I ran a nova bumper on mine, held up well. 8" can be welded posi and is rear end of choice. Get some gears and go.

8 inch is good, you can weld, I have mini spools in mine. I usually run 74-76 pinto bumpers. chain the rear end of the car down tight, use the front, and let er buck.

this is the wiring diagram u use to move it in the car

'70 Maverick bumper is little more than a single layer piece of tin. '74-'78 Maverick, Pinto, and Mustang 2 bumpers are all rather similar, and are all half decent if you have to use a true compact bumper.

Pintos are awesome to watch. I watched two idiots in a couple hit head on in them in my hometown a few years ago. The one guy is a moron but it was nice watching the loudmouth from riverton run into him...even though he lost. If you can put gears in that 8in do so. Btw a mini spool for a 28 spline 9in will fit right in it. Also try to find maverick or similar brackets so you can weld them flat. I'm not much of a compact guy but have hung out with a few. Not ones from my hometown though ...they like guys

I have an option of picking up a 1978 pinto wagon was wondering if this is a good car and also any tips possible for the wagon thanks

Wagons are the same as hatchbacks and trunk models in the front. The hatchbacks have a c frame in back wagons are boxed. 78 would be great car. Rwd fords are the best in my opinion but what do I know. You'll have good luck with it though....trust. pintos have probably done consistently better than most compacts. There was a guy on hear that could help you its a guy from the icy tundra of ewyoming. Travis knows also.

The Maverick shaft will need cut down, but should mount at both ends.

on a wagon it is best to fun all thread though the holes in the frame to act as body mounts in the rear and well all through out the car if you can but mostly in the rear.  i got rid of the crappy hanger for the leaf springs that attaches to the back bumper and just made some plates that are bolted through the frame .  i run nova bumpers on mine, they are great especially if you are allowed to load them, but not needed.  76 and up nova bumpers are real nice for them but don't go any older than the 74 they are 2 different styles and both are great.  i run 4:62 gears in mine and it is mini spooled.

does anyone have any pictures of the wagons before and after and inbetween building the car pictures thanks

i have plenty but my computer wont let me on photobucket so i can't post pics right now

i use a chevy old style alternator and i am putting some 76 impala wagon fenders in mine right now lol just takes cutting and welding

hellbent you dont have impala fenders on your pinto i seen them they look more like geo metro fenders.. but anyway pintos are good cars to run and very fun at that and if you get a good like 950 cca 1100 ca battery you wont need an alternator at all .

that means i am still in the process of doing this lol.  what fenders you talking about?  which car?  i just started trying to do this like 4 or 5 days ago lol

i dont run an alternator but if i did i would use a gm old style also because u can loog all the wires together and run one wire back to a switch

it would be just like this just add the wire that runs to ur switch

where can i get a good set of get up and go gears for the 8" in the pinto