Ford Pinto engine
Discussion
J4CKO said:
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.
New cam, followers and spraybar?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.
I loved the Torque of my first 2.0 Pinto compared to the 1600 crossflow it replaced, back when 110bhp was impressive for a small car like an Escort.
Later 2.1 'built' engines pushed the boundaries when 145bhp was deemed 'impressive'.
But, when you consider that the 2.0 Zetec kit car I owned many years later was putting out 170bhp on the same size carbs, and 200bhp with head and cams - it does show how limiting the Pinto design was.
But, lets face it, the engine was orinally designed for use in Ford US in a the entry level Pinto compact car. Ford only used it because it was available.
Having said that, the 2.0 16V engine fitted to the Sierra was not the Zetec (that came in the Mondea) and was supposed to be a bit of a dog, which is surprising as the same unit was used in the RS2000 Mk5 & 6 Escort.
Advice to the OP, should be buy a Pinto car, but retrofit a Zetec engine from a Mondeo. If you look at the kitcar forums, it is not hard to do - on carbs.
Later 2.1 'built' engines pushed the boundaries when 145bhp was deemed 'impressive'.
But, when you consider that the 2.0 Zetec kit car I owned many years later was putting out 170bhp on the same size carbs, and 200bhp with head and cams - it does show how limiting the Pinto design was.
But, lets face it, the engine was orinally designed for use in Ford US in a the entry level Pinto compact car. Ford only used it because it was available.
Having said that, the 2.0 16V engine fitted to the Sierra was not the Zetec (that came in the Mondea) and was supposed to be a bit of a dog, which is surprising as the same unit was used in the RS2000 Mk5 & 6 Escort.
Advice to the OP, should be buy a Pinto car, but retrofit a Zetec engine from a Mondeo. If you look at the kitcar forums, it is not hard to do - on carbs.
Hol said:
Having said that, the 2.0 16V engine fitted to the Sierra was not the Zetec (that came in the Mondea) and was supposed to be a bit of a dog, which is surprising as the same unit was used in the RS2000 Mk5 & 6 Escort.
The Sierra only got the 8v DOHC engine. The 150ps 16v version fitted to the RS2000 etc. was a better engine, but still very heavy.grahambute said:
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.
What's the mileage got to do with the inevitable age-related corrosion of a head gasket on a 20+ year old car?grahambute said:
Would I be better off with an older Sierra with a Pinto engine.
No. A Zetec would be far better.Mr2Mike said:
Hol said:
Having said that, the 2.0 16V engine fitted to the Sierra was not the Zetec (that came in the Mondea) and was supposed to be a bit of a dog, which is surprising as the same unit was used in the RS2000 Mk5 & 6 Escort.
The Sierra only got the 8v DOHC engine. The 150ps 16v version fitted to the RS2000 etc. was a better engine, but still very heavy.I just remember Burtons/HT Racing etc, not bothering with it as a tuning option.
DougMcC said:
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!
I had a CVH 1.8 Sierra. I hated it; no power steering, mediocre fuel consumption and poor starting. I took a Pinto to 180k on its original cam, and it was still quiet up top.
Oil changes were the key. I used cheap dino oil changed every 6k religiously. Most Fords don't get serviced once the warranty expires.
Overheated mine to the point that it seized, and once it had cooled down, it fired up on all four, and got us 300 miles home with a couple of coolant top ups. Changed the head gasket a few weeks later and it was good as new again. Tough as old boots.
Oil changes were the key. I used cheap dino oil changed every 6k religiously. Most Fords don't get serviced once the warranty expires.
Overheated mine to the point that it seized, and once it had cooled down, it fired up on all four, and got us 300 miles home with a couple of coolant top ups. Changed the head gasket a few weeks later and it was good as new again. Tough as old boots.
Limpet said:
I took a Pinto to 180k on its original cam, and it was still quiet up top.
Oil changes were the key. I used cheap dino oil changed every 6k religiously. Most Fords don't get serviced once the warranty expires.
Overheated mine to the point that it seized, and once it had cooled down, it fired up on all four, and got us 300 miles home with a couple of coolant top ups. Changed the head gasket a few weeks later and it was good as new again. Tough as old boots.
Yep, the reasons they had a reputation for eating cams are twofoldOil changes were the key. I used cheap dino oil changed every 6k religiously. Most Fords don't get serviced once the warranty expires.
Overheated mine to the point that it seized, and once it had cooled down, it fired up on all four, and got us 300 miles home with a couple of coolant top ups. Changed the head gasket a few weeks later and it was good as new again. Tough as old boots.
People didn't change the oil as per service intervals, it sludged up, blocked the tiny holes in the spray bar meaning the cam didn't get oiled - usual mod was to increase the hole size
Some cams for the Pinto weren't hardened well enough at production
Never had problems with the three I had ....... But then I tended to check the oil and service cars. People seem to begrudge doing that on cheaper brand cars like Fords and Vauxhalls. 145-150bhp of Pinto was great fun in a sub 1000kg Escort
Cologne lump I had was similarly robust
s m said:
Yep, the reasons they had a reputation for eating cams are twofold
People didn't change the oil as per service intervals, it sludged up, blocked the tiny holes in the spray bar meaning the cam didn't get oiled - usual mod was to increase the hole size
Some cams for the Pinto weren't hardened well enough at production
Never had problems with the three I had ....... But then I tended to check the oil and service cars. People seem to begrudge doing that on cheaper brand cars like Fords and Vauxhalls. 145-150bhp of Pinto was great fun in a sub 1000kg Escort
Cologne lump I had was similarly robust
Exactly, I knew people who barely ever checked any of the fluids in their old Fords and Vauxhalls, then they were branded junk when they rattled, broke down etc! I'm sure the Vauxhall 1300/1600 engines used to eat camshafts too if they were neglected?People didn't change the oil as per service intervals, it sludged up, blocked the tiny holes in the spray bar meaning the cam didn't get oiled - usual mod was to increase the hole size
Some cams for the Pinto weren't hardened well enough at production
Never had problems with the three I had ....... But then I tended to check the oil and service cars. People seem to begrudge doing that on cheaper brand cars like Fords and Vauxhalls. 145-150bhp of Pinto was great fun in a sub 1000kg Escort
Cologne lump I had was similarly robust
Limpet said:
I took a Pinto to 180k on its original cam, and it was still quiet up top.
Oil changes were the key. I used cheap dino oil changed every 6k religiously. Most Fords don't get serviced once the warranty expires.
Overheated mine to the point that it seized, and once it had cooled down, it fired up on all four, and got us 300 miles home with a couple of coolant top ups. Changed the head gasket a few weeks later and it was good as new again. Tough as old boots.
Yes, so did I - in a 1987 Granada auto. Didn't even burn oil either.Oil changes were the key. I used cheap dino oil changed every 6k religiously. Most Fords don't get serviced once the warranty expires.
Overheated mine to the point that it seized, and once it had cooled down, it fired up on all four, and got us 300 miles home with a couple of coolant top ups. Changed the head gasket a few weeks later and it was good as new again. Tough as old boots.
PositronicRay said:
I had a cam go, new cam fitted and that went (hardening isssue I guess) 2 x cambelt failures and 2 x holed pistons. No worse than anything else of the era though, I can't quite see the point in using them now.
I take it that the holed pistons were nothing to do with the cambelt, because the Pinto is a non-interference engine. Even on my Westfield engine (Pinto, Maxiflow head, fast road cam, twin Dellortos, etc) the valves do not extend down beyond the gasket line and the piston crowns have no protrusions - so no-clash.motco said:
grayze said:
Make sure the cambelt is changed to schedule the 2.0 is an interference engine.
No it isn'tThe 1.6s were supposed to be interference though
Easier just to change them as recommended, they're not expensive
Limpet said:
I took a Pinto to 180k on its original cam, and it was still quiet up top.
Oil changes were the key. I used cheap dino oil changed every 6k religiously. Most Fords don't get serviced once the warranty expires.
Overheated mine to the point that it seized, and once it had cooled down, it fired up on all four, and got us 300 miles home with a couple of coolant
top ups. Changed the head gasket a few weeks later and it was good as new again. Tough as old boots.
Exactly this. I took an 88 XR3i with the 1.6 cvh to 165,000 with nothing other than a set of hydraulic tappets. New oil every 6k, running sweetly when I sold it.Oil changes were the key. I used cheap dino oil changed every 6k religiously. Most Fords don't get serviced once the warranty expires.
Overheated mine to the point that it seized, and once it had cooled down, it fired up on all four, and got us 300 miles home with a couple of coolant
top ups. Changed the head gasket a few weeks later and it was good as new again. Tough as old boots.
When I bought it on 40,000 everyone said it would eat itself long before 100,000
conkerman said:
Pintos are crap. Rough, cam eating lumps of cast iron.
Not sure Mr Harris would agree with you 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-_xNTeIm_s
As said, the Pinto requires regular oil changes and keep the spray bar clear of blockages.
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