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My first car in the early '80s was an early '70s Pinto. I don't remember the exact model year. It was an ugly green manual transmission, and it frustrated me th

My first car in the early '80s was an early '70s Pinto. I don't remember the exact model year. It was an ugly green manual transmission, and it frustrated me that driving it up the hill to my parents' house, it topped out at something like 20 mph in first gear, but bogged out in second gear (cue the Lada comparisons), while a friend's automatic went up the hill just fine. I don't know if it was ever retrofitted, but I was never rear-ended in the time I owned it. It got my friends and me to Vegas and back from San Diego. No air conditioner, so that was a challenge. One time I had to replace the head gasket, put the replacement on backwards, and had to get another replacement -- oil everywhere when I cranked it. It kept me mobile for a couple years.

_yb2s 4y ago
> it topped out at something like 20 mph in first gear, but bogged out in second gear I had an early 80s Ford Ranger with had the same 4 cylinder pinto engine, and the same experience. It also had a 5th gear, which was useless unless you were actually going downhill because the engine didn't have enough torque. I am not sure why european cars with similar sized and power output 4 cylinder engines didn't have these problems. Possibly more low end torque, and better gear ratio choices? On paper a 1970s Volvo B20 is almost the same specs as a Pinto LL20, but drives excellent.
- bluedino 4y ago
  > Possibly more low end torque, and better gear ratio choices? The Japanese engines had less torque but were higher revving engines, and had better gear ratios. Also lower curb weights and more manual transmissions. It took GM/Ford a while to go with overhead cam designs. 1984 Honda Civic 1600lbs 1.5 liter engine 91 hp at 5,500 rpm 93 lb⋅ft at 4,500 rpm. 1984 Chevrolet Citation 2.5 liter engine 83 hp at 4000 rpm 124 lb/ft 2400 rpm 2200lbs

_yb2s 4y ago

> it topped out at something like 20 mph in first gear, but bogged out in second gear I had an early 80s Ford Ranger with had the same 4 cylinder pinto engine, and the same experience. It also had a 5th gear, which was useless unless you were actually going downhill because the engine didn't have enough torque. I am not sure why european cars with similar sized and power output 4 cylinder engines didn't have these problems. Possibly more low end torque, and better gear ratio choices? On paper a 1970s Volvo B20 is almost the same specs as a Pinto LL20, but drives excellent.

bluedino 4y ago
> Possibly more low end torque, and better gear ratio choices? The Japanese engines had less torque but were higher revving engines, and had better gear ratios. Also lower curb weights and more manual transmissions. It took GM/Ford a while to go with overhead cam designs. 1984 Honda Civic 1600lbs 1.5 liter engine 91 hp at 5,500 rpm 93 lb⋅ft at 4,500 rpm. 1984 Chevrolet Citation 2.5 liter engine 83 hp at 4000 rpm 124 lb/ft 2400 rpm 2200lbs