But to make some money I've been workin at this lil local car lot. He is broke so in exchange for some of the cash he owes me he is gonna give me a 70 Ford Ranchero GT. All I know about it is he said it had a 390 big block originally but it started knockin and he threw a 289 in it backed by a C4 trans. Anyone on here know anything about these? Its suppose to run an drive ok. I havnt even looked at it yet but he said its still solid (no rust) and ran when he parked it (couple years ago). Thoughts? Ideas? I'm gettin for about $400 bucks of labor (he overpays me so its really only about $200). Thanks for any thoughts guys.

are you looking for info on the car or the engine/trans?
the 289 is a little too small for a Ranchero of that vintage, imo.

Eh, I just want to make sure I'm not gonna be destroying something important. I plan on using it as a beat around truck. Ya know haul garbage/parts/dead hookers, the usual. I just don't want to mess up something with lil dents and dings and using as it was originally intended. If it would be worth more to someone who loves these things then I would just get it running to sell. If they arn't really that valuable or rare then I won't worry about it. I'm thinkin a 460 if I decide to keep it any length of time Sam

Posted by jeepdave Eh, I just want to make sure I'm not gonna be destroying something important. I plan on using it as a beat around truck. Ya know haul garbage/parts/dead hookers, the usual. I just don't want to mess up something with lil dents and dings and using as it was originally intended. If it would be worth more to someone who loves these things then I would just get it running to sell. If they arn't really that valuable or rare then I won't worry about it. I'm thinkin a 460 if I decide to keep it any length of time Sam

at this stage a 70 Ranchero is very rare and actually worth quite a bit with a solid body.

Posted by Samurai at this stage a 70 Ranchero is very rare and actually worth quite a bit with a solid body.

Dammit. Last I checked the body was perfect. No rust anywhere. I look over it better when I squeeze it in the shop one day in the comming weeks. Guess I should be careful with it.

yes, please do.

it may not be your cup of tea (or mine) but you can bet some baby boomer somewhere had a ranchero just like that one when he was a teen and would love to buy the car and fix it up. if you can find an engine that will work well in it youll make someone very happy, or at least put it in the hands of someone else who will.

i went to a lot of trouble to bring my stripped shell of a bus up from the southern US and have had a lot of fun with it. if you want to sell the car quickly and get the most money for it, try to market it in an area where cars tend not to last very long (the rust belt as we call it). you will probably do better in rural areas as opposed to urban because larger properties with less restrictive property bylaws tend to draw car guys who have at least one classic car in their garage. try classic car forums, craigslist, rural newspapers, etc. get some good clear pictures of your car and put those in the ads and see what you get.

PS even a stripped ranchero shell with no rust would be worth $400 in labour, so i reckon you got a bargain. well played.

i talk to my dad... he'd fly down to my uncles' in South Carolina and drive the fucker home!
(He's a Torino guy from way back.)

I'd say you struck a pretty good bargain. Being a GT just makes it that much better.

Having a non-original engine and trans hurts the value a bit but not enough to worry about in this case.

Post up some pictures when you can!

Posted by That 1 Guy I'd say you struck a pretty good bargain. Being a GT just makes it that much better. Having a non-original engine and trans hurts the value a bit but not enough to worry about in this case. Post up some pictures when you can!

here's the thing, though... you said it's a 70 model? If it's a 70 and the car was a big block car, then it was either a 428 CJ or a 429... the FE was in it's twilight in 70 and the 385-series was being utilized. If it was a small block car, then it was a 302/351W car.

A real quick Google search on this:

http://auto.howstu...-ford-ranchero.htm

I guess I forgot what a good looking car they were.

http://en.wikipedi...d_Ranchero#1970-71

wiki to the rescue... the 70-71 Torino/Ranchero was a dead sexy car.

yeah the MKII was my favorite, but they were still a nice car until '72. if it was a '75 squire with 5mph bumpers and wood, id say forget it but youve got a nice rare specimen to play with.

Cool guys. When I get it drug into the shop I will see if I can post up some pics. Guess I got another project on my hands. It is a good lookin car. Any one need a 55 Packard? or a 74 Charger? I may have a line on these. Also a running driving 67? Plymouth Fury 3. All 2 doors. LOL I love living in the south all those cars are rust free except the charger. Its quarters are toast.