Side Oiler Pinto

[misfit41]

This is my friends race car which I helped build and work the pits for in the late 70's,i thought you guys may enjoy the look.
a 1976 pinto,the best I can recall it was lenghtened 14 inches behind the front wheels,the front sub clip was a ford torino {like all race cars of the day},the frame and roll cage were home shop built,rear end was nascar floater.
engine was a side oiler,we had many but I am sure this was a C8AZG service block he bought from me,{under700 dollars}I was a ford parts mgr,we used a top loader 4 spd and ran in second gear on a 1/4 mile dirt oval,straight speeds were a bit over 100 mph usually with the left front wheel in the air if the car was hooking well.
These pics were taken may78,my wife is one of the girls in the back ground with my old ford truck,{ I have "after" pics of the truck,it was in trucking magazine in 80}
The car was impressive even now as I look back,it was painted by the guy driving in the shop ,numerous coats of laquer with clear,Nd was very particular ,every rivet ,bolt and line had to be perfect,as well as the paint.
Late this same summer we switched the 427 to alcohol,that was an great experience working out the jetting,at the last we did away with rear jets completely,nothing but the threaded holes,this car screamed,won many heat and trophy dash races,features were few,after the track got hot and dry the torque of the fe worked against us.
I cant find the interior pic,I am proud of the dash I built then,I was 20 years old,I assembled the engine,narrowed the rear end,and made the drive shaft for this car,all with out failure,funny thing is I am reluctant to attempt these same jobs now,,wish I could get back some of that drive.
After a bad crash ended this car in late 79,we built an all fiberglass body fairmont,{hey ford didnt offer much in those days} if any one shows interest I will post the faimont pics,,Tim

[Okiesnake]

I'd like to see the pics of the fairmont. Enjoyed the story on the BB Pinto.

[misfit41]

Okiesnake,,
I will get them scanned and posted,,and thanks,,
I know it isnt much compared to the stuff here,but when I was young,it was like working for Carroll Shelby,,,haha
Tim K

[SCOBRAC]

Lengthened Pinto. I think they called those mustang II's didn't they?

[misfit41]

I hadnt thougt of it that way Michael,,But I guess your right,this car still had the rocker panels and the inner qtr bracing intact,wild when I think about it,but most race cars then still had complete cowls in them.
Not sure why a apint was the choice,but I dont recall any Mustang II 's lying around our shop,,Tim

[scottj]

Originally posted by misfit41


I know it isnt much compared to the stuff here,but when I was young,it was like working for Carroll Shelby,,,haha
Tim K

Tim,
I disagree. From a drivers standpoint, the thrill doesn't get any better than dirt short track.

As a kid in the '70's I spent summers in N. Minnesota. On the weekends I was at the dirt short tracks on the iron range. I vividly remember the Big Block Vegas, Camaros, Firebirds, and Fairmonts. But, it was a certain BB Corvette Late Model, with one of the first Flexi-Flyer bodies and 22" wide "Humper" tires, that made the biggest impact on me.

Of course I like Cobras but probably not for the same reasons as others. I like them because it is the only car I've ever had that comes anywhere close to the thrill of a Dirt Late Model (still a very distant second). I appreciate your Pinto photos more than you can imagine.
Scott

[misfit41]

HI Scott,,
I am glad you can appreciate the photos,,I actually got tingely when I read your post,it's been a long time since I heard any one else mention "Humpers"although I have thought about them many times,,and the fairmont I spoke of,which I will post in a day or so had none other than a "flexi Flyer"body,all 75 lbs of it.
I agree with you on the thrills,I have attended a few nascar races,and many short track asphalt,nothing has the speed and excitement of the short dirt oval.
My friend is a great engineer,a super builder,and decent driver,but he stuck with ford fe's when he maybe shouldnt have,we ate a lot of crap for that, but he is still doing it,now it's a bullit chassis,a 35k shelby alloy tunnel port,and it flies.he is 62 years old now with not much sign of slowing down.
the pinto had 180 degree howe headers that exited inside the 62 numbers on the right door,I will never forget the scream of the alky 427 at 7800 rpm,blue flames for at least a foot.
I always think of the 1/4 mile tracks when I read qtr drag times,I know it isnt a fair comparison,but I can remember running 130 in the straights on good nights,,thats a qtr mile with curves so i am not sure how long the straits are,,but it was flying,,
thanks for the post,,Tim
Dirt is for racing,aspahlt is for getting to the track,,,