My turn. I've been a member of the sister forum dedicated to vintage motorcycles for a few years now, as old Triumphs are my first love and true p***ion. I've found the community there to be very helpful and the tech archives abounding with good knowledge shared. Since all us cycle guys need to get our machines around when they're not in tip-top shape, a cool little bike hauling rig is in order. Since my 1997 S-10 wasn't really earning me any cool points, and having heard that legendary Ford motorcars are easy to work on and keep running, I found myself an inexpensive and charming little 1963 Ranchero. These round-body Rancheros are really the coolest looking little trucks I've ever seen, and since my pops have more than one LTD II Ranchero when I was a little guy hanging around his Triumph shop after kindergarten, I tended to like the low bumper height of the car/truck. So, enter my first, but probably not my only old car ever. If the community here is anything like the one over there on the 2 wheeled side of the fence (and from the few months I've spent actively lurking are any indication, the answer is YES) then I think I may have found a new hangout, and a great place to learn all about keeping my truck running and maybe even make some improvements along the way. Tech sheet: No-frills, rusty, 1963 Ford Ranchero. 3 speed floor shift and 200ci Straight 6 from a 68 or 69 mustang (5 freeze plugs and manifold casting # C8DE-9430-A), not quite stock chrome steel rims with stockish sized chinese 13 inch tires. No rear gl*** (getting the local shop to cut me one next week), pretty good vinyl, solid dash, p***enger side floor rust, and a big question mark on the rear panels under the bed. I imagine they're yucky, but until it quits snowing here I won't know for sure. Check out the photos and tell me what I'm doing wrong. [/IMG]
Looks like a cool little cruck , you dont see very many of those around anymore! Definitely will add a little cool factor to the bike hauling!!! welcome from Mn.
Thanks guys. My plan is keep the 200 6 and mate a T-5 from an s-10. I love my s-10 5 speed because I've never had to do anything with it, and they're pretty plentiful from my meager searching. Just need some clear instructions on what the heck I'm supposed to do with it when I get it! Adapter plate needed, probably some clutch stuff, shifter, etc. From what I can tell I will run into speedometer problems with the 1995 donor ****** (if i pick it up this weekend) since the chevys ran digital outputs by then. Good thing I've got a good sense of speed from riding old bikes without gauges! Any tips, falconfolk, please fire away...
Here's a recent photo of my '66 6T Saint Triumph, renamed "Sinner". Broke in the new bottom end last weekend on a ride out to San Francisco, about 350 miles round trip. I broke my crank last summer riding to Born Free down Hwy 1, made it about half way before total failure. Finally got around to rebuilding it over the last month and rode it out to SF for the Unfinished Projects Motorcycle and Art Show.
The Jalopy Journal
