72 Ranchero New Guy

Discussion in 'New Member Welcome Center' started by 72 GT, Aug 3, 2023.

  1. 72 GT

    72 GT In First Gear

    Messages:
    5
    Location:
    Kansas
    Been stalking this site for a while, finally decided to join. I have gotten some really good information here to help me resto-fy my 72 Ranchero 500. My dad bought this car new in May of 1972, drove it for 18 months and decided to upgrade to a 73 GT. I bought it from him in Oct 1973 and have owned it since. It was originally a 250 cu. in 6 with a 3 on the tree. As soon as I got the money together it got wheels, next was a sound system (complete with an 8-track player) and then a new pearl orange paint job to replace the original gold glow. Drove it 10 years and parked it when I got a real job with Ford and had to start traveling.

    Fast forward, decided to do a body-off and make it what I always wanted it to be. I got a 351C-4v and a top loader, detailed the chassis, then had 2 kids, a mortgage, braces, etc., etc. It sat for almost 20 years in my garage. My wife loved that.

    Fast forward again, in 2016 I retired from Ford and decided to get back to work on the project. Got the body all slick with help from the guy who painted it orange in 1975, had it it sprayed the new color which is a pearl version of Black Jade that was on late 60s Mustangs. Got the Cleveland built with CHI heads, Pro-M sequential EFI with LS coils and a crank trigger. Decided the 4-speed would get old and went to a 4R70W. Now getting close to getting the body back on the frame.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

    Messages:
    14,016
    Location:
    New Braunfels, TX
    Rarely do you get a story like that. Soooooo...do you still have the Three-on-the-tree steering column?
     
  3. 72 GT

    72 GT In First Gear

    Messages:
    5
    Location:
    Kansas
    i probably do, but I’m not sure where. I have boxes and boxes of parts. You interested in it?
     
  4. LSChero

    LSChero In Maximum Overdrive PLATINUM MEMBER

    Messages:
    2,569
    Location:
    Area 6 NV
    Nice work 72,she a beauty!Complete clutch pedal set ups are hard to find and pricey.Start a thread in "stable" of assembly progress.
     
  5. 72 GT

    72 GT In First Gear

    Messages:
    5
    Location:
    Kansas
    Thank you, it’s a long journey to do it, especially in a home garage, but it will be worth it in the end. I’ll try to start a thread in Stable with lots of pictures, I’ve got literally hundreds.
     
  6. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

    Messages:
    14,016
    Location:
    New Braunfels, TX
    Not really, but for a '72-'79 Torino, LTD II, Ranchero or wagon resto, it could be needed by someone.
     
  7. BlackBeauty

    BlackBeauty In Second Gear

    Messages:
    64
    Handy do you need a 3 on ? I have a 73 F-250 with a 3tree parts truck
     
  8. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

    Messages:
    14,016
    Location:
    New Braunfels, TX
    No, I don't, thank you for the offer, but owing to their scarcity, I thought making it known to those who have the 3-speed column shifters, might get people to buy them, in order to have spares. I know one of the members on here needed column parts a few years ago, but I can't remember who, or if it was for a manual or auto column. All I remember was that they had a Falcon Chero.
     

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