My 16 year old came home with this '79 Ford Ranchero. Can y'all give me an idea of where to start with helping him get it up to snuff?
Posted by MissGnomeHer@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 161 comments
My son came home with this 1979 Ford Ranchero (Based on the glove box, its a 500) that he bought off the side of the road for $2k. It runs, the AC works, and one window works.
I've managed to find him a grill online, it had speaker mesh there when he got it, but I'm kind of at a loss for where to go next. I have googled and I understand that there are new parts for stuff like a turn signal (his is not there) or things to make his other window work, but I'm really confused about where to look and what to look for. He's in auto-shop class at school and he also takes a welding vo-tech, so we can get most stuff done, we just don't know where to even start.
If y'all have any guides, tips, or just general wisdom to pass on, I would greatly appreciate it.
BN3163@reddit
Great first vehicle! Just make sure basic things are in working order (lights, signals, engine and trans, brakes, etc) and worry about cosmetics later. This is a VERY GOOD first car!
TezzNutz@reddit
That’s bad ass.
Alternative-Bed2077@reddit
Just drive it im sure u will get coms when u stop
Special_Profit4509@reddit
Not even a Ford guy but man that thing is awesome. Brakes and tires are top of the list. Especially with that size car. Possible upgrade would be a mustang hydro boost. Since most kids will end up putting a cam to big for the street for chop
TankedUpLoser@reddit
Literally go watch junkyard digs on YouTube, he does this sort of thing all the time and is pretty funny
Boonies2@reddit
Give a good inspection, use a check list (online or same inspection from a shop that inspected your daily driver). I’d what’s wrong with, and focus on safety first. Brakes, replace old fuel lines, tires. Even if tires have good tread they may be u safe due to age.
O airbags, which is okay, but your son needs to remember that stopping distance is longer with o abs.
Cosmetics are something to tackle once it’s safe.
Glad to see a young person interested in older cars.
Lower_Kick268@reddit
0 airbags isnt okay, means this thing is a death trap in an accident
spacefret@reddit
What's with the downvotes people?
Lower_Kick268@reddit
They're mad im not an advocate for handing teenagers the keys to a car they're statistically way more likely to die in i guess.
_ROBIN_SAGE_@reddit
You people are scared of your own shadows. This car is essentially a Ford F-150 of today, less the airbags and ride height. if he can drive it responsibly and the basics are plenty safe. I’d take this and it’s 0 airbags vs your Prius and it’s crumple zones in collision 10/10 times. Your Prius would be wadded up like a discarded napkin and junior would get out and wipe the paint off his bumper and continue on …. Weight and mass get a large say in this equation…
If he’s a known madman or known to be irresponsible, then yes there are probably better choices.
A second (main) vehicle is always a good idea. “Quick projects” can quickly spiral, especially with noob’s involved…
RunningSouthOnLSD@reddit
Yeah it’s one thing to praise how solid these old cars were built, but you’re not playing with a full deck if you think for a second they’re safer in a collision. Low speed, sure you’ll walk away with little to no damage to your car, but anything with more energy than that and the hypothetical Prius driver will be the first one out of their car to come ogle at your teeth in your vintage dashboard, or whatever hamburger helper is left of you in a highway speed collision.
No joke. I’ve seen a lot of accidents, and the difference in potential injuries between a car built in the past 10 years compared to even a 20 year old car is insane. Safety standards have improved exceptionally in the past few decades. Saying so confidently that you’d take the old steel box over a modern vehicle with airbags all around you and meticulously engineered energy dispersal through crumple zones is just unbelievably ignorant.
_ROBIN_SAGE_@reddit
Key words “but anything more than your hypothetical Prius driver” Nobody said anything about crazy high speed crashes, and obviously newer cars are safer overall. You guys just kill the fun out of everything wanting to bicker and piss and moan. Freedom is scary, deal with it.
RunningSouthOnLSD@reddit
Don’t get me wrong man I’m all about these old cars, but it’s not good to perpetuate these myths that they’re safer in accidents than anything you can get today. It might not have been your intention when you said you’d take an old car over a new one to make it sound like that’s what you believed, but that’s how it comes across. I’m a firm believer in the saying “the best airbag is between your ears”, and preach defensive driving to anyone that listens, but when all else fails and there’s nothing you can do about it, I would much rather be in a modern vehicle in the event of an accident.
deactronimo@reddit
It doesn't take 'crazy high speed' for the vast difference in safety to become apparent. Feel free to look up the IIHS tests showing the differences in survivability/damage to persons.
Lower_Kick268@reddit
You want your car to be destroyed in an accident, it's simple physics really. If the car folds in it's removing force from being transferred to the cabin, the car can be replaced but you can't. Imagine belly flopping from 3 story building onto an airbag vs hard pavement, the airbag will crush around you and dispose the force evenly and compress downwards, the ground doesn't compress and sends all that force through your body causing you to break bones at best or realistically for. That's the science behind crumple zones and why they work, junior isn't going to be wiping paint off his bumper because he will be dead and the Prius driver will walk away from the accident alive.
darianbrown@reddit
Jesus Christ with the downvotes.
This car has virtually no crumple zones, no ABS, no TCS, no airbags. It is a deathtrap. Cars have those for a reason. Is it a cool car? Absolutely. Is it one a 16 year old should daily commute with? Definitely not. You can't control what other drivers do
Lower_Kick268@reddit
Thats what im saying, you cant control what other drivers do, and other drivers are ass.
Tub-Bubbles-Stink@reddit
Jumper cable kit, and make sure he knows how to use them.
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Oh yeah, hes got those. After a short time owning this car, he is quite familiar with jumper cables lol.
Brewtown@reddit
I would be so proud.
krazyroach@reddit
Gas in the tank and full send!
MarzipanTop4165@reddit
I have a 74. If you have trouble finding parts ebay and this website Have been critical when it comes to finding some of this stuff. It being a 70s ford, a lot of stuff can be interchanged from the same years lincoln mkiv and thunderbird.
These cars aren't hard to work on at all, but some of the stuff is hard to find. My 74 uses different suspension than yours but they dont make an aftermarket upper control arm for my year. I think the 79s are easier to find stuff for
MarzipanTop4165@reddit
pm_me_buffalo_wings@reddit
Don’t have much to add, but that thing fucking rules. Your kid has taste!
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
I showed him this comment and his response was, "yee".
He's very pleased that so many people like his car!
Frankie_T9000@reddit
That's a goddam Ute!
Seriously love this
MegaBusKillsPeople@reddit
Since the AC works, fix the cruise control, and drive drive it.
Gostaverling@reddit
Safety is first, brakes go through them top to bottom. The fuel lines, replace them all to help prevent possible fires.
curiousbydesign@reddit
And good tires. Good breaks and tires are a must for safety.
Weary-Astronaut1335@reddit
You don't want any breaks typically.
curiousbydesign@reddit
FML.
BlangBlangBlang@reddit
Fire extigusher so he doesn't have to watch it burn.
Always_Casting@reddit
Do these burn alot, or am I missing something?
grammawslovelymelons@reddit
Nooo. Older carburated cars sometimes like to burn to the ground. Not common. Just keep everything in good order. No fuel leaks allowed.
Syscrush@reddit
Any 45+ year old car is a fire risk, especially until you have it sorted out with all new fuel lines.
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Thats actually a really good idea that I hadn't thought about. Thank you!
JCDU@reddit
Get it safe, get it reliable, get it solid, then if there's any time or money left you can look at mods.
In the meantime, breakdown cover is easy peace of mind so at least he's not gonna be stranded in the middle of the night if/when it breaks down.
onemanlan@reddit
Don’t forget to tell him how to use it properly
lelouche76@reddit
Make sure it is mounted and easily accessible.
curiousbydesign@reddit
Absolutely. Great deals at Costco on those.
jfbincostarica@reddit
Tires look new from the side profile (that can be deceiving); at least they’re not bias ply, and can see solid tread on the side profile.
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
His auto-shop teacher already replaced the brakes, so they're solid. I'll ask if they've checked out his fuel lines and such. I know they've changed the oil.
What do you think of this list of stuff to get it road worthy without supervision?
Oldmantired@reddit
Make sure the seatbelts are functioning.
gavdore@reddit
The drivers seatbelt looks like it’s on its last legs and could do with an update
iEatDemocrats@reddit
Upgrade the headlights to LED if it’s within budget, it’ll make a massive difference in night driving.
jbjhill@reddit
Turn signals. People are far too ignorant to know what he’s doing by signaling with his arm. Hell, the cops might give him a ticket because they won’t think he’s safe.
tk8398@reddit
For fuel lines it's better to use the stuff made for fuel injected cars even though it's not strictly necessary because it will last longer with the ethanol content in fuel now. Aside from the stuff you listed, making sure the cooling system is in good shape would be the other important part, clean coolant, new hoses, thermostat, radiator cap, make sure it's holding pressure, etc.
iEatDemocrats@reddit
And for the love of god no in line filters close to the carburetor.
markswam@reddit
And speaking of fires: if it's got a glass inline fuel filter, get rid of it. The convenience of being able to replace the filter media isn't worth the leak (if reassembled incorrectly) or break/crack risks.
user-flynn2@reddit
That's a pretty solid score. Kids got great taste as well. I just looked at a '73 today, it'll be my daily.
My opinion, it's smart money to have a worthy mechanic look it over. That's worth $100-200 as there's a few areas that are prone to severe rust. Do this before the paper work. It'll suck to spend the money on tax, tags & ins. to turn around and spend the next few months parked up getting body work or frame work. Sadly it might be best to pass it along as a lesson learned.
But that's where pops comes in to save the day. If it turns out not so great, take whatever money you've planned to help with parts and just throw that on top of his cash from selling this one. A slightly higher caliber car really doesn't cost much more. $2k was a decent buy, but even $3500 can get a much better car if your diligent. Mechanically and structurally sound but ugly might be a better place to start.
If that all goes well, just enjoy it. And watch some YouTube videos for things you notice are broken. There's how to videos for farm near everything these days. There's also a few youtube channels with great content for you two. Polebarn garage, vice grip garage, David fryburger, dd speed shop have great informative videos that all broadly apply to your situation.
No matter what you'll find yourselves in though situations. Wrong parts from the store. Multiple trips to the store. Hard to find parts. You'll meet gurus and you'll meet crooks. There's lots of groups across social media. Stick with it. You'll get help when you need it. Nothing beats the first Friday night cruising around.
secretsHiddenLife@reddit
Youtube has been the best thing that ever happened to the shadetree mechanic
Lower_Kick268@reddit
He isnt gonna daily drive this right?
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
That is 100% his plan. Thankfully, at 16, he ain't got many places to daily drive to.
Lower_Kick268@reddit
Yeah but it has no airbags, no abs, no crumple zones, no traction control, old everything, why are you letting him daily drive this? Old cars are death traps
poorboychevelle@reddit
I would pay handsomely for BCM to be forever jettisoned into the sun.
Lower_Kick268@reddit
Why? You hate surviving accidents?
poorboychevelle@reddit
Because manufacturers have offloaded far too much into it. What was "oh no the wipers are out, replace the relay" is now "replace the BCM"
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Bro, you keep editing this comment. I understand that you have an (understandable) issue with older cars due to your experience, but not every old car is a death trap.
I am not letting him go on the interstate with this thing, it barely hits 50mph. He's driving it to school and his work, both of which are less than 5 miles from home. Realistically, he will drive it for a year or two until he needs something more stable.
You're being downvoted because you don't seem to fathom that no airbags aren't a death sentence.
darianbrown@reddit
Listen man, I get that you think around town is fine, but it's a fucking terrible idea. I say that as a proud owner of a 77 Cadillac, 88 Pontiac, and 89 Mazda. These cars turn a 25 mile an hour accident from an inconvenience to a life threatening event. It doesn't have crumple zones or airbags. It is most definitely a death trap. Daily driving it anywhere, even around town, has a really high likelihood of getting your kid hurt.
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Here's the thing. My first car was a 45 mustang (it sounds impressive but it was a beater). That thing saved my life.
I got hit head on by a dually towing a horse trailer. The truck took out the entire front left of my car, hammered in my driver side door. The trailer rolled up to my hood and stopped about 5 inches away from my wind shield. Had I been in my more modern car at the time, I'd have been decapitated. Instead I walked away with a cut on my thumb from gripping the wheel too hard while wearing a ring and some glass in my arm. My passenger was completely unscathed.
I realize that there is definitely some confirmation bias here, but I would rather he have a tank for a year or two.
darianbrown@reddit
Tanks are categorically less safe than modern vehicles. Modern vehicles are actually statistically, DRAMATICALLY better at protecting the passenger cabin.
Lower_Kick268@reddit
Its because it has no safety tech at all, its before any of that existed and modern cars are bigger and heavier than they used to be, along with modern drivers being more distracted than ever before. Seeing how bad drivers are that i share the road with everyday there is no way id ever want to let my kid let alone myself daily an unsafe car, drivers are terrible anymore. Generally speaking any car made before the airbag era is considered a death trap, and any truck that was exempt from crash testing is a death trap too. Once airbags made it into cars they got a lot safer and manufacturers had to focus on improving safety in vehicles.
Also most accidents happen close to home, including my friend, he died at the light literally 2 miles from his house.
Responsible-Shoe7258@reddit
Brakes first above everything else
no_life_liam@reddit
God, sometimes wish I lived in the States or near it. The cars there are so cool and they’re always quite affordable. I would kill for a Ranchero.
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
You'd love my town. We have a whole week long event here in the fall where people bring and show off their classic cars. I don't go to the events, but its fun driving around town with the kids and seeing all the cool cars.
jubjub944@reddit
Repaint the background recesses on the wheels back to satin black from that silver.
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Ngl I was amazed by the power windows. I do not remember seeing any cars with power windows until like the mid-90s.
Kinda wish it had manual windows. It would be so much easier to get his driver side windows working again.
Stock-Maximum9755@reddit
The motors likely just bad. Easy to replace with a new one. Or the switch is toast. They can both be sourced online easily enough. Rancheros are like unicorns now. More el Caminos out there but I do love seeing an old ranchero rolling by.
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Yeah according to his shop teacher the motor is fine, but the switch is wonky. It'll roll up just fine, but will not roll down.
Stock-Maximum9755@reddit
Switch may need contact cleaner but likely just plan on a new one.
door322@reddit
Oh hell yeah dude
Elderberries1974@reddit
I always start project cars by deep cleaning g the inside outside chassis, bay etc. exposes lots of things and forces you to get to know your car. Looks decent, (I mean the bumper fillers are still there) and a good cut and polish will do wonders.
HereHoldMyBeer@reddit
Before you start buying parts and such, project one is to make it safe and reliable.
Examine the suspension closely. Replace any rubber that has cracks or splits.
Shocks?
Brakes, make them good including flex lines. If you live in a rust prone area, you may need steel brake lines too.
Steering, make sure it goes straight and true.
Seat belts functioning and available?
Great, no you have reduced death and injury chances. Reduced, not eliminated.
Next work on dependability. Make sure tires are less than 10 years old
Tune up, oil change, plugs and probably while the plugs are out, run compression tests.
Transmission, fluid change.
Differential fluid change too.
Now move on to wiring. Don't burn down your cool car. Any wiring that is burnt looking, crispy, hard or cracking needs to be addressed. Make sure your light switch and ignition switches are not burnt.
Gold_Ticket_1970@reddit
Cassette player. REO Speedwagon.Roach clip on rearview mirror
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
I got him a Bluetooth radio transmitter that plugs into the lighter. It works surprisingly well. Though I did have to explain that what he called "little storage spaces" were ash trays and show him how the lighter worked.
Stock-Maximum9755@reddit
We’re all getting old. Tell him it’s now a spare fuse, and spare fuel money space.
ParsnipGreen3607@reddit
A Haynes manual and a good set of tools if he doesn’t have that already. Along with a multimeter and timing light. Looks like he’s got some rust in the usual spots (tape along the right pillar?) body work is a different set of tools. Jack stands for safety.
Mike-Wouldyoukindly@reddit
Buy the shop guide and work on it together with him. Not the owners manual. The shop repair manual.
Figure out what engine it has. If it isnt in the repair manual. Find an engine shop manual for that engine.
Work on it together. It will be a memory yall will have until one of yall dies.
And trust me. That memory will hold a tear in one of yalls eyes for the next two decades after whoever passes first.
Unlikely_Try3848@reddit
Sweet find!
poorboychevelle@reddit
Car is awesome but I can smell that interior from here
Sonofaherbert@reddit
Your kid rocks. And thanks for supporting him
AFK_MIA@reddit
Check out the YouTube channels junkyarddigs and polebarngarage. They have both restored one of these and have a lot of other relevant content for older cars.
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
I will check them out. Thank you!
JT_3K@reddit
Another one for JYD. Surprisingly wholesome and a terrific teacher. I’m a Brit and we don’t get your V8s, but I still now know how to set Transfer Slots
shaggy24200@reddit
Love junkyard dig's carb brake and timing tutorials, great place to start. Also, OP - Don't forget to check the thunderhead289 channel , he does lots of Ford mechanical content that will be relevant to this.
kalifornia_King@reddit
Ssswwwwrrettt
CarlitosWay0427@reddit
He’s obviously the coolest kid in town cause holy fuck
ILIKEYEETS@reddit
2k FOR A RANCHERO IN THIS DAY AND AGE?!?!? Got a NICE deal, congrats and good luck on any endeavors with it!
RileyDream@reddit
I’ve been doing projects like this since I was 17, so here’s what I’ve learned:
check state laws for everything you need to get it registered and inspected and insured- only do that. just get it functional. Next, you’d think you should do your preventative maintenance and that’s where it always goes wrong. Just start enjoying the car. Stuff will break. THEN you can fix it. Do all the preventative maintenance ONLY FOR THAT ONE THING. Drive,Break,Rebuild. You’ll have the ranchero of theseus and it’ll be done right and you’ll both be able to learn from easy jobs before taking on full rebuilds.
Did my miata the first way and it SUUUUUUCKED!!! i lost all motivation and the engine was in a thousand pieces cuz i did too much at once.
Did my 70 impala the second way and it was the most fun use of a $500 EVER
ekowalski_oma@reddit
this is the right way to do it. get it safe and roadworthy first, then let the car tell you what it needs next. old Fords will nickel and dime you if you tear into everything at once, and a kid loses steam fast when the whole thing is sitting in pieces.
Soggy-Avocado918@reddit
Excellent advice. If i had a time machine i would pass this to my younger self
shaggy24200@reddit
Yup, paperwork first! I've seen too many people spend money to fix up a car...then find out they can't transfer title for one reason or the other and the seller can't be found to correct it.
donald7773@reddit
Start by cleaning the car. Very well and all over. Not a buff and polish just a wash. Clean the exterior, interior, get it up on jackstands and wash the underside, clean the engine bay, and if it's not a pain in the ass pull the seat and carpet out and clean those and up under those.
While doing this you're gonna see stuff you don't like. Keep a list. "Need to tie up this wire here, need to get a new bulb there, fix that dent, fix that rust (if applicable), water is getting in there" just anything you see that you'd want to replace or repair.
Next change every fluid and filter in the car. Fresh oil, transmission fluid, coolant flush, new brake fluid, power steering fluid, fresh fuel filters, air filters etc
If it needs a bunch of gaskets done (very slim chance it doesn't) that's affordable and easy and probably the best way to learn to work on cars. And when you're done it won't leak anymore. You can watch a YouTube video for each individual gasket and you'll be golden.
After that attack anything made of rubber. All the coolant hoses, vacuum hoses, fuel hoses, brake lines, door and window seals because rubber degrades with time and it does eventually fail.
At that point you should have a car that's probably healthier than 70% of what you see on the road day to day. Then you get into the fun stuff
RingOk664@reddit
Great find. I always check the brakes, tires, replace worn belts and hoses. Take each wheel off and inspect and repack the bearings. Change the oil. Flush the radiator if the coolant looks dirty. Takes time.
JCDU@reddit
Well first thing first your kid is gonna have to grow an epic mullet and probably a moustache too - I don't make the rules.
Other than that - get it safe; brakes, steering, tires, fuel lines, suspension. Then get it reliable; belts, hoses, cooling system, oil leaks, etc... then make sure it's solid (any rust or other issues)... by then you'll have a list of 100 different ideas for mods / improvements that you can take a good old look at.
NuclearWasteland@reddit
Do the timing chain gear/chain set now, if it has not been done and swapped to a steel gear set.
These likely had the aluminum and nylon tooth gears and over time those fail, strip, and jump time, causing the engine to have spark and fuel but not actually run.
It's a small block ford thing. While you're at it get a water pump bolt set as the bolts go through the water jacket.
fun car, a same year mercury cougar front clip will fit on them for a different more Lincoln looking front end.
Cars_Music_GoodTimes@reddit
Start with buying a service manual for this vehicle.
Then perform general maintenance. I typically recommend:
RockAuto.com is a great place to buy these maintenance related items. If you are not under a time constraint. Doing this maintenance will make the vehicle as reliable as possible by eliminating common maintenance related issues. And give you an idea of the overall mechanical condition of the vehicle.
For any non-maintenance parts that you need, you would need to look for used parts for this year and motto. Search local junkyards, eBay and car-part.com
It looks like a good foundation to work with!
RuddyOpposition@reddit
If it helps, that car was based off of the 1979 Ford LTD II, so I would expect everything from the windshield forward is compatible. You may have already discovered that while looking for a front grill.
Mine had some flavor of 351. It has been a long time, but I think it was the 351M or Modified, not the Windsor or the Cleveland. I did the research just now and the 302, 351W, and 351M were options in 1979. The 351M has 8 bolts per valve cover, while the Windsor and 302 have 6.
My car with the 351M was an absolute dog. Could not pass anything, most especially a gas station. Build quality was pretty abysmal. Bolts, screws, and various fasteners kept falling out of the dash when it was new. We kept them, assuming we might need them when the dash finally fell out.
It never did fall out and, in fact, the car was remarkably reliable and never left me stranded, except, you know, when I decided to -pass- the gas station and it ran out of fuel.
Good luck with the car. I always liked that Ranchero.
HippieLogger@reddit
Brakes!
Lord_Dyke@reddit
My dad and I redneck restored this car about 12 years ago for my first car. I loved everything about it except the gas mileage! Congrats to your son!!!
wiggermaxing@reddit
Rockauto has good prices for parts for this. He got a beast. I’m jelly.
woutr1998@reddit
kid skipped the starter car and went straight to a storyline
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Kid brought home a land yacht without power steering lol.
wiggermaxing@reddit
Raised him right!
very_large_bird@reddit
If it were mine I’d
Sick ride though
g28802@reddit
Other people of said it but go ground up, brakes, tires, fuel system, then plugs oil change air filter, fuel filter. A lot of headache can be sorted out by just doing that stuff on the front end. One of my first projects when I was younger I couldn’t figure out why it was missing so bad. New carb, new distributor, wires. Still missing finally got to plugs and they were all toast but ones ceramic was cracked. That also taught me if your problem solving fix one thing at a time
throttlejockey907@reddit
I mean- I’d call it a win that he could drive it home. My God, the number of cars I drug home with a chain is mental.
Tho, come to think of it- I still do that a lot.
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Right? Its a heap with painted duct tape on a few spots, but it runs really well.
The guy he bought it from does rat rods. So I think the exterior is rough, but the engine is decent.
shaggy24200@reddit
Cool ride for the money! What motor? Rust are the only thing that will kill those. Looks like something Youttuber DDspeedshop would drag in...though he's mostly a Chevy man.
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
I believe it still has the original 302 v8 in it.
OutlandishnessOk5549@reddit
You need to confiscate it off him!!!
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
I cannot even reach the pedals on this thing, and my days of driving without power steering or modern power brakes are far behind me. He can keep it lmao.
mechshark@reddit
How did he manage that one lmao
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
The dude he got it from has a junkyard kind of set up in his yard with a ton of cars. Most are parts cars, but the ones that run he either turns into rat rods or sells for cash on the cheap. He rode past it on the school bus, saw this, thought it was an El Camino, and went back for it.
I'm pretty sure his grandma helped him with some of the money, but she won't say one way or the other, which probably means I'm right lol.
sam_wise_ganji@reddit
Well first off it needs a name....i have a ford cortina named Tina, second a car club, third...hang on I'll just list it 3. A decent mechanic because you can't do everything in a driveway 4. A workshop manual 5.fuzzy dice/hula girl or some sort of ornament 6. A tracker or itag thing because classics are too easy to steal 7. New rubber seals for doors,windows and windshields 8. A sunny disposition (this is the major one because he will have breakdowns) 9. Make sure you think through any mods and are sure about them like a loud exhaust is awesome unless like me you start your car at 5am daily 10. A small cheap tool kit for on the go repairs with some zip ties, duck tape a magnetic worklight ( https://www.batterysolutionsnetwork.com.au/narva-led-pocket-inspection-light?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12564316689&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqPLOBhCiARIsAKRMPZpcWsKmHKA8IkezqpK8hs-jjhldDfGJtDPJlt4hnmIs5fLOnLAR-ZoaAmPCEALw_wcB ) this little unit is great and a fluoro reflective vest for late night breakdowns and you'll find certain things which you may need, like a points file if still running a distributor and points, fuses and a big bottle of coolant for emergencies.
He'll be able to narrow this down as he drives it and gets to know the car, ask any questions you may have as I daily a 68 4 cylinder and have had everything happen from a distributor working it's way loose and the retention bolt being replaced with zip ties and hope for 20 kms, to bad points and condensor causing a breakdown at the entrance to the north connex tunnel and having to file and gap the points in traffic which was...exciting.
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the list and the insight!
Also, he and his friends have named it "The Cuck" or "Cuck Truck". It started off as calling it "The Cruck" because its half car, half truck, but that devolved because teenaged boys lol.
SmokeOuidandTires@reddit
Your son is cool as shit
onemanlan@reddit
Did he get a title?
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Not originally. I followed him back over to where he bought the car and got it from the guy.
GayForPay@reddit
Your 16 yo bought a vintage Ford Ranchero on his own?
Congratulations. You raised your kid right.
brianecook@reddit
Total respect for your kiddo. Looks like a fun project car. Great way to get into machinery when it was easy to work on and not marred my computers and electronics. However, carbs have been and always will be a pain. I would recommend finding somebody that has a good mastery of these older fuel systems and get it tuned to its highest potential. Sounds like your kid has a great head start by taking auto mechanics and welding. Glad to see he’s not afraid to get into it and get his hands dirty. I still have my ‘79 el Camino that I bought my senior year in 1988.
_ROBIN_SAGE_@reddit
Very nice ElCo!! It’s in beautiful shape, and by the background with that dry scrub brush in the background, probably couldn’t rust if your life depended on it! Awesome that you kept it all these years.
brianecook@reddit
Thank you. It is an Arizona car.
Ineverseenthat@reddit
In this order; brakes, steering, and suspension. Why, these three systems keep you safe and keep those around you safe.
millercl2021@reddit
Check the driveline fluids, engine oil, coolant (make sure its got anti freeze in it), transmission oil and rear end oil (these old cars generally need GL4 oil because of brass bushings). Don't forget to grease any points on the chassis. A service manual will have all the grease points and will be good to reference when doing any work to it. It sounds like the brakes have been done, which is good. Also check to make sure the cooling system is good (I would make sure there is a radiator overflow, even just a water bottle). Charging systems are also iffy in these old cars sometimes. Someone else said replace the fuel lines, this is good advice. As that poster said, use the rubber fuel line for a 90's fuel injected vehicle. This fuel line will be more resistant to the ethanol that is in the fuel now days. A metal inline fuel filter, and rebuilding the carb at some point would be good assurances. All of this is a good start to be mechanically sound.
As for safety, head lights, brake lights, and turn signals are a necessity. Napa has a brand of bright bulbs that help bridge the gap between the old style lights, but aren't LEDS. Make sure that the grounds are good as this will dim the lights if they are bad.
If your son is really getting into this, I would consider getting them a decent tool kit. A cheap bag, decent Harbor Freight 3/8" socket set, wrenches, basic electrical tools (multi meter, random wire, and wire snips/crimper), screw drivers, pliers, etc. would be a good start. Jumper cables and a tow strap are good insurance too
jb1million@reddit
Seems to me the only thing left to do is hand that boy a Budweiser. He’s a man now.
EdgeLordPrime859@reddit
As a dad and American muscle enthusiast, I'd be sofa king happy if one of mine came home with something like this.
Duckdivejim@reddit
You’re a good parent.
NickPivot@reddit
I love that he caused that to happen all by himself
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
What I keep laughing at is that he came in going, "I found an El Camino!!" Dude did not even know what kind of car he had.
Joggingmusic@reddit
This is even better. Send it kid! 😆
jfbincostarica@reddit
Ohhhh boy! 😂😂
Careflwhatyouwish4@reddit
That's pretty snuffy already from the look of it.
Joeyjackhammer@reddit
Start renting the hood out for small aircraft to take-off and land on to build up some project money.
HiFiMarine@reddit
Congrats on having an Awesome kid! Help him make it safe, sounds like he’ll be motivated to do the rest on his own!
Lower_Kick268@reddit
Theres no way to make a car this old safe lol
HiFiMarine@reddit
Ok…safe…ish. Can it stop? Do seatbelts work? Can you see clearly at night??? Safeish is good enough!
Lower_Kick268@reddit
Not for a daily driver, as a weekend or offroad car yes, as a car youre going to drive everyday no way.
omegaproject01@reddit
Make sure his brake lines are all good with no rust or splices. Many people will use compression fittings to make repairs and that’s a big no-no
Max_delirious@reddit
Consider swapping in a Coyote
Sea-Hat-4925@reddit
Buy em a pack of darts
Adorable-Kale-6181@reddit
Aftermarket support for rancheros are practically non existent but it seems he's lucked out with it being in such nice shape, even has power windows!
Ok-Patience-3333@reddit
Honestly just clean up the carpet, fix the door panels and you’re mostly good to go. For the turn signal my guess is rock auto would have the part. Maybe summit or jegs. Good find.
dagget10@reddit
I see a lot of talk of safety, but one mod I'd immediately recommend is headlights. Sealed beams are notoriously awful, so I'd recommend some high end LED bulbs (not Amazon specials) from Morimoto or Holley (if you're looking for a classic look). If those are out of your budget, then I'd recommend some nice H4 swaps, which will replace the sealed beam bulb with a housing, and then you just shove bulbs inside it.
The one safety feature I always harp on is visibility. No matter how many safety features a car has, doesn't help if I can't see the road ahead and the people behind me can't see me. And while that's being mentioned, replace all other bulbs. Doesn't need to be special, you just don't know the last time they were changed, so they could be really dim
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Thank you for this. The headlights on this thing are rough, they work, but I'm not comfortable with him driving it at night because they're so dim. I will look into those H4 swaps and see if its something his class can do.
dagget10@reddit
The cool part of the H4 swap is it's almost a direct swap. I believe the only issues might be pinouts, which is remedied by some simple adapters. So just unplug the old headlight, plug in the adapter, put the bulb into the housing, plug it in, shove it back where the old headlight was, and it'll look just like stock with a higher output
corkgunsniper@reddit
Damn for a 79 that looks pretty clean. Runs and has ac? For a on the roadside whim purchase id say he got a good deal. Im assuming auto transmission so keep a lookout for leaks and other anomalies.
RallyLancer@reddit
My dad would've killed me if I came home with something like this lol
ReallyGottaTakeAPiss@reddit
The kids are gonna be alright
AutomaticMode7919@reddit
That thing is rad. That's going to be a fun project, enjoy!
Alpha_Hellhound@reddit
Kid has good taste! Check the usual fluids. Brakes, electrical, ect. Looks like the car was taken care of.
Msdmachine@reddit
Put gas and tires and insurance for him
advmaxx@reddit
Looks to be in decent shape!!
CrazyTechWizard96@reddit
No idea on those if it comes to parts, but gotta say, your Kid got some great taste!
BALINTIO@reddit
I have one for parts if you need anything
MissGnomeHer@reddit (OP)
Do you have a replacement switch for the driverside window? Not the motor, it can go up, but just not down. Or a turn signal thing for the steering wheel?
(Sorry, I know there's actual names for the stuff he needs, I'm am not a car lady lol)
BALINTIO@reddit
I’ll take a look and let you know. More than likely yes I can get those, I ship all over as well. Feel free to pm me directly.
i_got_a_rune_scimmy@reddit
Ford Torino and LTD II probably have the same interior parts for the missing pieces.
https://www.car-part.com/ can be used to search all junkyards. Looks like there's a junkyard that has a 79 ranchero in Nevada that you might be able to look into for parts.
For some of the stuff, you might be quicker off just looking at the wiring diagram and finding a universal replacement or jerry rigging in a part from another car that is wired the same and fits similar.
Your son has great taste, best of luck!
VegasRudeboy@reddit
That is an amazingly sexy piece of machinery though.
texan01@reddit
It’s a 72-79 Ford Torino/Thunderbird under the skin, but there’s scant few repops for these.
I have a 77 Ranchero myself.
MisterMasterCyIinder@reddit
Making sure it's safe as possible is the first step. Thoroughly inspect the brake system and replace anything that is suspect. Suspension and tires would be the next priority.
Basically any original rubber parts are probably no longer performing as they should - hoses, seals, bushings, gaskets, they're all candidates for replacement.