Call me crazy - Ranchero's (again)

[Luva65wagon]

Well, though Steve at Doghows Power Coating has hinted in a couple of his threads, he and I have been negotiating on the purchase of one of his Ranchero's for a couple months or so. But after we discussed the condition of one and his recent interest in parting with the yellow 63 Ranchero I went over there yesterday and gave the yellow 63 a thorough looking at.

Both cars have the typical floor rot and "under the bed access" rot, but the yellow car is at least a driver. The gray Ranchero has better doors than the yellow car and a few trim accessories in better shape too. So after a bit of discussion we came to a deal and I purchased both of them. I will drive the yellow one away as-is and part out the gray one at his house.

He's also got a well-hacked 61 wagon there he used to get parts for his sedan delivery, but it has a few good parts left on it too, which would be well worth getting off the car before it is hauled off to a crusher. So maybe we can make an early trip to Sequim - a few of us - early Spring and have a big parting-out party, I'll treat anyone who comes to a great feast somewhere.

So here's why they call me crazy.

[Jeff W]

Dear crazy, congratulations. If I can swing it, I'll come with you. I can bring some rims for Steve to powder for me.

[redfalken]

I'll go! I'd like to see his set-up. And congrats on the new addition to your flock! I'd hate to see you run out of things to do!!

[BPVan]

You were just saying at the meeting you needed to get busy with a project, no better way, no better time. I am up for an adventure as well if there's room.

[doghows]

Ok the cat is out of the bag now.... Anyone who wants to visit is more than welcome. My house is out in Diamond point and the shop is in Sequim. Only about 15 miles from house to shop. Be glad to give you all a tour when you are here.
There are still some good parts on the wagon. All 4 doors are still there except for the small parts I took off for Jeff. Engine and 2 speed auto still in car. Any parts from that car are free if you pull them. The ranchero parts are all Rogers however...
Hope to meet a bunch more of you soon. And then you can see my crappy work on the delivery up close... Steve...

[Luva65wagon]

Well, I took a drive to Burien yesterday and spent a couple hours with Mark who seems to always have a Falcon or two in some stage of assembly or disassembly.

I had just happened onto a CL ad where he was parting out a 65 4-door V8 car. A week earlier I picked up a new set of HD leaf springs, upper and lower control arms, new front springs, and perches, all in a pile of other parts a guy bought for his 65 wagon, and then sold the wagon before he used the parts. He had posted these parts for sale almost two years earlier here on the forum, and I replied, but never followed up due to chaos ruling my life at the time. So, on a whim, I thought I may as well do the entire V8 conversion while-I'm-at-it. (Dang, I hate those words).

Anyway, contacted Mark after seeing his ad and caught him at just the right time - he hadn't sold any of it yet. So I managed to get an 8" V8 rear-end with no signs of leakage, and the entire tight V8 front-end (drum-to-drum), and 4 "aftermarket" Summit rally-style wheels with brand-new (I mean zero miles) 14" tires... all of it for $400. Wheels are kind-of odd, but the tires were a smokin' deal. Maybe I can find some stock 14" 5-lug wheels around here. (hint-hint).

Also picked up a 65 driver side cowl vent that I hope to convert the door on the drivers side to the pull for air version. Woo-hoo!

Well, just sharing the joy....

[doghows]

On your mark; get set; GO.... You are not wasting any time on this are you?? And here I was hoping to have a sanding party next?? Let me know if you find any other dodads of the remaning parts cars and I will snag them. No plans to haul anything off yet. Keep finding little trinkets to keep...

[Luva65wagon]

Sanding party? That don't sound like a party. And besides - Larry likes to sand. An assembly party - that I could wear a cap to!

I will probably come out the 26th to get a few other bits and pieces I left. Probably have to drive out the pickup I suppose. We can yank the two-speed out if you think it's worth saving for anyone. I do want to at least cut the quarters off the other Ranchero.

I have to move the Ranchero into my garage when I do all this, which means I have to rent a garage for my wagon somewhere because it can't sit outside due to insurance. So I am collecting all the bits and pieces together now so I can just go at it. It will be a whirlwind. I don't want to have to pay $200 a month for a garage for too many months. If you know what I mean....

[SmithKid]

I can help with the 5 lug 14 inchers, but only 4 as I want to keep a spare.

[doghows]

26th should be fine. I still have two bays in the garage for use when I need them. You can bring the wagon over here and pay me $200 a month and I will keep it inside!!!! Or I could just store it if you want. It might get dust though if you don't have a cover for it???

[Luva65wagon]

I can help with the 5 lug 14 inchers, but only 4 as I want to keep a spare.

Well that is awfully Gene of you there Gene. Are these the 14" from your Ranchero? How much are you wanting for them. Send me a PM and we'll figure something out -- or call.

26th should be fine. I still have two bays in the garage for use when I need them. You can bring the wagon over here and pay me $200 a month and I will keep it inside!!!! Or I could just store it if you want. It might get dust though if you don't have a cover for it???

Great Steve, OK, I will make sure I contact you prior to that weekend.

I'd take you up on the garage storage - even at $200 a month - but that's a long way to drive if I need to take it to a show and the Ranchero isn't on the ground as fast as I hope. Should be, but you never know. I just got to get busy over here and find a place safe and secure.

...said anything here

I got all the rest of the floor pan sheet metal today, so I'll probably be starting on that pretty soon. Just got to get it into the garage. Swap meet this weekend, so probably start on that the following week.

Have been pulling all the front-end parts apart and getting them cleaned so I blast them and get them painted (oops I know that's a dirty word to some people). Something tells me these are all original Ford parts... but they are all in such good shape. Odd.

Still have the rear-end sitting in the back of the pickup... need to get it closer to the garage so I can lift it out without giving myself a hernia. Then I can start to clean it up a little. Not quite as detailed as the wagon though.

[doghows]

Roger, Roger, Roger; How dare you paint that stuff with a very cheap powder coater so close??? Those would be perfect items to bring over and show everyone how powder is applied. Especially if they are already sandblasted clean. If you want when you come over for the last haul if anyone wants to come again since we didn't see the shop last time, bring the parts and we will coat them up very very cheap... I know the guys saw all mine on the shelf, but you are closer to most of them and then they could all see the benefits..
Should only take a few hours to coat it all. Most of the time would be hanging and taping off the areas you do not want powder. I have an excellent hot pink in stock that I think would work great!!!
Anyway let me know and we will get it done.. (again)

[SmithKid]

Yes, the wheels ARE from my Ranchero. I don't ever plan on using them, so..... I don't want $ for them, but may ask you to give me a demo so I can color-sand/buff my Ranchero this spring.

If you are going to take Steve up on his offer of powder coating, I would LOVE to ride along, or even take my truck, just for the demo he's offering. Sounds interesting!

[Luva65wagon]

Well - maybe we could do that Gene. Anybody else want the other two spots in Gene's truck? If you can go on the 26th Gene, then I can pick up a few of the other things I left there and cut the quarters off the gray Ranchero too and get those here. That shouldn't take more than a half-hour.

Are you around today? I'm working from home today and maybe you could swing them by and help me lift this rear-end out and share the back pain with me a little. I've got to head out around 5PM but I'll be here all up until then.

I guess the question is Steve - what is cheap? I'm blowing through money like water and still have a lot of things to get.

[doghows]

How much stuff you talking about?? If it is all the front end stuff, ie springs, control arms, brackets sway bar ect... Less than $200 for all of it. All i am looking for is cost of powder and gas for the oven. Might even go less than that. You have been a big help to me and I am sure I will be calling on you again so..... The big thing to remember is it all goes in a 500 degree oven so ball joints don't coat well.... Or bushings.... Let me know and I will be glad to do it, or let you do it yourself??? With my stuff of course..