Comparing Tow Vehicles

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

Floyd, last weekend I noticed a CL listing near me of a '95 Ranger with a T5 and supercharger... red with a hood scoop and black hood stripe. It looked pretty sweet. Maybe you should upgrade your Ranger!

BTW, just what is the wheelbase on a Pinto? I'm curious.

What Craigs List? sounds interesting, but Ive pretty much got the ultimate Ranger (old as it is).
The Pinto sedan has a 94.5" wheelbase, the wagon is 94.8.
My Ranger is 111.5" and My Escape is 103.1"
I had to look this up for comparison but... the Bronco has a 92"WB and the Bronco II is 94", CJ5 is 83" and 2004 RAV4 is 98".

[MC1]

It is interesting some short wheelbased Bronco's had a 6,000lb tow rating.

Standard issue Jeeps have roughly the same wheelbase as a Pinto and lots of those are used as TV's. In theory the Pinto has better physics as a TV but the small HP of the Pinto 4 cyl engine could be a limiting factor.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by MC1

It is interesting some short wheelbased Bronco's had a 6,000lb tow rating.

Standard issue Jeeps have roughly the same wheelbase as a Pinto and lots of those are used as TV's. In theory the Pinto has better physics as a TV but the small HP of the Pinto 4 cyl engine could be a limiting factor.

All true,and as you say...the CJ7 from that era was about the same WB as the Pinto, but
the CJ5 was 11.5 inches shorter WB than the Pinto sedan.
While lots of 4CYL's have been known to to pull small trailers, My Pinto has a 5.0L-V8 with GT40 heads,a T5 trans, and an 8" rearend, along with improved brakes,suspension, cooling system etc.
I'm merely musing, and there really aren't that many Pintos left to worry about influence anyway.
Look here,that Pinto TV is on the cover of the Scamp brochure...

[Mike Magee]

Originally Posted by floyd

What Craigs List? sounds interesting, but Ive pretty much got the ultimate Ranger (old as it is).
The Pinto sedan has a 94.5" wheelbase, the wagon is 94.8.
My Ranger is 111.5" and My Escape is 103.1"
I had to look this up for comparison but... the Bronco has a 92"WB and the Bronco II is 94", CJ5 is 83" and 2004 RAV4 is 98".

Tulsa craigslist... here it is, freshly re-posted today. Lousy photos, but nice looking truck.
http://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/3041144684.html

[MC1]

Interesting ad pics Floyd. The Pinto could probably pull it but 0 to 60 could take some patients. It me reminds me of this old Airstream ad with an AMC Pacer in the lead. I am very familar with Pacers and know just how bad a vehicle they were. Towing 3,000lbs with one would not be fun.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by MC1

Interesting ad pics Floyd. The Pinto could probably pull it but 0 to 60 could take some patients. It me reminds me of this old Airstream ad with an AMC Pacer in the lead. I am very familar with Pacers and know just how bad a vehicle they were. Towing 3,000lbs with one would not be fun.

Super-lightweight Argosy!My money is on the Pinto/Scamp combo!
I noticed it's a 6CYl Pacer, great motor! (interesting car) that 258 was later to be the 4.0L Jeep, which was the best they ever offered. shows what gearing can do, and the importance of chassis design.
I had a 1987 2.3L Ranger and pulled all kinds of trailers all over the place, A 13 Scamp would've been a day off for it!
BTW;Would those "patients" be driving or pushing???

[Raz]

Originally Posted by floyd

Actually my Pinto was made in the venerable Metuchen NJ assembly plant, also once home of the Mustang. Those were the "Glory Days"
I wonder if that's how Springsteen "The Boss" got his nickname?

The plant was actually on route 1 in Edison, N.J. I remember sitting in the local burger joint and watching Pintos roll off the assembly line. Later (1990's) they made Rangers there. Ford shut the plant down and leveled the building around 2000. I think there is a mall there now. Raz


p.s. Asbury Park is about 30 miles from there.

[MC1]

Originally Posted by floyd

I noticed it's a 6CYl Pacer, great motor! (interesting car) that 258 was later to be the 4.0L Jeep, which was the best they ever offered. shows what gearing can do, and the importance of chassis design.

Agree floyd, the 258 had lots of TQ and was very durable. With the Pacer I built up, like you I chose a 5L V8 with a T5. A 9" bolted right in.... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...g?t=1338208794

[Carol H]

Floyd - luv Springsteen! but apparently the he got his nickname "The Boss" in his early days after a club gig he was the one who would pay each of his band members so they called him the Boss and it stuck.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by MC1

Agree floyd, the 258 had lots of TQ and was very durable. With the Pacer I built up, like you I chose a 5L V8 with a T5. A 9" bolted right in.... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...g?t=1338208794

That is a most AMAZING looking car! It really does look like a 928! Nice work! and some of the most ambitious I've seen! Where is the car now?

[Mike Magee]

Very sharp Pacestang! It might have been a pretty good trailer tug, too.

[MC1]

Originally Posted by floyd

Where is the car now?

Floyd, I sold it 20 years ago as we wanted to get back into RVing. The current owner posted this on youtube not to long ago....

The Scorpian Pacer - YouTube

This was when I owned it having fun....

AMC Pacer with Ford HO 302 burnout .AVI - YouTube

thnxs for your interest guys.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by P. Raz

The plant was actually on route 1 in Edison, N.J. I remember sitting in the local burger joint and watching Pintos roll off the assembly line. Later (1990's) they made Rangers there. Ford shut the plant down and leveled the building around 2000. I think there is a mall there now. Raz


p.s. Asbury Park is about 30 miles from there.

City limits seem to move around over time, Our "Joliet Refinery" has been in Chanahon with an Elwood phone number, for forty years now(since construction).

Edison or not...To Ford it was the "Metuchen Assembly Plant". Maybe it just has (had)a nicer image?
Odd since Henry and Thomas were friends!

[Raz]

Originally Posted by floyd

City limits seem to move around over time, Our "Joliet Refinery" has been in Chanahon with an Elwood phone number, for forty years now(since construction).

Edison or not...To Ford it was the "Metuchen Assembly Plant". Maybe it just has (had)a nicer image?
Odd since Henry and Thomas were friends!

By 1991 the Ranger I bought said made in Edison. I suspect when the plant was built they used the Metuchen post office. By the 70's Edison had it's own. This was a big plant. At least a mile long. Applied for a summer job there once. Me and 10000 other guys.

[Borden]

Our car is doing the job and the mileage is ok 11.2L to 8.4L per 100km also as high as 8.1L
(21 to 28 mpg US) uphill grade or head wind will make a difference as we push a lot of air
Car is rated at 5.7L per 100km or (41mpg US)