Pinto build, advice please.....

For a mild pinto, 44IDF's will be overkill so I suggest you sell that manifold to me HA!
 
Standard 200 block and head is fine. Unleaded valve seats, mild cam, raised compression & double valve springs.
 
Once you go to porting, rods and bigger valves it crosses over to warm engine, for which the IDF's will be handy.
 
Obviously half the cost if you go mild. 
 

If I was you I would work out what level of engine you want.  Determine what HP figure you want (you say you are not after a high HP motor but were between 100HP and 200HP do you want to be?).  From there people can advise what work needs to be done.  Power from a Pinto comes from head work as they are not the best design out of the box.
 
Probably easy power is available just from getting good valve angles on those new seats plus a different cam.  Very minor port work will get a bit more etc
 
The standard block is good for any spec Pinto bar forced induction unless you want to increase capacity too much.
 
Many more Pinto qualified people on this forum than me however so listen to what they have to say as it will save you some coin in the long run.
 
Goodluck with it!

Not much point having a bottom end capable of 7000rpm+ unless you are doing headwork as the standard heads cannot breath efficiently over that level.  However, doing the bottom end right once allows for future head upgrades.
 
You are correct about <7000 and >7000rpm engines.  From what I recall:
standard crank is bullet proof up to around 8500rpm
standard rods to just under 7000
standard pistons to around 7000
(somebody will correct me if I am wrong!)
 
Fitting uprated rods and pistons (=lighter) will really make the crank bullet-proof.  Some people use the Sierra steel crank but its not really necessary for a NA engine.
 
You planning on doing some head porting yourself? 

Thanks guys,
Put an add on gumtree and 24 hours later I'm looking at a dirty old pinto in my garage. Ran out of time this arvo so its off to the shops for a new engine stand tomorrow. Will strip it down over the weekend for an inspection, then get ready to do the bottom end.
Keen on having a go at the porting, between the speedpro and vizard book I'm getting my head (bad pun) around it.....  
Bare with me, I'm speaking to a few people at the moment, but ultimately want to put it together myself.....
 

 hi
what cam did you use?

Hp & rpm range will determine camshaft required. Cam will determine compression required. Rpm range will determine bottom end required.

An engine that doesn't go well is normally due to proper lack of planing. You can slap together a motor roughly and still go hard if its right combination, just durability will be compromised.

Hey Drewdog, good to read your posts bro and looks like your lemon/lime is evolving a lot faster than mine! dammit! need to get my finger out! ;) but hay thats wat working away and a 4 yr old boy does for the whole refurb picture! oh well should stop complaining and start working ha.
Mate have read all the post above and all of these forum writers are correct with everything that they have said,definatley the key to sucessful horsepower mods is knowledge!and eventually experience!i picked up a book a few years ago called "the ford sohc 'pinto' and sierra cosworth dohc engines high performance manual written buy Des Hammil (red cover)i got it from pitstop book shop on Adelaide teracce in Perth city! but im shore you could pick it up off net with full title! im guessing as not much chop on the net myself!. I have read this book cover to cover quite a few times now as i have both engines for 2 escorts RS like yours and 2 door RS1800 rep! i found this book VERY informative  and describes tried and tested methods,weak points,cams,short block builds,heads works,carbs hp figures and a hell of alot of wat you might want to know regarding a build of this sorts! well enough from me,good luck with your build of engine and car mate! and i hope this helps!
OORU Brother!