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Pinto Engine In Bugeye

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Paul McGuffin

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This is on eBay now....Pinto Engine
s-l1600.jpg
 
Rather tidy.
 
It’s hard to believe that stock radiator is big enough for a Pinto engine, even with the cooling fan added. I have yet to see an engine swap, where they retained a heater.
PM
 
Paul McGuffin said:
It’s hard to believe that stock radiator is big enough for a Pinto engine, even with the cooling fan added. I have yet to see an engine swap, where they retained a heater.
PM
Click to expand...
It looks like they took out the entire battery-tray/heater shelf (and the interior photo suggests a modified tunnel).
And, of course, the wipers are gone.
 
Pinto fours had fairly small radiators. I had one...a 72 wagon, 2.0L auto for the wife. Nice little car. Got a free Fairmont Squire with 302 and air from the in-laws, so sold off the little Pinto.
Used to work on Pintos, never could remember an overheating problem unless the 2.0L head cracked (more common than you would imagine....I kept a couple of spare heads around until Pintos dropped off the charts).
 
Rather odd choice for a swap
i think I could come up with a more reasonable swap.
seems odd why pick a that?
maybe a cosworth from a vega but a pinto
i know it shares a lot with the cortina still...
 
I would imagine availability of parts and cost.
You can still pick up about anything you need for a 2.3L Ford engine (as used non-exclusively in Pintos).
Just how much would a Vegamatic Cosworth set you back, and would parts be readily available in East Nowhere, North Dakota?
I think it's a neat install, with the sidedraughts and headers, on a light body, I would think it would scream.
 
Paul McGuffin said:
It’s hard to believe that stock radiator is big enough for a Pinto engine, even with the cooling fan added. I have yet to see an engine swap, where they retained a heater.
PM
Click to expand...
My Datsun swap retains the heater and if it wouldn't I wouldn't have done it. Even in warm climates you need to occasionally defog the windshield.

Kurt.
 
I don’t understand why he didn’t move things around and keep the windshield wipers.
PM
 
I'd be more impressed with the early pinto Kent engine. The engine that powered Formula Ford and an engine that's been tweaked into the 200HP range.

Kurt
 
Here’s a BMW Bugeye! Very clean job, but again, now windshield wipers
BruceUchida-BB.jpg
 
The one thing I’ve noticed about all these Sprites, with engine swaps is....they all lose their heater. I need a heater..period.
 
TC, saw your post on another forum, This one hasn't modified the bonnet apparently because the engine has been moved so far back. Don't remember if yours retains the heater.

Kurt
 
Does anyone have pictures of a Kent 1600 (early Pinto) in a Bugeye, or Spridget?
(Or a Morris Minor for that matter! They have clearance problems with the steering rack at the back of the engine bay so folks notch the manual transmissions to clear, or set the engine too low, like mine that has a Datsun A14 engine with an old 3 speed automatic, yuck!)
That may be my next project if I can figure out a tranny / bell housing combo without breaking the bank! I've got the engine already.
 
The early Pinto [Kent] engine is worth good money. I'd advertise it and keep the Datsun engine but with a standard trans.

The pinto engine was the base for Formula Ford and many other competitive cars.
 
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