The Lima Motor I would say has proven itself.

[importfighter01]

RIP Lima 2.5L...its final displacement....Heavy boat anchor by today's standards...

Best,
Phil

LOVED my 2.5 Lima Ranger. Always wanted to install the 2.3 roller cam combined with the 2.5 lifters to get some extra power, but was scared the extra valve lift would make it change from non-interference to interference, and sacrificing that reliability was non-negotiable. One of the best motors for simplicity and reliability ever made, hands down.

Sponsored

 

[FeudalCross]

I live in Lima and drive by the engine plant on my way to work.

Just down the road in Wapak, but I work in Lima.

 

[a572mike]

I'd still love to have a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe...

 

[Phessor]

I'd still love to have a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe...

They were fun to drive!

 

[Rickfar]

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone complain about the engine in a Pinto, unless for the standard SMOG controls of the era. Usually it’s always about the fuel tank.

They don’t even talk about the company politics. I think I remember reading something some time ago about Ford could fix the Pinto for something like $11 per car, but chose not to because would cut into their profit too much. Obviously some things never change, or else the Ranger would still have all of it’s tie down straps and folding headrests.

Well i owned one of them bottle rockets and I remember thr pics of pintos burned to crispy critters when hit from the rear, If I remember correctly they installed some kevlar shields back at rear shocks well value of car went in the dumper and basically you couldnt give it away but still had a payment to pay to the bank. ir was a cute little car but.......

 

[towpro]

Is this lima engine the same one I was replacing cam shafts in customers cars all the time in the late 70's. Besides the cam problems early on I did like that engine.

I remember renting a turbo thunderbird in the mid 80's. I picked it up in Vegas around midnight and headed to Kingman AZ on 93. After crossing the Hover dam that road was great. Being from the east coast I was not used to roads that straight and flat. At one point I felt like the car was having probllems engine problems. it just seemed to not have any acceleration and I recall the pedal was hitting the floor. I Looked down and the spedo was buried (I think the spedo only went up to 85 back than),

 

[Cmar]

They were a popular engine in the Escort and Cortina models in Australia. The only thing that ever seemed to go wrong with them was that in the 1970's the art of bonding rubber cam belts evidently wasn't quite perfected, and they did develop a reputation for tossing cam belts in out hot climate. Ford Australia kindly fixed this issue by also releasing the Cortinas with the 250 Cui straight six used as the base engine in the Falcon here. Those cars went like scalded cats!

 

[12Bravo20]

The old Pinto engines were dependable. We use to use them in small Maintenance of Way cars on the rail road. This was before trucks with tram wheels were common. The MoW cars had a 5 speed transmission and a transfer box to allow all five gears in both directions. Them things would fly down the track. I actually got a speeding ticket in one from a MP once.

 

[SICKQK]

Ha, Dan is good at what he does but we have also had a rocky relationship, we were ahead of his Esslinger sponsored car (Kenny Smith) in the points battle, the rules were stock iron block and head, he got the association to allow his de-stroked 2.3 with the aluminum head, (as a series sponsor they didn't say no to him) we still won some races but ultimately finished 2nd in the championship, there were other things that had us at odds, questionable parts that failed, but my favorite was the sponsorship rule that said we HAD to run the Esslinger sticker on our car, but they didn't stipulate where (yet) so when they questioned us, we pointed to the muffler, we were proudly displaying the stickers on the muffler, next race it was mandatory on the body. LOL!!

I'd still love to have a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe...

My first new car. Rebuilt the turbo twice and replaced the head (had mine rebuilt after a timing belt failure) in the driveway when it was 100 degrees out.

Loved that car though.

Sponsored