Buying
a Pinto engine - Check List of
Points to Watch Out For
If you're thinking of
buying a pinto engine
here are some things
that you can do to make
your buy a successful
one (click here if you
want to see what
pinto engines are
available today)
Most of you will be
looking at a pinto
engine with the
intention of tuning it
to make more horsepower
than standard and
fitting it to a rear
wheel drive sports car.
This engine is excellent
for such an application
and it seems to be
winning over many other
types of engine with
similar Cubic Capacity (
cc ) displacement.
The geometry and design
of this SOHC engine
allow for high RPM and
good low to mid range
torque figures. It is a
simple engine, old
school and there is a
vast amount of standard
and aftermarket parts
available in the UK for
very reasonable money.
This engine offers more
horsepower per money
spent than many other
engines of its size and
type.
1. Look on ebay - They
go for peanuts
2. Go for the '205'
Block from sierras or
for the '200' block
which is from a cosworth
4x4. This number will be
cast on the side of the
block.
3. Make sure you get all
the ancillaries included
in the sale. These will
come in very useful
later on in the
build/installation.
4. "Do not judge a book
by its cover". The
same goes for engines
so... check the engine
for your self and ask
the seller all the
questions you want. The
most important thing you
must look at is that the
engine turns over ( by
hand or on the starter
motor ) and that their
is a healthy compression
which you can
check by using a petrol
engine compression
tester with universal
fittings (the pointer on
the gauge of the tester
should go to the green
area). Make sure you
fully depress the
throttle when this is
performed and that you
check 1 cylinder at a
time, replacing each
spark plug before moving
to the next cylinder.
5. Do not worry if the
engine looks mucky or
dirty. This does not
matter at this point, it
is what's inside that
does. There are some
very fine 'engine
paints' available to
make your engine look
really sexy! Or
something like that...
6. I mentioned Ebay
above because that is
where I would look
first. Your local
breakers or vehicle
dismantlers will very
possibly be able to
supply you with a 2000cc
engine. I bought mine
from a regional engine
dismantler about 3 years
ago for £30.00!! This
was the '205' block. I
ask for that and in 2
weeks he called me to go
and collect my unit. (
he is a good man !). On
Ebay you have an option
available which is to
look at the item
listings in you
preferred order, I
suggest you 'sort' your
listing order with the
'nearest first ' option
which will bring you the
pinto engines that are
closest to you.! You
see? They way about
100kg/18stone so you
don't want to pay for
postage do you? Make
sure you take a big
friend with you to
collect!..
6. The engine will be
very dirty and greasy so
take a few rubbish bin
bags with you and rap
them around the engine
before you load or
handle. Many breakers
have forklift trucks to
assist with loading.
7. Today I would
estimate that you could
buy a reasonable pinto
engine '205' block in
running condition for
about $220/£100. To buy a
full race-spec pinto
engine and I mean a real
racing pinto build by
someone who has the
flair and talent you
will be paying in
excess of £7,500.00 -
That's a big difference
isn't it?
8. It is unlikely that
you will want to go for
any other than the
2000cc pinto engine
although other sizes are
available which are
1300cc , 1600cc, 1800cc
and there is also a
2300cc engine which I
think is mostly found in
America. This is a rare
engine in the UK and I
would not recommend
buying one due to the
limited or probably
nonexistent parts
available. It has not
had a high performance
profile in the UK at
least.
9. As Burton Power write
on their catalogue re
the pinto engine: "A
great engine with loads
of potential".
Go here if you're on the
lookout to buy a
pinto engine now,
and you can see what's
available on Ebay
