Not the only Ford to get blamed for that. I dated a girl in high school whose Father wouldn't let her ride in the 65 Mustang because "those things blow up if you even get bumped"
Funny stuff, made funnier by the fact that he thought my Cougar was soooo much safer. Never mind the fact that it is a rebodied Mustang...

The Pinto Blowing up was part of a Business LAw Class in Grad School.

Seems the way the bumper was designed that when struck at a certain angle would pierce the fuel tank. The Electrical Wiring of the Tail light would Spark and Poof! Instant Fire.

Put in a fuel cell and fix the problems mentioned above and you should not have a problem with it.

Also, The 4 Banger in the Pinto with a Turbo makes a killer Motor.

Friend of mine used one in a '30 Ford Roadster. Made 288 hp at the wheels. In a light car with a light engine it would haul Ass and get great milage, and that was in 1986. Long before the LS engines were popular. It also got 29 MPG.

He had the heads flowed, made sure the bottom end would take the stress of the Turbo. Used a decent intercooler, and Wow, one bad Assed car.

It was ultra quiet and a great sleeper.
Putt, Putt, Putt, Pow you are off. You one up the hood and your running a Pinto Engine, and they would be running a 350 or even a big block. the HP per pound is what's important. Also, if you can get the weight down to about 2K pounds or less you would have a real fun Road Rocket, that could have the possibility of handling REALLY well. (Keep the weight low in the car, and balanced front to rear and side to side) Set the suspension up right and put on some "R" Rubber, and you'd be a force to be dealt with.

Don't forget the driving lessons!

BTW: They may even make some trick heads for those now.

Good Luck.

Ty

Nice work and love the concept! I thought of doing a PT Chevette with a turbo 4 banger donated from an S10. The cost and fabrication involved would be similar to slipping in a V8, although that route handling goes out the window. Then the all aluminum LS motors came out...

Anyways, like to see both the Mav and the Lil Horse get put together. Dare to be different is a real good thing. :thumbsup:

PM sent...

Chop it, the greenhosue is too big. Otherwise neat-o

I'd rather a turbo'd echotech Vega. :)

I've never ever seen a chopped Pinto...That may look good from the front but I'm sure from the back and side it would look out of proportion, as if a Pinto already doesn't look that way lol.

Kinda like a mini 73 Mach 1, lol!

The Ecotec Vega would be cool. How about a GN turbo V6 in a black Vega. Wooohooo!

I have a friend into Mustang II's and has recently purchased another project car for his daughter who'll be driving soon. He was searching for a Boosted 2.3 T-bird drivetrain but finally came across a recent rebuilt V6 and tranny from a II. He figured the stocker would be a better bet for a 16 year old girl. I was hoping to see what a little boost in a small car would do. :unibrow:

2.3L can be powerfull
 

The 2.3L motor with boost can be quite a handful. There is a guy in St. Louis that has been drag racing his Mustang with a 2.3L turbo for several years now. He was once in Hot Rod with his bumper dragging.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVFSjJras4s

If that link doesn't work, type huber performance in you tube search box.