I am installing a 289 into a 62 ranchero, (orig. a 6cyl. 4-speed) I am also converting to 5-bolt hubs and 8" rear. What suspension parts need to be changed out? I have heard you can use suspension from a 63-65 v8 falcon..... Are the ranchero rear leafs ok with the V8 and 8"?
You won't be changing the weight of the rear by much, so the rear springs are likely fine. Spindles, hubs, brakes, tie rods ***emblies. Power steering stuff, if you want it. The control arms and the balljoints are the same. You will want V8 or aftermarket front coil springs. Research and do the "Shelby Drop" while you are in there. It helps out quite a bit in handling. It lowers the upper control arm pickup point by 1", and back 1/8". Free, but the drill bit. http://dazed.home.bresnan.net/drop
Any early mustang V8 will fit ythe 64 MUstang is a reskinned Falcon Floorpans and suspension pieces fit Falcon. Once you start checking lots of mechanical parts interchange between the first Mustangs and Falcon.
Yup. Check your favorite Mustang supplier. There is a ton of stuff for them, and almost all of it fits on the Falcon. Wagons and Rancheros have a few exceptions, but not many. I wish you were closer. I'd buy the original engine and trans.
The Mustang arms are a great way to go because they are repro'd and inexpensive. You can then use the Mustang spindles and most of the steering gear except the centerlink, you have to stick with Falcon V8 stuff on that. As said above, check out the Shelby drop, and Scarebird disc brakes makes an awsome inexpensive conversion for the five lug Mustang spindles. Personally, I'm diggin' the 200inch six in my Falcon wagon, and have a three carbed, high compression 170 coupled with a T50 five speed for my Ranchero.
I used the stock V8 mounts, 64 I think, to bolt the engine into my 61 Comet. Suspension is all 65 falcon/comet: Upper/lower A arms, tie rods are a mix of 65 and Granada because I used granada spindles and discs, and a 65 center link. Those weren't hard to find at all. Made my own transmission crossmember, had the driveshaft made and went to the 8' out back with 94 mustang discs. I'm using long tube headers that are too long and will swap for the Sandersons I got in a box somewhere later. Almost everything is bolt on. Here's a couple of links that were usefull: http://www.cometeastcarclub.org/1961_comet_upgrade.html http://www.fordfalcon2000.com/restoration/diskbrakes.htm http://www.falconparts.com/ They are the only ones I have left as I did the swap a couple years ago.
Tffn.net go to the forums.. Theres a sticky on i6 to v8 swaps.. might answer any questions you have.. Nathan
In my 64 fairlane I plan on keeping the 6 and have already switched to the T5 5 speed. Keep the 6! Louvers How'd you get three carbs on your 170? mine has a log style head for only one? Did you put a 200 head on there? lets see some pics, do you have a build going? Sorry to hijack.
All small ford sixes (144, 170, 200, 250) had log head.. Cl***ic inlines offers an aftermarket aluminum head for some serious $$. You can try and find a aussie 250 head.. Or buy the offy 3x1 manifold adapter to get triple carbs.. Or if you're really adventurous find your self a 1978 wide log head.. mill the top of the log flatter.. using a 1 1/2" hole saw on a drill press and add two extra carb holes. Buy a couple of stovebolt 2x1 carb adapters and have three dueces on your motor.. if you need pictures let me know.. I have a cool door stop I can take pictures of for ya. Nathan
One prob you are going to run into is room.On the 60-62 not much to play with.Spend lots of time on the Plan and figure out how much money are you going to spend.Sometimes a kit is cheaper than trying to piece something together.Also what is it going to be used for when finished.Lots of questions you have to ask yourself before you start.If you going to run a rack and pinion with headers make sure the pinion is one that is short some have a 5 1/2" pinion want work with out a lot of mods.Another thing is the starter with headers same prob.Its the small things that will get ya.It's not hard to put in the V8 it's the hooking stuff up that's hard.Anyway give Her some though and if I can be of help to you just ask.
Offenhauser has made a kit for about 50 years if you want to go about it that way, you just drill two 1 1/2" holes in the log and clamp it in place. I my case, I made two other carb pads and brazed them to the new holes in the log. Been done lot of times before and is pretty simple, but best of all kills the "problem" of the log head and poor fuel distribution dead in it's tracks. I'm not quite ready with mine, but I'll be doing a tech on it soon. Oh, three Weber ICT carbs are what I'm going with this time.
I did this exact swap years ago on a customer car. He had a parts Grenader we took everything out of. I used the front spindles and/or brakes as I recall. Can't remember too many details so it must have gone pretty smooth! I did have to build a tube crossmember for it. Sorry, no pictures... :-(
Thanks for all the great and quick responses. Car is going to the blasters next week then on to the suspension work. Gimpyshotrods-the running gear is definitely available...............
In college in 64 I put a 221 in a 60 with stock 63 v8 mounts and left the 6 cyl front end with no problems. The car was faster than sprints because it was much lighter.
Stay away from 63-64 V8 steering components (if you could even find any in the first place). They used a unique 1 1/8 inch steering shaft/pitman arm and unique tie rod ends. Rare = expensive. Jump right to 1965 components, which have a redesigned center link with better geometry. I wouldn't bother with power steering, either. More trouble than it's worth in my book. Mid-late 70s Granada spindles and disc brakes are a bolt-in swap.
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