Hnnngg. Learn me pinto wagons.

Specifically the 1978 variety. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/281973497013241/?ref=product_details&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%226985321728442743809%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%22359192530531283564%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A359192530531283564%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A6%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A0%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A1320698792797798400%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A501%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A0%2C%5C%22upsell_type%5C%22%3A21%2C%5C%22grouping_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%7D

immediate thoughts: pinto truck with a v8 and a stick. 

Don't.

They are already flimsy. V8 torque makes it worse as would a stick. Oh and the stick would have to be converted to hydraulic clutch.

As a recovering Pintoholic, I support your plan.

Personally, if I did another V8, I'd do a Chevy LS and set the engine back.  A 5.0 sits pretty far forward of the front wheels in a Pino.  Though, EPIC for smokeshows.

Interesting story: Dave, from "Dave's Vega Village" in Port Moody, BC, had a Vega wagon he made into a wee truck.  A Vegamino? He got pulled over by the po-po because it was a truck with car plates.  They ordered an inspection to get it registered as a truck, which he did, and got truck plates for it. Then got pulled over because clearly it was a car with truck plates.....

I would chop up a regular wagon, not a cruiser.  I love the cruisers.

I've had a '72 Pinto sedan with a 2.0L, a '74 Pinto sedan with a 5.0L and a '76 Pinto wagon with a 5.0L.

In reply to SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) :

Haven't looked at it yet. So no idea on the rust situation. It looks like a goner anyways based on the moss growing on the carpets. My thought was exactly that- a pintomino. I need a mini truck anyway. 

Ranger50 said:

Don't.

They are already flimsy. V8 torque makes it worse as would a stick. Oh and the stick would have to be converted to hydraulic clutch.

Subframe braces and such? There's always a solution to a problem.

I will just post some visual inspiration.

I am a fan of pintos and I fully support this idea.

I had a 72 wagon with 2.0 and 4 speed. Barebones. I like pintos. My brother had an ssc pinto.  In SCCA DC region we had a very popular  GT-Pinto class. Lots of good racing. 

Install cranked-up 2.3 Turbo and do burnouts so violent that the fire department responds to them.

In reply to NickD :

You've made my day. Thanks for this. That's exactly what I would build It for, excessive noise complaints. 

Pinchero, perhaps.  Pinto+Ranchero.

Ranchinto?

Personally I always preferred the styling of the Bobcat.  I would really rock a round headlight Bobcat wagon. 

My Dad had a '76 wagon with the 2.3 that he bought new back in the day.  I drove it a few times as a young man.  My daily was a Mazda RX-2 at that time.  I remember thinking "how in the world did Ford manage to make a small car drive like a big wallowing Detroit pig?"  Not a fun drive in spite of the 4-speed manual shift.  First thing I'd look at is re-doing the suspension.

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

Yeah that'll be on the short list. I think getting it running and driving, then rust repair first. Sort the suspension. No track driving. Just burnouts for days and bang shifting. Haul crap when I need to. 
these are body on frame right? 

Countingcrowbars said:

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

these are body on frame right? 

I would say no.  Unibody.

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

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

Ok. Change of plans then. Maybe pull a "Roadkill" and frame swap it to a ranger or other truck