Ford Pinto engine

Author
Discussion

grahambute

Original Poster:

10 posts

112 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
Hi
I would be interested to hear what others think of the Ford Pinto 2 litre engine versus the 2 litre DOHC engine fitted to later cars. My Sierra has the DOHC but due to an accident I am having to consider buying a different one.
I know that the DOHC was fitted with "suspect" head gasket and indeed had to have mine replaced (in a 60k since new car) this year. Other similar cars I have seen have mentioned possible water leak due to head gasket which makes me a bit worried about another one.
Would I be better off with an older Sierra with a Pinto engine.

Would be interested to hear comments

alangla

4,723 posts

180 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
Is this not a golden opportunity to fit a Cosworth YB? biggrin

Edit - ignore me, just re-read the OP. I thought your engine had blown & you were planning a transplant, sorry!

Limpet

6,293 posts

160 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
The Pinto was tough (if serviced correctly - most weren't) and due to its popularity on the tuning and motorsport scenes, will probably be easier to get parts for for longer. It is also a no-brainer if you intend to tweak. The DOHC was never popular with tuners, whereas Pinto bits are still readily available.

I think the '30 year old Sierra' bit is a bigger deal from an upkeep perspective than the engine choice, mind.

TEKNOPUG

18,843 posts

204 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
What's the affinity with a (no offence) middle tier Sierra?

Considered sticking a Zetec/Duratec in, if you want to keep it Ford but make it a modern, reliable drive?

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
Not known as the Pintosaurus for nothing. Ok in it's day, and can be persuaded to make fairly impressive power for an 8v engine, but it's an ancient boat anchor by modern standards. You will get neither the performance nor the economy that a modern 16v 2.0L engine would provide.

Also I have to ask what the attraction to the old Sierra is? If you want a family sized Ford you could pick up a Mk3 Mondeo for peanuts that would be superior in pretty much every respect.

grahambute

Original Poster:

10 posts

112 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
I am a bit of a nostalgia freak. Worked in historic houses for many years. Now retired, but I like to keep things original. Just me, I know others feel differently.

If I have something that can no longer be kept original I do not then mind modifications, for example I have a 1955 TV cabinet which has a record player in drawer underneath. Obviously old TV no longer works so I have fitted a 4:3 computer monitor in it with a digibox. Still looks original, but it works.

Also use a 1936 radiogram every day, but have modified so I can feed digital radio or MP3 player through it. Sound knocks the spots off modern equipment.

grahambute

Original Poster:

10 posts

112 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
Mr2Mike said:
Not known as the Pintosaurus for nothing. Ok in it's day, and can be persuaded to make fairly impressive power for an 8v engine, but it's an ancient boat anchor by modern standards. You will get neither the performance nor the economy that a modern 16v 2.0L engine would provide.

Also I have to ask what the attraction to the old Sierra is? If you want a family sized Ford you could pick up a Mk3 Mondeo for peanuts that would be superior in pretty much every respect.
Had a Mondeo, does nothing for me. Guess I just like old things!!

thatdude

2,654 posts

126 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
There is a man with a sierra who lives near me. It's white, and its the saloon version, with some higher-spec trim level.

Every time I see it, I smile. I don't know why but I like sierras.

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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All the Pintos I had were fine but then I did change the oil as per recommended intervals.
Tough old things as well
Very tuneable

stedale

1,124 posts

264 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
My experience of the pinto was quite positive. I had one in my first car and it was robust and pleasingly agricultural in fact it was probably the best part of the car, that and the Luminition ignition setup. I can't remember topping up the oil and repairs were easily completed. In fact I'd quite fancy a caterham or similar with one in, especially with a pair of twin 40s on the side.

I guess if you find a nice sierra with a pinto, go for it.

telecat

8,528 posts

240 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
Drove a couple of these. a Pinto 1.6LX Sapphire and a later CVH LX Hatch. The Hatch was a very nice car and very entertaining. The Booted version never really appealed to me. Engine wise the CVH was nicer and felt quicker than the Pinto. But then it was 20 HP up.

DougMcC

769 posts

162 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
My sierra has the 1.8 CVH fitted, I'd like to have a pinto or dohc instead as I'm not a fan of the cvh! But yes the time is right for a more updated engine swap, although I understand why you want to keep it original!

eldar

21,614 posts

195 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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302ci V8. Nice and original, as per the Sierra XR-8.

skyrover

12,668 posts

203 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Tough old engine, but considering they weigh about the same as a Rover V8, I know which I would be putting in my car wink

Or you could put a ford 5.0 into it

BobSaunders

3,027 posts

154 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
Loved my old Pinto in my tiger. The smell of oil and fuel. The roar of the exhaust.

The continuous issues and headaches with it needing attention.. or was that the oil and exhaust fumes?

Would i have one again - possibly, would i prefer a zetec.. yes. Less fiddling and issues.

skyrover

12,668 posts

203 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
It's probably worth noting that Zetec's are cheaper to buy today and yield more power without tuning.

A lot of the locost guy's are ditching their pinto's and fitting zetec's these days

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
The only thing i'd do with a Pinto these days is either:

1) Put it in a museum

or

2) Tie a length of chain to it and chuck it in the sea as a effective boat anchor.


;-)

S0 What

3,358 posts

171 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
quotequote all
grahambute said:
Hi
I would be interested to hear what others think of the Ford Pinto 2 litre engine versus the 2 litre DOHC engine fitted to later cars. My Sierra has the DOHC but due to an accident I am having to consider buying a different one.
I know that the DOHC was fitted with "suspect" head gasket and indeed had to have mine replaced (in a 60k since new car) this year. Other similar cars I have seen have mentioned possible water leak due to head gasket which makes me a bit worried about another one.
Would I be better off with an older Sierra with a Pinto engine.

Would be interested to hear comments
The later twinks had a better HG so ford did sort the issue but it took them 3 0dd years.
As for verses, it's all been coverd really, the twink is way WAY better on fuel but slightly more delicate than the pinto, i recently sold a 93 sierra DOHC with 130K on the clock, it ran like a swiss watch and retured over 40 MPG on a run (A roads, London to swansea once a month for 4 years) the same run with an EFi pinto got me mid 30s.
Driving wise the twink has more power down low than the pinto so if your a lazy driver like me and prefer to just plant the throttle rather than drop a few cogs the twink is the one to have of the 2.
My advise is get a later facelifted Mk2 and it should have the stronger HG, i certainly miss that engine but then i do now drive a 1.8TD sierra so there's no comparison really, i'd swap out the TD in a heartbeat if a decent twink came up again cos i couldn't bring myself to break the one i had just for the engine.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Friday 28th November 2014
quotequote all
grahambute said:
Had a Mondeo, does nothing for me. Guess I just like old things!!
If you like wafty old RWD barges, maybe have a look for an Omega. The 2.0L 16v Ecotec engine is pretty old, but leagues ahead of the Pinto.

J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Friday 28th November 2014
quotequote all
I love the Pinto, it meant I went on holiday as a kid,

My dad became the local "specialist" for quickly and cheaply remedying their Cam eating preference, he must have done a hundred or more of them, they would come in going Clack Clack Clack Clack and go out all nice and silent, can remember him showing me how to do them, can remember the way they smelt, all hot oil and magic tree air freshener, Cortina's, Capri's, Granada's.