Call me crazy - Ranchero's (again)

**Luva65wagon** · December 28th, 2011, 04:36 PM

The Flarechero took it's maiden voyage today. Took it to the gas station to see if, in fact, the gas gauge isn't working... and it's not. Not sure, yet, if it's the sender or the gauge. The wiring is new, so not likely that. It was very pleasant using the Jag filler.

It has a few bugs to work out, for sure. The V8 suspension is really stiff; I think I can eliminate the overload springs in the rear and use regular shocks; it's hard to get into 1st gear, so I think I need to re-align the shifter rods; and it started and ran very smooth for the first 10 minutes in the garage and half-way to the gas station, then started to sputter a little... again. So the carb is certainly not 100% happy yet. Everything else seems to be checking out, so it has to be that. I have a kit to rebuild it completely, so will have to do that next, I guess. If that doesn't take care of it - it's out'ta there and something will replace it. I wish the wagon carb was an exact bolt-on. It's a Holley and this one is an Autolite 1100.

Tomorrow morning I'm taking it to Rhino-Liners to get the bed sprayed. Supposedly will take about 5 hours to do and Gene and I will do some work on his Ranchero while they're doing that. Then I'll be taking it to a front-end shop to get an alignment. I got it pretty close, so it's not going all over the place, but wouldn't want to drive to Sequim or Renton (where I have a free alignment I can use), but Gene and I will stop by a place he's used before and see when they can do it for me.

So, this thread is just about complete. I will post some pictures after the bed liner is done too and the rest of the bed chrome is on.

**doghows** · December 28th, 2011, 04:50 PM

That is awesome, congratulations!!

It is quite amazing to go back through this thread and see the beginning and to where it is now. Quite the journey. I am very happy the old yeller went to a good place. Now she will live on for another 40 years.
Give yourself a pat on the back for a job very well done and I can't wait to see it live and in person. Maybe my 62 will be drivable by then.
Again job well done be proud!

**redfalken** · December 28th, 2011, 05:04 PM

Good job! That color scheme is just hollering for some Kafka pinstripes...

**Luva65wagon** · December 28th, 2011, 08:30 PM

Have spent the past few hours researching this Autolite 1100 to see what information is out there on it; mods, tweaks, known weaknesses - etc.

With all the discussion and research I've done based on Kenny's "recurve" thread, I, of course, learned a lot regarding early timing characteristics with these motors too. All things happen for a reason.

As you all know I have 65 wagon and now this Ranchero. Both have similar drivetrain.

The wagon has the stock distributor with Pertronics and when I bought the car in 1997 it had a funcky/warped 1-barrel Holley on it, which was beyond repair. At the time my only choice was to replace it, so I ran up to the local parts house and told them what I needed, and they said they had one in stock for a later model Mustang with a 200 ci/6 and "it should work fine." So I got it, installed it, and other than the little crud issue a couple years ago, it has been working pretty good.

As I do my research tonight I come across a thread on a Mustang forum with a guy trying to rebuild a carb like the one on my wagon. Some guy mentions to the OP that his photo's don't show it having a spark control valve (AKA - the vacuum advance control needed on the Load-o-matic models) and he ought to see if his dizzy needs it (no mechanical advance). And my brain instantly goes - !!!WHOAAANELLY!!! I pull up pictures of my wagon motor and low and behold - I have a Holley 1940 on my wagon... with a Load-o-matic distributor... and NO SPARK CONTROL VALVE. So God only knows what my advance is like on that wagon.

So... me thinks the carb from the wagon comes off, goes onto the Flarechero, the 1100 gets a full-fledged rebuild and goes onto the wagon with a Spark Control Valve... for the first time in 15 years.

Maybe both will run really well after that.

**Luva65wagon** · December 28th, 2011, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by redfalken

Good job! That color scheme is just hollering for some Kafka pinstripes...

I sort of mentioned doing something like this up there somewhere. Whether I learn to do it, or take it somewhere...

Always looking to learn new things. Would need to create me a part to practice on. And the brushes. And maybe some on-line tutorials.

**BillP 98201** · December 29th, 2011, 07:40 AM

I agree with Kenny pinstripes would be the way to go!

**pbrown** · December 29th, 2011, 09:44 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1FgV..._order&list=UL

**Luva65wagon** · December 29th, 2011, 06:56 PM

Thanks for the link, Patrick. Looks interesting. Will have to watch it when I'm more awake.

Had a bad case of insomnia last night - too much thinking about that carb, I think - and only got about 3 hours of sleep. After watching 4 hours of "Wheeler - Dealers" between 3AM and 7AM I went out this morning before going to RhinoLiners and swapped out the carb from the wagon to the Ranchero and - other than forgetting to plug off the vacuum port on the carb, the thing ran famously all 10 miles I drove it today. Just a little fluttering, which was probably due to the open vacuum port. The Autolite 1100 is now in the carb bath and I'll rebuild it for the wagon - and maybe it will like it better.

Gene met me at Rhino-Liner this morning and we worked on his Ranchero while they sprayed the bed liner, which took them 6 hours to turn-around. Win-Win for both of us (he's getting close to starting his car too!). The bed turned out pretty good, but I got home too late to get any pictures taken. Only a couple hiccups. Using a flashlight I put the bed trim on (sans the transition curve pieces, which I will do tomorrow) and plugged the vacuum port on the carb. I've only got to install the access panels and shock-bolt covers in the bed in the morning.

I have an appointment at 9AM to get the front-end aligned, so I hope I sleep - or don't over-sleep. I am a typing zombie right now.

**falcon cobra** · December 30th, 2011, 05:28 AM

Looks good roger. is it to late to chop the top?? jh

**Luva65wagon** · December 31st, 2011, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by falcon cobra

Looks good roger. is it to late to chop the top?? jh

Just a little...

Here's a couple pictures of the bed liner and while it was at the alignment shop. I have to say that after the alignment, what a difference. Still shaking out bugs, but it's a kick to drive. Brings me back to my high school days with my Falcon I had back then. These round-body cars have a totally different personality.

Gonna take it out and go to Gene's today and let him go for a ride in it. And see what other trouble we can get into on his Ranchero.

Happy New Year too!

**falcon cobra** · December 31st, 2011, 02:19 PM

Who did the align ? and how much $$ , and is it cheeper to have the bed done or do it yourself ? falcon people have a need to know...thanks...jh

**Luva65wagon** · December 31st, 2011, 05:30 PM

For the alignment I used a place Gene has used for a long time - American Auto Care in Everett. Run by a guy who's been around a long time and done hundreds of Falcons and Mustangs over his lifetime. I don't really know if I got a "Gene's friend" discount, but expect to pay around $100 plus tax.

Bed liners are bit pricey at $500, but they guarantee them for life. I don't think what I can do at home can match the coverage and density of this stuff. As Gene and I scrutinized the work they did today at his place, the less pleased I am with the job they did. Not sure what, if anything, they can do about it now that it's done. There's no removing the stuff they did. They can only make it thicker. I may or may not call them on it. Still debating. It's a cosmetic thing, so functionally it's fine.

Gene and I drove it to the parts house when I got to his place, and everything went well, but as I was driving down Evergreen way near Fluke some couple passed by on my left and yelled something at me -- all I heard was the last word, which I think was "stinky." Not sure what she meant by that.

My heater fan does the "screaming thing" too. Bummer. I guess out comes the heater box again.

**Jeff W** · December 31st, 2011, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Luva65wagon

-- all I heard was the last word, which I think was "stinky." Not sure what she meant by that. in. :

I think "Stinky" is Italian for "Sexy"... do you suppose she was talking about the car or the driver?

**Luva65wagon** · January 1st, 2012, 10:08 PM

Jeff - You come up with some of the best answers...

I don't think she was Italian either.

**Luva65wagon** · January 9th, 2012, 10:34 AM

I've been driving the Flarechero around on the weekends and working through the bugs. The biggest of them is the non-function fuel gauge. Sadly that turned out to be the sending unit and with as rusty as the tank was, I glued the heck out of the sending unit when I put it in last summer. The ground was questionable when I checked it due to putting so much snot on it, but I added a ground wire yesterday and made no differ'ance. So... broke down and ordered a new tank off eBay and a new sending unit from Ron and Rosie at FalconParts.com.

I also had to pull the heater box out and pull the fan motor, which was squealing to high-heaven. A hole on one end for lube and lube on the front (with a little extra left to linger) I put it all back in and the heater was purring. The switch, on low, is intermittent (got to hold it just right, then let go), but I can live with that. The quality of these aftermarket switches is really no better.

Next came some electrical gremlins which turned out to be caused by some late-night asleep-at-the-wheel assembly. Never a good idea. I had hung a wire on the ignition switch with the intent to put a nut on it - but didn't. So after doing that this weekend all the electrical is now "behaving." With the exception of the fuel gauge, of course.

I did order some regular mirrors for the doors and put those on too. Drilled holes and used thread-serts with 10-32 threads. Very solid. If anyone has want or need of some peep mirrors, I have a pair.

Now onto the starting of this thing with the Holley. When it's cold it starts very oddly. I have the DSII ignition and picking up vacuum from the manifold. I don't know what the carb provides, but I may try that for the halibut. I know the DSII has a built in 5 degree retard circuit on start built in. So, maybe that is the cause. This is all new territory for me, but considering I did a recurve of the distributor based upon the Inline Classics web site, and my distributor didn't exactly match what they said I should have seen, maybe it's a little messed up. Don't know. Once it is running, it runs great. Very peppy, in fact.

One thing I haven't reported, makes me a bit angry, is the quality of the bed liner. When I picked it up Dec 29th it was late in the day, cloudy and just plain yucky outside - I had only a couple hours sleep the night before - and I just didn't see much wrong. Standing out at Gene's house the first time that following weeked, and then again yesterday, I'm not liking it more and more. I see bubbles forming now. It's one of the only things I let "the experts" handle, and they blotch it up. So I am going to have to go talk to them again and see what they can say or do. Bed liners are not exactly a thing you can remove [easily] and do it again. Sigh...

Have a good week.