I am trying to get my 1978 Ranchero GT ready for the mandatory emissions inspection. The previous owner thoughtfully disonnected some of the vacuum hoses that control the EGR and air pump valves (including unhooking a couple and putting bolts in them). I also suspect that some of them aren't hooked up correctly. Does anyone have a source of vacuum routing diagrams that can help me out? The shop manuals I have are generic and don't address my specific needs. I have a 400 cid V8 with a Motorcraft 2150 2V carb.

 

You need to go to the local library. They usually have MOTOR manuals which are very extensive.I guess the underhood sticker is gone? Another thing, at the home page here,I always see a banner for repair manuals that include diaghrams.
Phillip

 

Another good idea is to gotothe car shows, video camera in hand. Take a few minutes and video how the hoses and various canisters are placed and routed, you'd be suprisedon how much info can be obtained. Just get a car similar to yours and shoot away. Another option is the junk yards, but generally they have the emmisions trashed or thourghly disconnected, but you might get lucky, I went this route when I had to re hook up my smog-pump on a 84 f-150, I lucked out and found an intact donor truck at the 'yard and pieced a legal smog system together.
good luck1

 

In '95 I bought a 77 Ranchero 500 with a 400M and C6. The camshaft had broken half so the front four cylinders fired ok but the back four didn't work. I paid $300 for it and I rebuilt the engine and had the trany rebuilt.

The previous owner had unhooked some of the vacuum lines but I drew a sketch of where they went, to the best I could.

After I got the Ranchero running again I took it out to be smogged and it failed. It ran clean enough but I had some vacuum lines misrouted and the charcoal canister was broken. The smog tech was kind enough to make me a copy of the page in their manual to show me how to hook up everything. Upon close inspection I found I was missing a few parts.

I went to a wrecking yard and found a '78 Thunderbird with a 400M and intact smog equipment. I made a new sketch of where everything went and bought all the vacuum lined and connectors. I carefully removed them and took them home in one big piece. I also bought the charcoal canister. I removed everything from my engine and installed the new stuff. It then passed the smog test in '95 and again in '97.

Unfortunately, the Ranchero was in too poor shape to keep. Two months ago I bought a '71 F-350 with a broken motor. I transplanted the 400M and C-6 from the Ranchero into the F-350. Since I do not need to smog the F-350 (in CA, '73 and older vehicles are smog exempt) I was able to install a 4-bbl intake and carb. and remove all those vacuum lines. I also installed an MSD 6-A ignition setup. These changes really woke-up that 400M. I love that motor. I'm now doing a brake job on all 4 wheels and I should have the F-350 on the road this weekend.

I live in Northern California and you can have the rolling chasis of the Ranchero for cheap if you want it. I'll even throw-in the vacuum lines.

Also, if you want me to scan-in the diagram and sketches I made please email me or leave me a note here.

Bruce

 

 

My name is Rob I read your post and would most appreciate if you could send me any and all scratches diagrams and information you have on the ranchero. I myself got a steal on a 1977 ranchero gt for $500 and have managed to do a lot of work myself but finding diagrams and info has been very difficult and I've been dreading the emissions and smog situation because I'm a Southern California resident. If you could email me that would be awesome! robbiehill724@gmail.com

 

You've responded to a post that was typed 8/4/1999!

You should type a new thread in the 1961/67 Econoline and Ranchero forum.

 

Maybe a new record- 18 year old resurrection of a zombie thread!!

Rob, another suggestion - go to the AutoZone site, create a login, then go through their technical data - they have a ton of vacuum diagrams posted there. You just have to dig a little.

 

I applaud the OP for actually digging a bit on this site, and finding that post. Even if it was 18 years old...