Posted on 07/02/2016 12:02:46 PM PDT by mdittmar
American Muscle Car - Chevrolet El Camino and Ford Ranchero
This one’s just outside Sacramento, CA, less than $7K, black inside and out, looks pretty good in photos but the aftermarket wheels aren’t ideal, imho:
https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1978/chevrolet/el-camino/100747597
I found a 64 1/2 Ranchero ... 351 Cleveland Engine Swap and was “IN LOVE” until I saw it was an Automatic ... kicked her to the curb and never looked back.
(just last month, hurts but I have my standards) ;^)
The fastest IMHO was the Chevelle with a 454.
**** “El Camino has more demand than Ranchero and is harder to find for a low price” ****
Disagree ‘64-’66 Rancheros have a higher demand (I have been shopping) or maybe I am just too picky ... I WANT A MANUAL Trans and will not settle
Too New, Too Big and probably has an Auto
But I still like it!
Its down by the Newbomb Turk memorial library.
Be sure to try the punch !
To each his own, I guess. I’ve never been wild about the Falcon-based Rancheros.
Aren’t most of those Cadillac “trucks” actually former flower cars for mortuaries?
liar
lol
Chevy engine works with manual or auto. You’ll need to swap the automatic flexplate for a flywheel and clutch and add bushing in the crankshaft hub to pilot the trans input shaft.
Unless you are a diehard column shift guy I’d go with a floor shift linkage. And unless you’re a diehard 3 speed guy I’d put in a T-5 five speed from an S10 pickup or Camaro to get the overdrive ratio for highway cruising. Makes a nice package.
Any idea whether your dad's car is on the SAAC registry? I think you can compare the Shelby VIN tag under the hood to the SAAC's listing at their website.
I'm surprised you're having trouble finding a manual transmission Ranchero in the Falcon-based cars ('60-'65). In the larger Fairlane-based cars beginning in '66, I would think that the C4 / Cruise-O-Matic would be more common.
Either way, the pedal assemblies and steering column parts are plentiful. I'd buy the cleanest, most rust-free Ranchero I could find, then later I'd do a T5 manual five-speed swap, same as the Mustang guys do. Unless you really want the "Three on the Tree", of course.
I’ve got no clue Charles. About the only other thing I’m aware of is the fact that it is equipped with a Packston (????,,,,I’m a gunsmith, not a mechanic LOL) turbocharger.
I hate it when folks know all that stuff (and I don’t)
I walked away when I saw the Auto ... the car is gone now
Sheesh!
It was a healthy 351 too.
I don’t want to turn wrenches, I just want to drive and a 4 speed is how that happens. How little or how much time I have left will not be wasted on a Hybrid or an Eco.
I screwed up I should have bought that Ranchero
Nice. Paxton superchargers were indeed a Shelby option back then - but only a dozen or so cars were delivered with it in ‘66.
I know a shop that does a lot of Ford work (mostly Mustangs and older pickups), I can ask around.
Thanks for clarifying the spelling. He bought it at an auction in Key West (or maybe Miami, Fla.) when he was in the Marines. His grandfathers brother rebuilt the engine and since has about 50,000 miles on it. It’s only been in Florida and here at our home in North Carolina.
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