1963 Ford Ranchero on 2040-cars

When the original owner of this 1963 Ranchero died, the family left it parked in the garage for several years.  A man that was handicapped knew of the car and finally bought it when the family decided to sell the car.  He moved it out of that garage and kept it in a garage where he lived.  He could never obtain a driver license because of his handicap, but would go out and sit in the car and just start it and listen to the radio.  The best I can figure, the car was garaged kept for over 25 years.  The gentleman finally was told he had to move the car out of the garage and so it was moved out in the open and covered up with a blue tarp for about 3 years.  The guardian of the gentleman finally got the man to agree to sell it so got it registered and running.  I saw the Ranchero and bought it in 2004 before it was even advertised.

It was a original 170 Cu In with a 3spd and bench seat. I located original Ranchero bucket seats and Mag wheels in a barn. I found the louvered hood in the Bay area on another 63 Ranchero, which I bought.  When I got there, I found that it had another set of the same hard to find wheels.  (The owner and restorer of the 63 Falcon Cayuse wanted to buy both sets from me)  Before putting the hood on, with the help of friend/metal man, I formed a “scoop” out of metal and hammer welded it in.

I have replaced the engine with a warmed up late model 200 with Aussie 2V head (Aussie heads are very rare now, even in Australia), bored, cam, header, Holley 2bbl, turned electronic ignition, MSD 6a box, master blaster coil, and a rebuilt Borg Warner T-10.  The engine has approx 2,000 miles on it.

The rest of the body is exactly how I found it except for the gas cap which has been moved to the inside of the bed and the new hood.  The red rag is to excite the CHP. The dashboard has the original radio.

I just finished rebuilding the entire front end, new springs, a-arms, idler arm, etc, putting in the Mustang steering box, the Flaming River steering column, new dash insert and gauges, and rewired the car.  I have a Scarebird 4 lug disc brake conversion which is complete but not installed.  I wanted to keep the 4 lug pattern because of the wheels and their scarcity.  The car is rust free. It is titled in California.  I have 90% of all receipts for parts and work done on the car.

The car comes with many extra parts, such as a perfect tailgate, another grille, two stock hoods, and many other parts to numerous to mention. 

If anyone is interested or needs more information or pictures, send me your phone number and or email address.  I will answer any and all questions and take any pictures desired.   The car is located in Auberry, CA.  Buyer to pick up or ship at his expense.  Cash only except for deposit thru Pay Pal

Engine detail

1981 - 200 cu in  (3.3 liter) Ford  IL-6  block

Bored .060, stock pistons, stock crank, all rotating parts balanced

High performance rods, ARP bolts

Aussie 2V head with Clifford exhaust port divider installed

3 angle valve job, hardened seats and head work done by Dave’s Performance Engineering in Fresno

ARP head studs

1:6 Adjustable rocker assembly from Clifford Performance

Billet dual roller timing chain

144 cu in pan and oil pick-up tube

Holley 350 cfm 2 BBL carb

Clay Smith cam from Classic Inlines, cam - CSC – 274 – SHS, Product ID  PAK-C-ECP, includes performance push rods, performance springs, lifters.

Pacemaker jet coated header

Clifford Performance 2“  X-pipe in exhaust, 18” glass paks

New harmonic balancer for a 144 cu in

New ceramic clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing - flywheel re-surfaced.

Rotating engine group, clutch and pressure plate balanced as full rotating assembly

90 amp, one wire GM alternator

Dizzy is a Ford Dura-spark sent out,  re-curved and performance built

MSD ignition system, blaster coil, etc

Borg Warner T-10  4spd, built by John Bettancourt, Clovis, CA

64 Mustang Steering box

Flaming River Steering Column

TPI Gauges

Owner built dash insert

Re wired with Easy Wire wiring loom

I bought the headin  Australia and is called "Australian 250-2V" cylinder head