76 Ranchero full makeover - need advice
 

I recently aquired a 76 that had a bad chop job and someone cut the springs to short and then had to use strechers to get it back up to usable height. It has a factory 400 with what I believe is a C-6 tranny. I was thinking about going to air suspension and also was wondering about changing the rear brakes to disk. I am a big fan of the FE engines (390 mostly) and was wondering if anyone has any opinions on that swap. I am not very familiar with the 335 series. Any opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Air ride technologies is a place to start with the suspension. They might have something for you.

Rear brakes to disk may not be the best idea, If you do this then you're gonna need a custom proportioning valve at the very least. With as little weight as you've got back there I can't see the need but to each his own. I think one of the vendors we have here has the name buybrakes. Send him a pm and he might be able to help ya.

I think that the c6 isn't going to bolt up to a fe motor, different bolt patterns, so my guess is the new fe is gonne need a tranny to go with.

Hope you get her running, sounds like you got what somebody else messed up. Good luck.

On the 76
 

Check the door sticker for input on the tranny code and the rear gear ratio. Going to a FE is a mistake IMHO unless it's a 427 S.O.:) What I did with my 78 is lose the 400, I put in a rebuilt 351W and C6. Two years later and lots of towing and hauling it still runs perfect. If your close to Long Island NY the drive train will be for sale in the near future as the Ranchero is getting junked in a month. Or drive it home for all the parts. I have an FE in my 64 post car and Small blocks are a lot cheaper to build, just my couple of pennys.

Kewl, another FE fan! Love them old motors, I still have a few laying around and one at the machine shop! Good luck with your build, I got to second what Amish said about Air Ride Technologies, very high quality stuff!!!!

No FE
 

Fe's are great engines, but hard to swap in.. The best thing is to wake up the 400 with a cam intake carb & exhaust. There is a BOATLOAD of torque hideing in that motor. http://home.earthlink.net/~bubbaf250/index.html
If Real POWER is what you crave....the (385 series,429-460) motor is a BOLT IN. http://429mustangcougarinfo.50megs.com/

thanks for the advice
 

Yeah that 400 is a stout motor. It's more of a stump puller than a rod engine, but I think 350-400 is easily within it's range.