I am going to be traveling out to Arizona in May and am looking to pickup a nice '72 to '79 Ranchero to use like a truck. I was wondering what size 15" wheel and tires guys and gals were fitting on theirs?? I was thinking of putting a set of Mag. 500 wheels with a 215-60-15. Any thoughts? Also I love the 1972 front sheet metal what years can you fit it to besides the '73/'74?? Will it fit all of them to '79??

 

Yes 72-79 is nearly no changes in the years... I just got tires to day slightly higher I recommend 235/60/15 for height issue reasons.... 215/60/15 will cause you to bottom out if your not in a flat land state. It will also make you sit higher by 1.5/2.0 inches rolls smoother and sails nice... I also recommend upgrading your springs to a different vehicles set of springs ... If you can squeeze in some f-250 springs you will get that just right height.

 

Thanks for the info! If I locate a nice one I'll throw on a set of new Moog springs front and rear. 235-60-15 sounds like a great choice,with a set of Mag.500 wheels it will make a Ranchero look great.

 

anytime... BTW stay away from ranchero usa forums there a bunch of Hippocrates and will fallow you from other websites to get you banned.

Avoid a guy name 5.0 Chero at all cost.

Also keep a eye out for a guy named SCR1 or something like that he is helpful but he still is a waste of space wannabe ford ****. They both come from that Ranchero USA Forum... and they bs around on Ford Muscle Forums Ford Muscle is very helpful but just keep an eye out for people who are critics.

Right now i am rolling on 15 inch Enkei Wheels with Primewell Sport ps860 with white on the outside.

 

Wow, I was on there for years with no problems and been here for years. You come here with 6 posts and bad mouth another site??? Really ???? Not cool bud! No issues EVER with 5.0Chero either.

 

You got that right. If I recall, and I do, he had a fit, and even made a YouTube video rant tearing up Ranchero.us. 5.0Chero is a great moderator, and person. If I were the members of this forum, I'd watch out for Chamblizi. Although, he'll be banned here in no time, like he is everywhere he goes.

 

Um. NO. Front clip sheet metal from a 72 will not fit directly on 77-79 years, the front is drastically different and would require some serious modifications.

Basically any tire would work, or rims for that matter provided the correct spacers and bolt pattern.

 

Ive been here for a lot longer but i forgot my old email Maybe cause your DIFFERENT i don't side with critics.

 

IDC Ford power is all i care about and i help others make there rides better not call people internet thugs and harass there channels.

 

Not trying to badmouth you chamblizi, but sometimes you give false information on the ranchero's. I would do some more research before you dive into answering some questions. You don't want to have someone follow on with that information and end up getting real pissed real quick. Good thoughts on the wheels and everything though.

 

Well i am only trying to help others to an extant which i can try....

I think my main help does not work at oriely auto parts anymore real cool guy solid white hair He gave me insite on some things on ranchero's he had a 79 ranchero...

I have been watching them pop up everywhere just the other day i saw a guy in Des moines with a blue one that waved to me when he drove by I'm Siked up every time i see a good ol classic ranchero. I think his might have been a 78 or something like that.

I like the street respect from ford owner to ford owner. I end up getting free parts frequently just from talking to people who like my enthusiasm Just a couple months back this guy gave me a performance rpm limiting system for free.. he drove a classic BMW and i could not thank him anymore then that...

I have been getting misleading info frequently from autozones and some other places... Instead of telling them off i just don't go near them. There is a guy at napa who is 3x older then me and truthfully speaking he is no help. When i go into napa i talk to either this lady i am cool with named Jalayia or either the other guy at the counter. Who is also helpful i think that old guy there is a parts specialist but does not know crap about cars.

My advice is only intended to help others. Not hurt others....

 

Sorry PHIL chamblizi Ranchero Rider or what ever name you want to go by.
Nobody got you Banned from any site but your self. Yes I banned you for a month then after you came back in about a week you were dong the same thing so I banned you permanently

YOU got yourself banned at Ford Muscle Forums nobody at Ranchero.us got you banned

 

Sorry Grasshopper you were given some wrong information
72 Front clip will only bolt on to a 72. you can adapt it to the 73 to 76 but you will need to modify the front frame horns and fabricate rear fender mounts.

77 to 79 body lines are totally different

 

The bed mouldings are the same 1972/79, all have D2OZ part number prefixes.

1973: The feds mandated that all passenger cars (this included Ranchero's, El Camino's) have 10 MPH front bumpers.

Behind the chrome front bumper is a heavy steel bumper reinforcement, the bumper brackets (called isolators) have pins that allow the brackets to collapse when the bumper is hit, allowing it to slide back several inches.

All 1973/79's have this setup, but no 1972 did. Since day one, the 1972 Ranchero has been the most popular (at least here in SoCal). Peeps just love that fish mouth grille. I prefer 1967's.

1972/76 Ranchero's same as Torino's, 1977/79's same as LTD II's (not LTD's!). Most mechanical parts are also shared with 1974/79 Cougars, 1972/79 Thunderbird's, 1972/76 Continental Mark IV & 1977/79 Continental Mark V.

What fits what? The 1965/72 & 1973/79 Ford Passenger Car Parts Catalogs are available on CD's from hipoparts.com.

MEASURE the bolt circle pattern before buying/swapping wheels. 1972/79: Some have a 4.50" bolt circle pattern, some have a 5.00" bolt circle pattern.

Caveat Emptor! = Let the buyer beware.

All Ranchero's tend to be rust buckets, because undeneath the bed floor pan is the station wagon floor pan, has foot and seat wells, the wagons spare tire well.

Ford used caulk to seal the Rancheros bed pan. The caulk chips off, water seeps in, rust begins. Not only is the rust hidden from view, but there are no drain holes in the wagons floor pan.

If the rust is not caught in time, the fuel tank could fall off! Above it...is the wagons spare tire well.

 

If you don't need a Ranchero for moving to Az., I would wait 'till I get there. You will find a more solid rustfree Ranchero in Az. My .02 being from IL. also, I've seen what the IL/N.W. IN. salt does to these things. 215's are alittle on the narrow side, 225 or 235 would be the smallest I would go, and 15''x 7'' Magnum rim. Good luck on your move & search for your '72 Ranch.