the right person. Not the best time to sell with the holidays though. I bought my wife a Cadillac last week for a steal of a price.

good luck

[vacationtime247]

So true. Get an unmolested mid 70's car, guaranteed the valve covers will leak. Love the rubber gaskets, they're reusable and seal better. It's starting to show it's age, but still remains original and intact. Not much has been replaced. When I got it, it didn't run very good. Spit, sputter and die. Found to be a bad fuel pump, replaced. Felt like I was driving a bowl of soup on the way home. Sloppy steering turned out to be a bad rag joint, replaced. Battery is dead, not yet replaced. I'll try and get some pics up of it. See if this link works.

Aaron Skroback's Photos | Facebook

My 1991 Ford Escort Wagon, 42 mpg best. 1.9 liter SEFI, 4 speed automatic

Aaron Skroback's Photos | Facebook

My 1983 Mazda RX-7 Convertible. @32-35 mpg 1.3 liter 12B Mazda rotary engine with a 5 speed.

Aaron Skroback's Photos | Facebook

Pics were taken last year just prior to winter.
VT247

Originally Posted by NHRABill

Just do your traditional pre start work

Your big enemy will be bad gaskets from dry rot back in the 70's most were cork, they swell dried and cracked.

You have plenty of work to do to get a 20 year sitter back running properly but if you do it will pay off. the Cool factor of having a stock original pinto is something to be respected by many car enthusiasts like me. I haven't seen a Pinto with those stats in many many years and I visit alot of car shows and events each years, so much I am bored of them lately. A car like yours would excite me to see it in working order

Congrats on the unusual ride and best of luck bringing her back to life

If you had your heart set on an ecomod project then you will probably be able to sellthe Pinto for a rather good price if you find the right person. Not the best time to sell with the holidays though. I bought my wife a Cadillac last week for a steal of a price.

good luck

[Frank Lee]

Don't automatically assume all that work is needed. I resurrected my '59 Bel Air after it had a 32 year siesta... didn't change oil as it was honey-clear on the dipstick; didn't change plug wires or points or hoses or belts or filters either, as inspection showed they were all still useable! Had to change the carb as the throttle shaft was frozen, and I did give it new sparkplugs right off the bat. Put 1000 miles on it before changing the 35 year old at a minimum belts and hoses. Now, 11 years later, I still haven't changed anything else out and it runs like a dream with 40,000 miles on the ol' 283.

I did soak the top end with diesel- down each cylinder and down the intake, then cranked it over with the plugs out to shoot out the excess.