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So then I got an OHC rear axle out of an 1800 magnum. Yes I know it is yellow but it was given to me so I am more than grateful for it and it won't be hard to paint it up nicely. This opens the door to a few more powerplant options as I now have a stronger back end and can set the current 1256 one to the side. I am informed it is good for 140 to 160bhp

I got word last week that there was a 19,000 mile 2.0 pinto for sale local to me so I bought that and got it home. I had been looking for weeks for a mazda mx5 to break so I could get all the running gear with ancillaries, loom, ecu and key but nothing was coming up and all the local mazda men had nothing at a reasonable price that suited me, all their complete cars were roadworthy and upwards of £1500, no thanks.

Sods law, the pinto was in my shed half an hour and an ideal mx5 came up in Ballymoney at £250, so you guessed it, I bought that too. Here it is at home yesterday, 1.8litre twin cam VVT engine mk2.5 with 5 speed box and 79,000 miles, drove it onto the trailer and its even got MOT lol. Supposed to be putting out 145bhp but the beauty of it is everything is there and it runs. The guy selling it stripped the interior and panels off it as he races them himself but apart from that it is pretty complete.

So now I have a toss up between a pinto or an mx5 engine in this project, all comments or feedback on the matter are welcome

Pinto would probably be easier to fit as it has cable clutch &, no electronics to sort out but mx 5 would be a better drivers choice as in being more tractable at lower revs as the pinto was ' crammed up' to give its power,

Or cammed even, predictive text

Looking at your pinto engine, I think it may be a transit van engine

Johnboy HB wrote:Looking at your pinto engine, I think it may be a transit van engine

You are correct it is, it came out of a fire engine. It is low compression so I would need to change the pistons and make it high compression then I need to source a gearbox for it too. At least with the mazda everything is there and ready to go

Use the Mazda parts,pintos are great,but soooo heavy.

HC Fairley wrote:… It is low compression so I would need to change the pistons and make it high compression then I need to source a gearbox for it too…

Or fit forced induction

junkyarddog wrote:Use the Mazda parts,pintos are great,but soooo heavy.

I think I am going to take the mazda route. The pinto would be easier wired as mentioned above but it also is going to end up the much more expensive option.

viva les vegas wrote:

HC Fairley wrote:… It is low compression so I would need to change the pistons and make it high compression then I need to source a gearbox for it too…

Or fit forced induction

You wouldn't be the first person to suggest that

Yesterday was very productive, behold the entire mx5 wiring harness removes from the car and "meticulously" labelled. Most of the labels fell off so had to do them again while it was all fresh