project 1979

Discussion in 'New Member Welcome Center' started by SamuelC, Jul 15, 2023.

  1. SamuelC

    SamuelC In First Gear

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    Hello all , my name is Sam and here is the 1979 ranchero I picked up for cheap from a friend . It is pretty much a complete car that had been sitting under a carport in a goat field for about 15 years . It is a long awaited project for me to work on and I am hoping to find good advice and knowledge and anything ranchero or or otherwise ford going on here . The picture is from the day I picked it up. ranchero.jpg
     
  2. 1978GT

    1978GT In Overdrive GOLD MEMBER

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    I hope the goats are in better shape than the Ranchero!

    Good luck!
     
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  3. beerbelly

    beerbelly In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

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    Better start looking for front turn lenses now!
     
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  4. Garbageman

    Garbageman In Overdrive

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  5. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

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    $175 each is a good price these days.
     
  6. SamuelC

    SamuelC In First Gear

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    I will eventually have to get a turn lens , but there are quite a few issues in front of that lol
     
  7. beerbelly

    beerbelly In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

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  8. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

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    Judging by the ePay prices, the L.A. CL ones are a steal.
     
  9. SamuelC

    SamuelC In First Gear

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    perhaps ill take the one good one it has and sell that to finance the complete restoration , minus the turn lamps of course lol
     
  10. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

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    Now you're cookin' with gas!
     
  11. PonyExpressRider

    PonyExpressRider In Maximum Overdrive

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    Welcome to the site. Looks better than mine did when I started.
     

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  12. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

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    CTC Auto Wrecking, North of Dallas, has several '77-'79 Cheros, no LTD II's, but the only complete units are two different driver side ones....
     
  13. SamuelC

    SamuelC In First Gear

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    Here is an update for those who have nothing else to read on this forum late at night and somehow found themselves here.

    During transport , as the car rolled off the flatbed into the 'driveway' and after it finally got into its current place , the shifter linkage somehow got hung up and i was not able shift out of park.
    Of course , some gentle persuasion resulted in the handle giving way with a slightly sickening crunch. It's all apart now, having been worked on from time to time to try to free it up. I am pleased to announce that as of due diligence last tuesday we are able to shift gears again, and the project may carry on! On a side note , the parts list has grown by a couple items ...
     
  14. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

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    What, specifically, caused your hangup?
     
  15. SamuelC

    SamuelC In First Gear

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    i do not know specifically what hung up, it happened as the car was rolled into its current spot off the flatbed . after that it would not come out of park .
    it felt like the linkage just got stuck somewhere below the column. anyway , i was working it with whatever i could get in there at the shifter to unstick it hopefully. finally it got unstuck so i can shift and move it if i need to, but the original shifter and yoke and collar and all that jazz is busted up.


    ill take some pics for funsies and put em up soon
     
  16. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

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    Hmmm. It sounds like, if the p-brake wasn't set, the weight of the car was against the parking pawl when it engaged the drum.
     
  17. SamuelC

    SamuelC In First Gear

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    that or something involving weight during the drop seems likely what happened . the p-brake is not in service and has not been as long as ive had it . chocks are the way now lol
     
  18. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

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    Got it, but the only way for the trans to physically lock up would be the parking pawl against the drum. Otherwise, without the p-brake, the trans will freewheel with zero pressure inside.
     
  19. SamuelC

    SamuelC In First Gear

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    all technical terms aside , the thing was stuck and now its not.
     
  20. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

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    Well, that's good it isn't anymore. But if it does it again, rock the car back and forth, see if the shifter unlocks and moves as the car moves.
     
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