Wanted: 1970's Pinto engine

[72caddy]

Looking for a usable 1970s era pinto 4 cylinder for a friend's project. Any leads in the deep south  (AL, GS, TN, ms) appreciated.

 

Richard

[r1lark]

Does it have to be an actual Pinto engine, or just a similar engine? The early 'small' Ranger pickups which debuted in 1983 used the 2.0L version of the same engine in the base models. Other Ranger models used the 2.3L engine, and a larger 2.5L with higher flow cylinder head was used in Rangers starting in 1998.

 

A bunch of Fords used the 2.3L OHC engine, a little online research should come up with a lot of options. Now, if it has to be an actual Pinto engine, that may be slightly tougher.

[72caddy]

I should have been more clear. It does need to be a pinto engine as it is needed for a Lotus elan +2. The pinto engine will bolt directly up to the lotus transmission ( which has a very unique shift linkage configuration up by the bell housing). Evidently this is a common swap.

 

Thanks for reading my post and asking.

 

Richard

[intimeold]

Maybe he needs the 1600cc non overhead cam engine.

 

This engine was more compact that the early 2000cc overhead cam engine.

 

 These were available in the early Pinto's.  They may have been a Ford Cortina based engine.

 

I actually thought it was a good engine; with less problems than the overhead cam engine.  At the time the 1600 cc was available; the 2000cc was having a lot of cam and cam follower problems.  I worked at a Ford dealer when the Pinto came out.  We never had problems with the 1600cc.; but the 2000cc kept us busy.

 

When the 2300 came out, it was a more refined engine. If you can say, the 2300 was ever refined. 

 

[1939_Buick]

3 hours ago, 72caddy said:

I should have been more clear. It does need to be a pinto engine as it is needed for a Lotus elan +2. The pinto engine will bolt directly up to the lotus transmission ( which has a very unique shift linkage configuration up by the bell housing). Evidently this is a common swap.

Sounds like you want a Ford Kent 1600cc engine. Millions of them made. I know someone who sent some to scrap metal. as no interest from anyone to buy.

The Lotus twin overhead cam engine is a development. That's what you really need(want). But big $$$$$

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Kent_engine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto_engine

 

 

There will be a lot of information about Lotus Elan's on the web

 

Edited December 22, 2016 by 1939_Buick (see edit history)

[72caddy]

Made some calls and , of course the forum is spot on, the 1600cc is the engine desired. The main issue is OUR location. Just not many options around and the pinto early engine is the easiest option at this point t. Original engine is seized and this person wants to drop in his temporary engine in until he gets around to rebuilding the original.

[1912Staver]

The "Kent" engine was made in a few different sizes and in cross flow as well as non- crossflow sizes . The late Cortina / Pinto/ Capri is a 1600 crossflow.  They are quite popular engines but are getting fairly rare. They are used for street cars and quite a few motorsports track cars. Not all that hard to find a worn out re-buildable but one that is ready to run is definitely harder to find.   Probably quicker and cheaper to just buy a second hand Miata to drive while the twin cam is being rebuilt. At the very least the exhaust and carb linkage will need to be changed to suit the crossflow.  The most popular Elan swap these days is a later Zetek twin cam but it is not a 1 or 2 weekend proposition. A lo mile Zetek from a wrecker is roughly the same sort of price as a set of Lotus twin cam pistons. But as I said it's not quite a bolt in. There is lots of info on the web.

  Twin cam Ford engines are very nice but they are definitely a specialised high performance engine and parts as well as the necessary skilled expertise to correctly rebuild them are both quite expensive these days. Hate to say it but a Miata is 90 % of the Elan with 10 % of the trouble.  I have owned several Loti and worked on quite a few more during my days as a British car mechanic. Great cars, but they have their quirks.

 

Greg in Canada

Edited December 23, 2016 by 1912Staver (see edit history)

[mike6024]

Looks better than a Miata!

[1912Staver]

Elan's and Elan + 2's as in your picture are both very nice cars,  but Miata's are quite a bit more user and wallet friendly. I currently own 2 1/2 lotus's and one Miata.  The 1/2 Lotus is also 1/2 Lola and is strictly a track car.. The Lotus part is Europa  so mid engine , in stock form they fall apart even quicker than Elan's . 

 

Greg in Canada

[Ozstatman]

"Great cars, but they have their quirks."

 

On an old car rally last year stopped and looked at a guys collection which included a Lotus. The guy conducting the tour advised that Lotus means "Lots of trouble usually serious"! That from a Lotus guy.

[mike6024]

You can search self-serve wrecking yards with this link called "Row52"

 

Here's one in Virginia, that's about it at the moment - http://row52.com/Vehicle/Index/RNDOMu2P4Dd8WxqU08MdDgKEY

 

 

And there is "LKQ" self serve wrecking these locations - http://www.lkqpickyourpart.com/locations/?zip=36105&range=200 but you have to call them to see if they have any Pintos, there is no online inventory search

 

Or any wrecking yard can check inventory of other yards for you by some computer inventory system they have, that is for non-self serve yards.

Edited December 23, 2016 by mike6024 (see edit history)

[john ullrich]

George Albright has a 1600 kent engine in the Sparrow  race car that he is trying to sell on line right now and is located in Ocala FL engine has been gone thru by a former SCCA great...check it out.