1972 Ford Ranchero!

RobertB · February 28, 2010, 10:41:27 PM

The 1972 Ford Ranchero has been bought! It is sitting in my driveway right now. Not a perfect car but a perfect car for a "restomod" - part restoration, part modernization. New Sears battery and battery mounting hardware installed. Next up, a gasket kit to seal the dripping 2-barrel carburetor on the 400 c.i. (6.6 L) V8 engine. It's the project car, i.e., every month I'll spend some money to tweak it.
Today two old-timers talked to me about the car, three young Sears mechanics eyed the engine of the car, and my brother-in-law gave it a visual once-over. That car truck certainly calls attention to itself.

Expect some photos sent over here (as soon as my
sister gets them out of her digital still camera),
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

Paul · March 01, 2010, 08:17:14 AM

Sounds like a fun hobby! One question; how are you going to find time to pursue your restoration/modding of your new toy and keep up with Commodore? I have a hard time finding time for one hobby, let alone two!

RobertB · March 01, 2010, 06:59:16 PM

Quote from: Paul on March 01, 2010, 08:17:14 AM...how are you going to find time to pursue your restoration/modding of your new toy and keep up with Commodore?

I'm taking the advice of a friend who has a mid-60's Pontiac GTO... you don't have to go all out at restoring a car all at once; you can do a little at a time and spread it over the years.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

RobertB · March 03, 2010, 03:53:48 PM

Quote from: I on February 28, 2010, 10:41:27 PMNot a perfect car but a perfect car for a "restomod" - part restoration, part modernization.
(snip)
Expect some photos sent over here (as soon as my sister gets them out of her digital still camera)...

Well, my sister is having trouble getting those pics out of her camera. In the meantime, you can see the photos the former owner of the vehicle had put up on Flickr. Go to

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21960874@N06/sets/72157623310591004

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

Paul · March 03, 2010, 07:31:08 PM

Yup, I don't think I've ever seen a more masculine car. Makes me want to drink a cold beer, grow a great mustache, and shoot some guns.

RobertB · March 05, 2010, 01:26:10 PM

Makes me want to drink a cold ice tea, trim the hair, and shoot a phaser.

Yay! A weekend to work in the yard and on the car,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

RobertB · March 08, 2010, 07:49:18 PM

Mmm, I've been studying Mustangs & Fords magazine and Hot Rod magazine. It looks as if I'll have to start saving up. The Ranchero needs a nice Pertronix electronic distributor, a CHI aluminum intake manifold, and a FAST EZ-EFI throttle body.

And those are just budget upgrades for a street machine,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

RobertB · March 18, 2010, 12:34:13 AM

Took the Ranchero out for a spin around town today. Went zooming up and down the streets (all within speed limits). Not enough to chirp the tires but enough to put a smile on my face.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org

RobertB · May 06, 2010, 10:02:20 PM

Quote from: I on March 08, 2010, 07:49:18 PMThe Ranchero needs a nice Pertronix electronic distributor...

Dearborn Classics - http://www.dearbornclassics.com - has a 50% off sale on any order over $199 this month. I am most tempted to purchase the Pertronix billet distributor with the Ignitor II module (it would be even better if it had the Ignitor III module). Now how do I work that into the budget?

Thinking,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 24-25 Commodore Vegas Expo 2010 - http://www.commodore.ca/forum
and click on ComVEX

Rorshach · May 07, 2010, 03:09:13 PM

Looks good Robert. Puts me in mind of a few classic cars I would want if I had the Ca$h & space for them.

RobertB · June 10, 2010, 10:00:01 PM

This is what the Ranchero looks like, in my possession.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 24-25 Commodore Vegas Expo 2010 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

RobertB · June 12, 2010, 12:41:59 AM

Oy! The Ranchero is a bear to start when it hasn't been used in awhile. I had to give the engine lots of warming up. I'll be glad when I eventually get rid of its two-barrel carburetor and install fuel injection.
In the meantime, to alleviate its start problems, I gave the carb and PCV valve a good cleaning with carburetor spray cleaner. I got back an extra 150 RPM for that cleaning.

Ah, the joy of carburetor spray cleaner... the fun of having the spray fly back in your face (glad I wore my glasses).

Tomorrow I'll get a new crankcase vent filter on it,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 24-25 Commodore Vegas Expo 2010 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

RobertB · June 17, 2010, 11:32:54 PM

Quote from: me on June 12, 2010, 12:41:59 AMOy! The Ranchero is a bear to start when it hasn't been used in awhile. I had to give the engine lots of warming up. I'll be glad when I eventually get rid of its two-barrel carburetor and install fuel injection.

Another reason why the car needs plenty of warm-up time... the choke doesn't seem to be working... the carb throat is wide-open all the time.
I went scooting around town the other day again in the Ranchero, this time a bit more aggressively. I found out that I couldn't chirp the tires. It goes like this -- heavy front end + light rear end + 300 ft. lbs of torque to the rear wheels = lots of wheel spinning!

Either I need stickier tires, or I need to throw more weight into the bed of the truck. And with that over-boosted, no-feel power steering, you're not quite sure if you're aimed correctly in a lane change. Fun!

Looking through an Edelbrock catalog,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 24-25 Commodore Vegas Expo 2010 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

RobertB · September 01, 2010, 11:56:49 AM

The last few days I've been dropping a lot of money on the Ranchero to bring it up to my standards. New starter solenoid, rebuilt starter, cooling system flush plus new radiator cap, new heater/a.c. blower motor, new heater core, and new power brake booster. I've done some of the work, and the professional mechanics have done the rest of the work. Whew! I think I'd better stop my Ranchero spending for this month.

Another burst of spending in a few months,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

RobertB · September 03, 2010, 11:12:42 PM

Quote from: RobertB on September 01, 2010, 11:56:49 AMWhew! I think I'd better stop my Ranchero spending for this month.

Oh-oh, I have the fixing-up fever.

I bought a rebuild kit, and if I get a free weekend, I'll rebuild that Ford two-barrel, type 2100 carburetor.

That should stop its leaking ways,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

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1972 Ford Ranchero!