Pinto Engine Swap

[xj287]

another option, and possibly a better one is to use a tempo 2.3 or taurus 2.5L both are push rod engines and use a timing chain rather then a belt. They use the same bell housing pattern as the pinto 4 banger and are a little easier to come by. Also they are about as close to bullet proof as 4 bangers ever got.....Good luck on the swap!

 

[LongHorn]

Hey Brock;
any idea where the adapter for the Honda came from?? The day when we start looking at front wheel drive rice burners for power plants is rapidly approaching. there are millions of Hondas and the supply of pintos and even SBC is growing smaller every year.
I have never seen anyone put an engine from a front wheel drive into a rear wheel drive vehicle, of course I lead a very sheltered life. I think the Honda would be a bit of a problem in as much as it has a high RPM power curve.

Ford put a lot of the same "Pinto" motors in "Ranger" pick-ups too.

 

[BrockGrimes]

Hey Brock;
any idea where the adapter for the Honda came from?? The day when we start looking at front wheel drive rice burners for power plants is rapidly approaching. there are millions of Hondas and the supply of pintos and even SBC is growing smaller every year.
I have never seen anyone put an engine from a front wheel drive into a rear wheel drive vehicle, of course I lead a very sheltered life. I think the Honda would be a bit of a problem in as much as it has a high RPM power curve.

Probably novak or advanced adapters.
They drop them in other vehicles, like mustangs
and sand rails so the adapters are out there.

If I was to use a honda I'd build a franken motor, B20 with B18 heads,
it's good for 200+hp NA.

 

[BajaEdition]

I really do not see the day of having to adapt ricer engines as close, there are still many many engines being made for rear wheel drive apps. Look at most trucks and true suvs we just had a entire buying culture in vehicles based on. During the last 10 years while the truck ruled in sales we put so many engines on the road we will be able to pull from them for the next 20 years. another point is a lot of manufacturers are making rear wheel drive cars again as we have proven a performance package sells in America.
I will agree that the majority of vehicles will remain front wheel drive, but as far as good engine sources, I think we are nowhere aproaching the end of truck engines.

 

[crscrkcj]

Many good comments and technical input. I hadn't considered the Taurus engine. There are a ton of those things available at reasonable prices.

To update the post, I have decided to do a minimal overhaul of the F-134. This will fix the crank which got this all started. The little knock I heard turned out to be a damaged #4 rod bearing. It appears that an edge on the oil flow passage broke off and did a job on the crank. Cut the crank about .030. So I'll have to do a .040 turn down on the crank. I'll also fresh up some other things such as valve guides and rings.

A complete overhaul would have too expensive for the old engine. This will do for a while and buy me some time to find a good replacement engine. I'll look hard at the newer 2.5 L Ford engines as well as some in-line six's.

 

[stinsonj]

I finally got my pinto powered CJ3a on the road and i must say it actually has quite a bit of power (relatively speaking of course). She can accelerate up to a top speed of 45 or so with ease. Right now im running stock size tires (29's i think) but im sure i could go up to a 32 with no problem, maybe even a 33. The next step is to find a good roll bar so i dont kill myself. Anyone got any ideas on where i could pick one up?

 

[crscrkcj]

I finally got my pinto powered CJ on the road and i must say it actually has quite a bit of power (relatively speaking of course). She can accelerate up to a top speed of 45 or so with ease. Right now I'm running stock size tires (29's i think) but I'm sure i could go up to a 32 with no problem, maybe even a 33. The next step is to find a good roll bar so i don't kill myself. Anyone got any ideas on where i could pick one up?

It might be that the early CJ5 ('53-"71) would drop right in. The tubs are similar size. Even if required some minor mods shouldn't be bad. They ought to be cheap and available at junk yards or on ebay.

Look forward to hearing about how the CJ performs.

 

[M38A1]

I have that swap in my M38A1 and I am about to rebuild the old owner's mistakes.
It is a great swap for the guy that wants 20+ mpg and not HP.
For my rig, a V8 is a major cutting affair and not feasible.
This engine comes in a turbo, intercooled setup (stock) at 225hp, fun in my 2300lb Jeep.

 

[BajaEdition]

if I had a pinto engine, I would not flinch about sticking on in a jeep'
I had a pinto, and several rangers with that engine and can tell you it is a great engine, OK so it does not have the top end of a corvette, but it has a ton of bottom end and will run to 200,000 miles with out a rebuild, many ran more.
I used to take my one ranger (2wd) and go out on mud roads after the rain and do power slides all over the place, loved the engine and became a huge fan of it.
One thing I can tel you is the dependability of the engine is spot on and the ability to be abused is there to, plus having low end torque it will wheel great.
Go for it.
unless you want a tire scratching mall crawler, then you will need more so you can put those huge 37s up on the 4 inch curbs around the parking lot.

 

[mylittlecj5]

If anyone is serious about installing a 2.3L Ford engine, I have one available right now.
Pm me for details.

 

[Joe Snuffy]

I've got a 2.3 Pinto in my GPW, and I really like it. It's pushing my 33's around, and it won't climb hills at freeway speed, but it's 69 years old! Who cares? It's a lot of fun, and it's zippy around town. It's got more than enough power for off-road use, considering what it is. These rigs aren't meant to have gobs of power. Overpowering them will only cause you grief (IMHO).

 

[LongHorn]

I've got a 2.3 Pinto in my GPW, and I really like it. It's pushing my 33's around, and it won't climb hills at freeway speed, but it's 69 years old! Who cares? It's a lot of fun, and it's zippy around town. It's got more than enough power for off-road use, considering what it is. These rigs aren't meant to have gobs of power. Overpowering them will only cause you grief (IMHO).

How about some pictures?
It sounds like a great rig.

 

[Joe Snuffy]

View image in gallery​

View image in gallery​

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How about some pictures?
It sounds like a great rig.

Here ya go! I love my GPW!

 

[Joe Snuffy]

How about some pictures?
It sounds like a great rig.

I forgot to mention, I still have a ton of work to do. This is just how it looks today.

 

[LongHorn]

Here ya go! I love my GPW![/QUOTE]

Really sweet jeep!
I've been feeling the Flatty bug biting.
My 1st rig was a flatty & I'm wanting another.

 

[Joe Snuffy]

Here ya go! I love my GPW!

Really sweet jeep!
I've been feeling the Flatty bug biting.
My 1st rig was a flatty & I'm wanting another.[/QUOTE]
Thanks! I've had six Jeeps, (CJ5 , two 7's, YJ, TJ, and now GPW) and this is by far my favorite! There's something about a flatty. I've always wanted one, and it's the best I've had.

I say, go buy one. Even if your budget is tight, there's always something to keep you busy. Best bang for your buck of any Jeep.

 

[Sasquach]

2 thumbs up! Nice rig!:drool:

 

[Joe Snuffy]

2 thumbs up! Nice rig!:drool:

Oh, and BTW, I get 22-24mpg with this thing. Anybody priced gas lately? Still want that V8?

 

[ken98k]

Nice rig.
That pinto engine was a very dependable little motor.
It was still available from Ford as an industrial motor a couple years ago, I'm not sure if it's still available now.

 

[Joe Snuffy]

Nice rig.
That pinto engine was a very dependable little motor.
It was still available from Ford as an industrial motor a couple years ago, I'm not sure if it's still available now.

Thanks! It is a great motor. My dad has been running one in his M38A1 since about '85 and it's never hiccuped. I don't know what year they quit making them, but they were used in a ton of rigs. This is where craigslist is our friend. I found a whole, running Pinto today for free. If I only had somewhere to park a hulk car... oh well.

I'm going to attempt to find some fuel injection info soon so I can convert it, so if anyone has any good information for a place to start looking, I'd appreciate it.