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Yhottys · 03-20-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, a few things from memory about the Ranchero/Torino/Country Squire. The 351 Cleveland will have no problem towing, but you might want to add some ballast in the bed. The 351 Cleveland 4V has very large intake ports and is followed by a C-6 transmission. The 351 Cleveland 2V has small intake ports and is followed with a a C-4 transmission. I believe all Rancheros had a 9" differential and the other models had a 8" differential with the 2-V / C-4 option. During this time frame, Cougars with a 351 Cleveland 4-V also had the C-6, but the 2-V engines had the FMX transmission.

Zowie Bob! You are certainly a font of knowledge. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us!

All the best,

**Action** · 03-20-2010, 02:29 PM

Yhottys,

What is the axle ratio?
Two places to find out if you do not know. The VIN tag on the driver's door will have an axle code and from there you will need to de-code. The VIN tag on the door will have a single digit that is numeric if standard axle and alpha if trac loc.
The other place will be a small metal tag under a nut or bolt on the rear axle.

I ask because the towing capacity will change with axle ratio. Likely there will be 4 or 5 choices for that model. 2.8, 3.00, 3.25, 3.50 and ? The larger the number the more capacity you should have.

And one of my TV's was created in 1966.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

tallytwo1994 · 03-20-2010, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yhottys

LOL! Or pretty girls!

We hope Dad likes it-it's a surprise. We plan on meeting him for breakfast, parking the Ranchero behind the restaurant, and handing him a small gift-wrapped box with the keys in it.

It may bring back all those great polyester, leisure suit memories.

So, if it can tow the Bambi - will you hand it over as well?

Sure wish you two lived in Florida - my son needs friends like you who will set such a good example of gifting.

Very nice!

Carol

Yhottys · 03-20-2010, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airslide

Murray,

Thats a really nice ranchero... very straight and clean.

Vin

Thanks Vinnie!

Let's hope Pops thinks so too!

See you soon,

vswingfield · 03-20-2010, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yhottys

Thanks Vinnie!

Let's hope Pops thinks so too!

See you soon,

I have faith that he will. I notice that the wheels and caps are original, too. I haven't seen any of those since my brother got the set of mags for his. Very pristine condition.

Yhottys · 03-20-2010, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vswingfield

I notice that the wheels and caps are original, too. I haven't seen any of those since my brother got the set of mags for his. Very pristine condition.

Know what else is original Vaughn? The AM radio with it's single speaker. We started laughing when we realized that we couldn't call it stereo. We're driving down Highway 5 now and all we can pick up are talk radio stations.

She's driving great and handling the road well. 561 miles until we get to Phoenix.

Happy and safe journeys,

Yhottys · 03-21-2010, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Action

Yhottys,

What is the axle ratio?
Two places to find out if you do not know. The VIN tag on the driver's door will have an axle code and from there you will need to de-code. The VIN tag on the door will have a single digit that is numeric if standard axle and alpha if trac loc.
The other place will be a small metal tag under a nut or bolt on the rear axle.

I ask because the towing capacity will change with axle ratio. Likely there will be 4 or 5 choices for that model. 2.8, 3.00, 3.25, 3.50 and ? The larger the number the more capacity you should have.

And one of my TV's was created in 1966.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

Thanks for the information Action.

We'll look up the information when we get to Phoenix. We should be there in about an hour. We'll post our findings later.

All the best,

Ganaraska · 03-21-2010, 09:23 AM

As always, you can lower the gearing by using low profile tires. This gives the same effect as the factory trailer towing package.

In other words if the car came with 70 series tires install the same size but 60 series. If it came with 60 install 50.

The smaller tires lower the gear ratio by about 7% which is about the same as the trailer towing package.

The low profile tires also help control side sway.

Yhottys · 03-25-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Action

Yhottys,

What is the axle ratio?
Two places to find out if you do not know. The VIN tag on the driver's door will have an axle code and from there you will need to de-code. The VIN tag on the door will have a single digit that is numeric if standard axle and alpha if trac loc.
The other place will be a small metal tag under a nut or bolt on the rear axle.

I ask because the towing capacity will change with axle ratio. Likely there will be 4 or 5 choices for that model. 2.8, 3.00, 3.25, 3.50 and ? The larger the number the more capacity you should have.

And one of my TV's was created in 1966.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

Action,

Does axle 6, transmission W mean anything?

The original owner's notes indicate that it has a 2v carb, engine code "H" and "350 torque ft lbs at 2600".

**Action** · 03-25-2010, 01:15 PM

Yes it does!

The 6 means it is a convetional axle with a ratio of 3.00 to 1.

The "W" means the tranny is a C-4 3 speed automatic.

The above set up isn't the best to tow with however the enghine should deliver.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

**Action** · 03-25-2010, 01:43 PM

The C-4 will need a big cooler and a shift kit if you want to do much towing. You would be better with a 3.25 ratio also. And that is a big job compared to the tranny cooler.

I had a 1974 van with a 302 2V and C-4 that I had 2 coolers on it.

>>>>>>>>>Action

JFScheck · 03-26-2010, 05:53 PM

Have you looked or asked on any "El Camino" or "Ranchero" forums for their input?

If not - look up what "Station wagons" of the same period were towing - as the vehicles are pretty much identical and this might give you some practical tow stories...

**Action** · 03-26-2010, 06:11 PM

The owners manual for my 1974 Econoline had towing capacities listed in it by engine and axle ratio.

I don't suppose the owner's manula was included?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

Yhottys · 03-27-2010, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFScheck

Have you looked or asked on any "El Camino" or "Ranchero" forums for their input?

If not - look up what "Station wagons" of the same period were towing - as the vehicles are pretty much identical and this might give you some practical tow stories...

John,

Thanks for the advice. We posted on a Ford forum but will check for El Camino and Ranchero forums as well as investigate the towing capacities of 1970's station wagons.

All the best,

Yhottys · 03-27-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Action

The owners manual for my 1974 Econoline had towing capacities listed in it by engine and axle ratio.

I don't suppose the owner's manula was included?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

Action,

Yes, the original owners' manual was included but it had no specs. It was all very general with information such as how to preset stations on that awesome Philco AM radio.

We forgot to shoot images of the interior and the original manuals, but will do so when we visit the Phoenix area again later this fall.

By the way, we enjoyed the amazingly mild temperatures in your neck of the woods. We usually visit Phoenix in late March to celebrate Murray's father's birthday and it's usually in the 90's. We don't think it got any hotter than 80 degrees while we were visiting.

**Action** · 03-27-2010, 09:45 PM

The service specs in here may help.
Trailer Towing Tips Ford Autolite SHOP TIPS 6 1969 - eBay (item 370354144115 end time Apr-22-10 00:59:45 PDT)

I have a Lincoln/Merc publication stating towing limits based on equipment for 1966. I know Ford has simlar publications and I may have one in my auto lit library. It is just not the easiest to access.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

Yhottys · 03-28-2010, 07:40 PM

Dear Brian (moosetags), Bill (wkerfoot), Ganaraska, Road Ruler, ticki2, purman, r carl, Vaughan (vswingfield), OB Bambi, Bob (ROBERTSUNRUS), terry (overlander63), Roger and Mary Lou (Mikethefixit), toddster, Vinnie (Airslide), Action, Carol (tallytwo1994) and John (JFSheck),

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and advice. We just got back from Phoenix. The Ranchero drove great, accelerating without hesitation, shifting smoothly, handling passes and curves easily. We added approximately 756 miles to its original 108,171 oodometer reading.

Dad was so excited to receive it. It was quite a surprise and he loves it!

We'll post an image as soon as we download some images from our digital camera.

Thank you once again! We appreciate your insight.

vswingfield · 03-28-2010, 07:52 PM

Great!

I'll bet you have a hard time even borrowing it from Dad in the future.

JFScheck · 03-28-2010, 07:55 PM

That is such GREAT news!!! Don't forget to post some more pictures as you can!!!

Yhottys · 03-29-2010, 07:22 PM

Hello All!

Below is an image of the Birthday Boy, Murray's dad, with his birthday present.

We arrived a little earlier than Dad at the restaurant we were meeting him for breakfast and parked the Ranchero behind the restaurant. We handed him the small gift wrapped box containing the keys to the car after we were seated. He opened it and seemed a little puzzled. We explained that they were keys to his birthday present. At this point he asked, "It's not the Ranchero is it?" Apparently he walked right past it on his way in and had admired it. We replied affirmatively and he was speechless. It was such a great moment, shared with all of his buddies. He was so excited that he and all of his friends that were there to celebrate his birthday got up and went to look at it. He even revved it up a little. We think he likes it.

Your kind words of encouragement and advice were truly appreciated. Thanks for indulging us and allowing us to share our little birthday story.