Dear Pinto experts out there.

I have someone interested in my engine for sale, and whilst I know the provenance of the top end and induction intimately, I don't know much about the bottom end - never needed to; it's never given me much pain.

However, I would like to know what I have with the minimum of disturbance. Initial observations are that it's spotlessly clean inside - that monster diet of valvoline racing oil it's had every 500 miles seem to have paid dividends.

I've taken the following pictures which have some stampings on - maybe one of the pinto aficionados here may be able to help.

Firstly, here is a picture of the entire set of big-ends. The machining in the end-caps leads me to assume it's been balanced which is very encouraging and shows someone has cared about it:


Description

Here's one of the stampings on the big-end and a shot of the side of the big-end - it may be enough to identify if it's a V6 rod or pinto or other. I make the rod stamping out to be SOF25S CA


Description

Description

Finally, here's the crank-stamping. I make it out to be 72 HM JA


Description

Any ideas? As ever, thanks in advance for filling in the gaps in my knowledge.

There is not much to say
Either it's a 205 block or not, big 205 or little 205 on the outside
If it was an injection engine it will have better rods, F on the flank
Big ends look standard, rod bolts are standard,crank looks standard
Not balanced
Otherwise it's a Pinto

I agree the crank doesn't look machined, but do you think my assumption that the big ends have been machined (each to a different amount) would imply that they've been balanced? odd that they'd have been machined otherwise.

Thanks
M

Won't be V6 rods in a Pinto they have a bigger big end diameter
Crank looks to have only evidence of std balancing, No1 rod looks to be slightly different to the others
If its an injection engine then it will have 205 on the block sides, fairly obvious to see
I will check my injection rods tonight to see if that number matches up

Thanks

I can confirm it's definitely a 2 series block, not 205.

As I said, I want to be sure I'm doing the right thing by my potential buyer.

Thanks
Mark

got a pic of the sides of the block ?

205's can look like this:

Pinto - 205 block

or this:

pinto - 205 block

There were non injection 205's
The rods will have had minimal balancing on production
To properly balance a rod you would reduce the little end then match all 4
Injection rods have an F on the side
I have put Cosworth rods on a Pinto crank then had the crank, flywheel and clutch cover balanced together
It's not pretty the way they cut into the crank webs, drill the flywheel and do stuff to the clutch cover but it runs smooth

I've checked my injection rods no markings or numbers like yours.
205 blocks were the later blocks for both injection and non-injection - they were uprated as the pre 205 block was considered not up to the job, mainly as the tooling was well worn. New tooling so most cost effective was to use the tooling for all blocks, the 1.6L (165) and 1.8L (185) were similarly treated.
200 blocks (the best but rarest) were cast for the RS Escort as by that time regular use of the Pinto in passenger cars had come to an end.

if I get a chance at the weekend I'll dig out my spares and take some pic's
should atleast have a couple of early blocks and a couple of late ones with some rods (not sure exactly what I've got left as I've sold/given away alot of it)

quote:

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Originally posted by snapper
I have put Cosworth rods on a Pinto crank then had the crank, flywheel and clutch cover balanced together
It's not pretty the way they cut into the crank webs, drill the flywheel and do stuff to the clutch cover but it runs smooth

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