I have this great idea to talk my brother into putting a v8 and 4 or 5 speed manual in his 64 Ranchero. He overheated it and maybe there's metal in the oil: when he explained what his mechanic told him, it was a bit confusing (my brother's an artist).

The existing set up is a 6 with a 3 on the tree. Dunno what size motor.

Before I talk to him I'd like to have a good idea on what the challenges/easiest routes would be. He's not a hot rodder, so maybe even a strong six with a 4-5 speed and a bit lower rear axle would work.

Again, since he is not mechanically inclined, it would need to be a set up that he could keep tuned locally (I live in Las Vegas and he lives in Los Angeles), and keep him from expensive upcharges for maintenance.

Any links, threads, tips? Thanks!

 

I am pretty sure an early V8 like a 260, 289 or the first born 302 will fit without to much work.

 

260s and 289s were stock in those as well as the six.

Pre-efi Mustang 302s make decent power, may still be in the yards with AODs or 5 speeds--probably need to be gone through though...

BUT, remember, the brakes and 4 lug wheels on those 6 cylinder models were sub par in 1964, and are really unacceptable if you are doing a V8 swap. The rear axle isn't up to the V8--heck the stock 8" axle for the V8s was barely up to it.

So this becomes a total go-through of the vehicle.

You can get a bell to mount a T5 trans behind the six also--figure $500 iirc. I'll post a link when I find it.

So chew on the prospect and decide how much of your brothers money you want to spend......

 

The later EFI 302 has a different bell housing bolt pattern than the 289 style he has don't it? The first 302 would fit but not later I think. That's why a 351W is not gonna fit either.

 

Ah, that's a good heads up... I'm gonna have to look around. I don't think it's going to be too easy to do this on the cheap.

Any donor vehicle suggestions? There's 20 bazillion Fox body mustangs out there.

 

Doesn't matter, as he is swapping a six out. If he had a 260 or 289 and wanted a 302 or 351w it would be an issue, as the sbf pattern changed in '65 from 5 bolts to 6.

 

it is a pretty straight forward swap to go from a 6 to a V8.
you will need to change the motor mount towers, and mounts.
you will need a V8 throttle assembly, or convert to cable throttle.
then you will need to convert the suspension from 4 lug to 5 lug. all the parts for this swap can be picked up in one shot if you can find a V8 maverick to use as a donor vehicle.

a very good place to talk ford falcons and the ford rancheros is www.tffn.net
it is a forum dedicated to the ford falcon and ranchero,

 

Yes, a BOLT in swap, but do it right, it will cost 500-800 in parts + the cost of the Motor/Tranny, but I did my 2 door 62 Wagon, and used most all of a Granada at first to get it done...donor car cost me 500 bucks, and drove it home....

 

many years ago (1960's) my Dad had a 59 Ranchero, blew the 6, dropped a 260 V8 in it...I remember he had to massage the steering colum in the eng compartment 9for the 3 speed shifter IIRR), but it fit without issue....and yep, they later came with the 260, 289 & 302 IIRR. FYI, my dad's was warmed up a little bit with a cam, etc, off the line he could out run my mom in her 65 mustang 4 speed GT up to about40 mph! He just about ran that truck into the ground- he really liked it!

 

Honest opinion, go find a nice 64 V8 Ranchero and buy it. Save the current one for a parts car. This is not a swap for a non mechanic. There is way more than just dropping in a motor. I just finished an upgrade on my sons Falcon. Went from a 170/fordomatic to a 250/c4. I had to make motor mounts, tranny crossmember, swap rear end to an 8", have a driveshaft made, and some exhaust work. On the 64 Falcon you'll need V8 specific steering linkage. It took me (an experienced mechanic/fabricator) a month to get it done.

 

Yup, took my dad 6 weeks - anytime you swap engines all that s to be expected- and my dad was not a "trained mechanic", a shadetree one- an ol salt flat racer (whose engines turned up to 211 mph) at El Mirage back in 1949-1951.......

it just takes a little thought, just like my 2006 F150...Addco engineers said that there was no way a rear sway bar could be installed above the rear axle even with drawings.....so I bought the material and built it myself....even Joh Hotchkins (yeah the suspension guy) couldn't believe it fit and performed as well as it did without any other mods!

What it boils down to is this, most people don't want to take the time to figure things out...just buy a kit and install...if more than a standard socket set is required, well, just "Call the Guy" to come fix it. True if you buy a kit, it should be a direct bolt-in, but dropping a SB into a flacon platform is a no brainer...just a little though and work. dropping a 454 into a Vega... now that takes a little more thought- but that was almost "common" back in the late 70's/early 80's!

 

454, Vega... you better watch your language. Boss 429 in a Pinto now your talkin.

 

Ok I surrender!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ya, buy another Ranchero. The clutch linkage attaches to a pivot bolt on the engine block. About 1984 Ford removed this feature from the engine block so you would need an 84 or older V8 block.

 

You can always do a hydraulic slave or might even consider a cable actuated assembly!