Ok well as mentioned in my Buster Restoration thread, Buster will hopefully be moved along to someone who can get him all fixed up. In his place may I introduce to you my new to me 1968 Ranchero, Old Yeller, the transplant patient The plan is to take all the hot rod stuff (motor, fuel injection system, transmission, A/C, etc) out of the '67 and put it in the '68. The working motor/transmission from the '68 will go back into the '67. This way I can sell the '67 as a driver that needs body work to fix the hail damage, rust, and body rot. After getting pricing to fix the bodywork on the '67, this was a much cheaper option. I really hate giving up the '67 but hopefully it will go to a good home. Here are the details on the '68: VIN: 8K48C190515 Year:8 (1968) Assembly Plant: K (Kansas City, KS) Model: 48 (500) Engine: C (289 V-8 200 HP) Production Number: 190515 Body: 66B (Ranchero 500) Color: Y (Medium Gold Metallic) Trim: 5U (Pastel Parchment Vinyl) Date: 20D (April 20th) DSO: 75 (Phoenix) Axle:5 (3.00) Transmission: W (C4 Automatic XP3) I think I decoded everything correctly but if I made a mistake please let me know. I don't have any better pictures than this since it was raining when I took possession of the Ranchero this weekend but I promise to get some soon. Laters, Jeff
Thanks! I thought so as well. For the price I am miles and miles ahead of the '67 body wise. This '68 still had original undercoating and just an extremely solid body underneath. A couple of quarter size rust holes on the inner fender that need fixing up but that is about it. There is some solvent pop and some bondo shrinkage but it is nothing the average person would notice (paint job is two years old). My buddies at the shop were quick to point those areas out to me though
Oh dang just got some pictures. The boys at the shop are making some fast progress you can see the donor and transplant patients side by side here Laters, Jeff
Just need to add I am not a big fan of the chrome tape at the bottom of the body but that should be easy enough to remove and repair the paint under it. Laters, Jeff
Well good to hear a bad body can still get a second chance as a driver ,And you got a solid platform to build from ,I like the color /with you on the chrome tape !!!!
Wow, I could see the hood damage. That must've be a hellacious storm. As for the '68, I do like the paint color with the black striping; most of the time, regardless of color, I've only seen white striping. Excellent find, interesting project.
From what I can see the 68 looks nice... and tidy, and sometimes you've just gotta cut bait. I guess it's true that everything is big in Texas, including the golfball size hail that I've heard about.
So we are having some discussion on the Torque Thrust D's. The '68 is not an original GT vehicle but it has the GT badging and hood so with the GT wheels it makes a nice package. If I take the Torque Thrusts off of the '67 I either need to find some plain steel wheels to put back on it or put the GT wheels on it. In any case that decision needs more pondering. As far as the style side by side I think I actually like the '68 better. It looks just a tad bit sleeker. Laters, Jeff
Whether the wheels are for a GT or not, if you were to put them on the '67, you can buy center caps with no badging, and sell the GT caps to recoup your money. But you need to keep the TTDs.
Somebody's got to have some plain steel wheels to put back on the 67, even if you had to buy a couple (cheap) I think it's a good investment.
Both wheels are really cool and either might help the 67 sell easier as well as make the future buyer a very happy camper.
Ok still on the tire issue. Some young guy at the shop said that the Ranchero would look "simply awesome" with black rims. At first I was thinking ugh no way but after looking at some of the new ones available I have to say I am thinking about that. Something like this:
