1966 Ranchero Question
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1966 Ranchero Question
Did 1966 Ranchero's have an original firewall to shock tower brace?
I have seen them on '65's. Is it important to have one on a 66? Why not ?
Will an original 65 brace fit a 66, if it's a good idea to have one. I don't like the after market braces i have seen.
I have seen them on '65's. Is it important to have one on a 66? Why not ?
Will an original 65 brace fit a 66, if it's a good idea to have one. I don't like the after market braces i have seen.
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Not dumb at all. No one knows.
I would guess it did. You should be able to see up on the firewall where it bolted to the firewall. The one piece and two piece braces bolt up the same I think.
Why is it important? Because it's part of a triangulation design that gives the whole front end enough strength to stay fairly close to it's designed shape.
Fairly.
These things--Ranchero, Mustang, Falcon etc, are pretty flexible and prone to getting whacked out of shape. "Weak" would be another way of putting it.
I would guess it did. You should be able to see up on the firewall where it bolted to the firewall. The one piece and two piece braces bolt up the same I think.
Why is it important? Because it's part of a triangulation design that gives the whole front end enough strength to stay fairly close to it's designed shape.
Fairly.
These things--Ranchero, Mustang, Falcon etc, are pretty flexible and prone to getting whacked out of shape. "Weak" would be another way of putting it.
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From: Lynnwood, WA
No shock tower braces in 66
Though I wasn't really clear myself (even though I happen to be president of a FCA chapter) I did a little research and there were no shock tower braces in '66 Falcons - the foundation of the Ranchero for that year. Or, at least, I can not find a single image of one with shock-tower braces.
Though it was still a uni-body car, Ford must'a not thought it was needed, whereas the year before it was needed. The engine bay radically changed in that one year though - allowing for much larger motors than you could shoe-horn into the bay in '65.
Could it benefit from one is perhaps the question. That I can't say for sure, but I think the more torque your motor can make, the stiffer you want things t be.
Hope this helps.
Though it was still a uni-body car, Ford must'a not thought it was needed, whereas the year before it was needed. The engine bay radically changed in that one year though - allowing for much larger motors than you could shoe-horn into the bay in '65.
Could it benefit from one is perhaps the question. That I can't say for sure, but I think the more torque your motor can make, the stiffer you want things t be.
Hope this helps.
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Can you use the 289 v8 66 mustang steering box upgrade on a 1966 ranchero 289 v8? Does any one have any leads on what is interchangeable for the 66 ranchero ?
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1966/67 Falcon steering gear. Manual steering different than power steering.
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The only Ranchero's that have a separate chassis are 1957/59 & 1972/79.
1960/71 Ranchero's have integral bodies, the body & chassis is a one piece welded assembly, w/a stub frame for the engine/trans to bolt to.
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From: NY
Just bought a 66 Ranchero at Mecum, in Harrisburg. Having been brought with GM, I need some help finding some needed parts. If someone could respond with some suggestions, I would appreciate it. Mike D (Western NY)
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Mostly, the 66-70 Falcons were the same as 66 Fairlanes. There were some minor changes to the 67 Fairlanes that got incorporated in the Falcons starting in 67 (dual bowl master cylinder to name one). In 68, the Fairlane changes completely, but the Falcon did not.
So if you are having trouble finding 66 Ranchero Parts (I am assuming you have tried Falconparts.com., Macs and/or AutoKrafters), trying searching for 66 Fairlane or 66 Falcon station wagon parts, as the Ranchero was based on the wagon.
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Yes, and the Falcon stayed on that same 66 Fairlane chassis all the way through 1970, but not 1970-1/2.
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1970 1/2 Falcon (assembled from 1/2/1970) is a sub series of the Fairlane, uses the Fairlane 2 door sedan, 4 door sedan and 4 door station wagon bodies.