4-speed in a 1968 Ranchero

[jessereitz]

Hi. I am looking at a 1968 Ford Ranchero to buy for my first car. I want to know if anyone here has converted the stock auto to a 4-speed transmission configuration. Is it hard and worth it, or should i just leave the auto?

[gfw1985]

Since it's your first car I wouldn't advise it. It's very doable, just takes a fair amount of work and money which I doubt you have. Not trying to discourage you, just few young people have the time, knowledge and resources to pull it off when you'd rather be driving.

[85e150six4mtod]

Ditto.

You would need to change your pedals, a joyless on-your-back-in-the-footwell job that seems like it will never end.

Then there is the clutch linkage. The z-bar set up was marginal when new, and a retrofit on a vehicle that old will doubtless turn up something unpleasant in the "rust" department.

You also need a bell suitable for your vehicle, and, of course, the transmission. You can play scrapyard roulette and try to find a box that stays in gear, and doesn't whine, but that was tough 20 years ago when I was looking for one. Or an 'as new' box for $1000 from:

http://www.davidkeetoploaders.com/remanufactured.htm

Think he's cranky about old parts? Same said here:

http://www.5speeds.com/toploader.html

The C6 in your car is bullet-proof.

Focus on brakes perhaps.....

[kenjh]

I agree with the rest of the guy's I have tried to find all the right parts to swap over to a 4 or 5 speed ..you are looking at 2500 to 3500 bucks to do it right ,or rebuild you c6 with a shift kit and go play..for less then a thousand you will be happier and have the bucks left over for good tunes or a set of hedders n pipes..unless you ahve a small block..??

[85e150six4mtod]

Hhhm, I said "C6" in my post as I was thinking he had a 390. Truth is, we don't know what it has, so it may be C6 or a C4 or even an FMX.

Regardless, this is not a car to do the swap in, as that tends to kill the "original" part of the value.

[NumberDummy]

No FMX in a 1968 anything, the trans was introduced in 1969 along with the 351W.

[85e150six4mtod]

Originally Posted by NumberDummy

No FMX in a 1968 anything, the trans was introduced in 1969 along with the 351W.

Thanks for the correction. I feel like I'm being watched. (well, for good reason I guess....)

[NumberDummy]

Originally Posted by 85e150six4mtod

I feel like I'm being watched. (well, for good reason I guess....)

Not intentionally...I was just lookin' thru one of the 100's of threads I read daily.

I also subscribe to every thread I post in... ...that's why I'm back here again.

[kenjh]

just to stir the pot my 55 meteor has a 390 with the cruise a matic, not factory but it fits.and this ranchero after 30 years could have a 351 cuse it will fit..so what does it have ???? anyone know yet?

[85e150six4mtod]

Yea, I know what you mean. I saw a Minneapolis Moline with two 428s in it once....