Couple of questions for the pinto experts!!

[V8100e]

I've been thinking about going the pinto route in my Prefect and have a few questions before I fully commit! What sort of mpg would a hot 2.1 pinto on twin 45's get, 4.10 gears, all steel body, 5 speed box?? And would a 9" ford axle work with a pinto? A few people on other forums have given me mixed answers, some say yes but will take a bit of power to move it, but would be good for drag racing/launches and others say no cos it'll take way too much power to turn it!!(I've already got a 9" axle,fabricated case, 5 linked etc) Any info would be greatly appreciated so I can decide once and for all which way to go!

[puddy]

My guess if driven like an old granny you might get 20 mpg if lucky.

 

If driven properly , you will be lucky to see over 10mpg .

 

The 9" is total overkill and will incur heavy driveline losses , better off

 

selling it and sticking in a 105e axle like everyone else imho .

 

Good luck , puddy

[katana]

But if you do intend to drag it or indulge in 'enthusiastic' launches then why not if you have it, but as said the weight and mechanical losses will work against it. Whilst ideally suited for big torquey V8's measured at 300+ ftlbs, a tuned pinto with 125 ftlbs (say) will really struggle. An english axle may be more suited for efficiency but won't last with drag starts for too long - a built Atlas would be the best compromise overall but will cost a bit?

[Snapper]

2.1 is only 5% more capacity

5 speed box gives you better cruising but the first gear is low add that to a low diff ratio and I would expect about 24mph in first befor you need to change up

I would seriously look at a gear/speed calculator to get an understanding of what your rev limit, in gear speed, tyre combo gives you

[Danish]

a tuned pinto with 125 ftlbs (say) will really struggle. 

 

Spot on, my 2.1 was dyno'd at 129 ftlbs.

 

2.1 is only 5% more capacity

 

 

Very true, but it also gives 5% increase in compression ratio, which arguably makes more difference.

[preacherman]

I had twin 45 dellorto on my pinto for 5 weeks and took them off. 3 gallons to get to work and 3 back. But then again I loved the induction roar.first gear was crap but 70 in second was nice.

 

By the way my work is 35 miles away and I could have got better mpg if was set up better. Maybe bike carbs or the webcon dgv injection throttle body would be better

 

Neil

[voodoo57]

I had a 2.1 pinto built by Dave Abrahams over 18 years ago, Group A head, GP 4 cam,

v6 pistons, lightened and balanced, running on 45's 136BHP @ the wheels, English rear with a 3.7 Lsd and anti tramp bars, the highest i reached was 132mph on the motorway with 185's all round on Mexico deep dish steels

I only done the drag race with a 38 dgas, I managed a 15 second pass (slow by today's standards and was lucky to get 15/18  to the gallon ) before going to 45's which ended with 12 to the gallon if i didn't drive like a Nut! All thru a 4 speed box.  there is a lot to be said for the 'old skool' set up, and you need to take into account the wheels tyres, gearbox,  rev limit, ratio etc etc... very different by today's standards, a lot of these jap cars don't drop oil, line up at the Christmas tree lights, do a few runs, very respectable times, then hitch up the caravan and continue on their holiday! ( my friend done it in hie Lexus!)  But this is another story for a different forum!

Get stuck into it, have some fun, and experiment with yer pinto etc... Good luck to you!

[Snapper]

I personal think going 2.1 is unnecessary, your better off spending money elsewhere to better effect.

Earlier post responded with 2.1 = 5% more compression, well I can do that with a £20 head gasket.

It's all about your budget

The cheapest upgrades are

injection head,

Rhienz 1.3mm gasket

Bike carbs

Your choice of camshaft

 

You'll need a way of timing the camshaft and modifying the ignition curve.

 

I've done 2 x 2.1 builds if I did it again I would keep to a 2.0 build and invest in forged Pistons on Cosworth rods. You then have room to rebuild and can use whatever compression ration you need to match the camshaft

IMHO

[RodO]

Had a hot 2.1 in a kit years ago. High compression and ported head and lightened. Running on twin 45 webers and tuned by Tom Airey, it made 165hp at the wheels, and cruised on the motorway getting 30+mpg, pushing a longish Mk1 Granny back end.

 

A better engine option would be a Zetec, running on an early ecu and ignition. More power and lighter, and Type 9 bolt pattern.

 

9" Ford with a pInto would not be a weight saving option, but does give the option of many gear ratios.   The Sierra Cosworth 9" diff came from a yank production car, can't remember which though.

 

[deltamal]

This was my Pinto set up in my Mk 3 Tina, 2.1, skimmed and decked, flowed and ported, fast road cam, big valves and up-rated springs, Jenvy throttle bodies, type 9 - 5 speed box, 3.75 atlas, dynoed at 171 brake, it was getting high 14's on the strip with full weight car, lots of fun but fitted a 2.4 YB on nos for more!