Thread: my 63 ranchero rat rod in progress

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just turned 16 a couple of months ago, and this 63 ranchero is my first car. it's got a straight 6 170 with 3-on-the-tree. my dad has a fully restored 36 chevy 4 door sport sedan so he's been my go to guy for help.

so far i've had to rebuild the carb, get the gas tank chemically cleaned, install/bend a new fuel line, redone all 4 brakes, new master cylinder, new fuel pump, some rear axle seals, and we had to cut off the exhaust pipe because it was clogged and overheating, so had to take off exhaust manifold to make sure it was good; it was. we just finished welding in some floorboards since the original ones were rusted through to the ground.

first turn and she roared right up!

like i said before, we just finished welding in floorboards couple of days ago. seam sealed it. and tonight i just sprayed a rubber adhesive undercoating on all of it. tomorrow will be on the underside of her.

plans for the future: flat black paint. lower front suspension.

it still has the original tube radio which works like a charm! i had never heard of one or seen one until this project.



here's what i might want it to look like in the end.


what do you fellow rodders think?

Great first project! Slam that baby

looks good but
I like this one to.
Attachment 22606

Yup, I gotta go with the shiny paint one, too!!!!!! Who's is that, Tree? Killer looking Chero!!!!!

You know you're old when someone tells you they never heard a tube-type radio.

I was just remembering back and thought about all the stores that had a tube tester in one of the aisles and a good inventory of different tubes.

"here's what i might want it to look like in the end."

Talk with your dad about messin' up the front end geometry before you start lowering the front.

Vey happy to see that one of the first things you did was overhaul the brakes. That should always be top on the list. Cool lil' truck (car?) whatever!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Yup, I gotta go with the shiny paint one, too!!!!!! Who's is that, Tree? Killer looking Chero!!!!!

I don't know who's it is Dave?
just found it floating around .
I squished the top about 3-4" (just guessing)
everything else is real...


Our tube radio takes a lil' to warm up before you can only listen to AM, but it does work good .

Originally Posted by techinspector1

You know you're old when someone tells you they never heard a tube-type radio.

I was just remembering back and thought about all the stores that had a tube tester in one of the aisles and a good inventory of different tubes.

Hmmmm. Know that you mention it, I don't remember seeing any tube testers around anymore!!!! Hopefully Denny has a schematic so I can test them with my ohm meter!!!!!

Originally Posted by treekiller

I don't know who's it is Dave?
just found it floating around .
I squished the top about 3-4" (just guessing)
everything else is real...

ya done good on it tree!!!! now if it just had that big 815" Ford hemi I keep posting pictures of, and some slicks and wheelie bars.......


Our tube radio takes a lil' to warm up before you can only listen to AM, but it does work good .

I can't get KOMA in Oklahoma City anymore, wonder which tube is getting weak?????

don't know Dave, they're still there.
http://www.komaradio.com/


sdobbs20--

so far i've had to rebuild the carb, get the gas tank chemically cleaned, install/bend a new fuel line, redone all 4 brakes, new master cylinder, new fuel pump, some rear axle seals, and we had to cut off the exhaust pipe because it was clogged and overheating, so had to take off exhaust manifold to make sure it was good; it was. we just finished welding in some floorboards since the original ones were rusted through to the ground.

It is nice to read that you didn't change the rims and radio then worry about all the rest.
How are you planing to lower the front suspension? "air ride?"

TL

The Ranchero looks good and getting better. Had a friend down in Florida with three Falcons, one convertible, one hardtop and a Ranchero. His Ranchero had a 390 in it. He was a Falcon lover for sure.

As to tube radios, I still have my tubed Wonderbar Radio out of my 57 Olds. One of these days when the market is right and I am no longer sentimental I might put it on Ebay.

Originally Posted by treekiller

don't know Dave, they're still there.
http://www.komaradio.com/


sdobbs20--

It is nice to read that you didn't change the rims and radio then worry about all the rest.
How are you planing to lower the front suspension? "air ride?"

TL

yes ofcourse. i do plan on putting in a newer stereo though, but i'm not taking out the tube radio, just going to leave it in there to keep it original. i don't know what to do with it though. mount it under front seat, fab something up and do it overhead ...? endless possibilities.

as far as suspension goes, i would love to have air bags in it, my dad has them in the 36 and they're awesome. i'm not too sure what all needs to be done to suspension for it. i'd just like it lower in the front, make it look a bit "meaner" and lower.

what all would i have to do to make it lower?

Originally Posted by sdobbs20

what all would i have to do to make it lower?

I'm not sure on your specific car/truck but I'd check out lowered spindles or shortened springs . The good thing about air ride is your not stuck with that height , you can adjust it as needed.

I've got a run'n buddy with a Sprint that used the spindles and now he's kick'n him self and saving up for air ride.

"and hide the new radio and leave one speaker hooked up to the old one "

TL

treekiller:

i'm going to leave the speaker that goes with it. and just have a completely separate system with cd played and the goods.