Ranchero build

[Ford Blue blood]

Thanks Rich, saw it on a 32 Ford coupe and fell in love with it.  He was kind enough to tell me the code and I saved it for all these years.  It is an 86 Caddy color, "dark red metallic" is it's official mane.

Got the roof, jams, and back window area painted.  Still have lots of "primer dust" to clean up.  Next is the doors.  Get them jammed and mounted so I can close off the interior when more paint goes on.

[Wirenut]

Looks great, it looks black in one photo, it should look real sharp when you're done. Thanks for posting the photos of your progress.

[Charter]

When you Installed your engine, Did you make your own mounts ? Looking at the pic's I can't tell. The 64 box really does open up some space. My 400 pic compared to your 351 pic with the old box tells me that the 400 is a little wider or my 400 is a little to the left. Or maybe to low in the cradle. I have never tried to redesign/ build a car like you guy's are doing here. I have done two complete frame off restorations. This will be my first. When I see FE's with headers, 460"s with headers this should work with a 400. 

[Ford Blue blood]

The mounts are stock 63 - 64 Galaxie 289.  They are spaced 3/8" off the stock 57 saddles and 1/2" off the engine block.  Reason for the spacers is the 351C pan is deeper and I was not comfortable with moving the engine forward to get a comfortable amount of clearance.

[Charter]

I read all 17 pages last night. You are very good at this. That hood project, I don't know that I could accomplish that kind of both skill and craftsmanship.  I hope your doing well. When you write about the distance off the mount, engine and a spacer could you tell me the direction from the mount you went 3/8 and 1/2 on the block ? Where is the spacer and what kind ? Or are you saying that you used the factory 57 stands and the 64 motor mounts are what you spaced to both center and raise your engine ? I do know about forward clearance I had to replace the radiator and installed a new fan. I have 3/4 inch between them. Fan clears crank pulley by 1/2 inch.

[RICH MUISE]

I read all 17 pages last night. You are very good at this.

Yes, he definetly is. Bill was one of my main go-to guys here during the many years of my build. lol, I remember years ago telling Bill to talk to me like he was teaching a 12 year old, worked out very well.

[Charter]

Thanks Rich. I'm where you were year's ago. I won't feel like a pest now. LOL. There is alot I need to learn with this type of build. Honestly I thought this would be easy. Man was I wrong. Not knowing what a 57 is compared to a 68 takes my knowledge back a few steps.

[RICH MUISE]

Pest?? Naw, that's what forums are all about. If anyone was a pest here, I've got 7500 plus posts!! They got there from asking tons of questions.

[Ford Blue blood]

You guys are making me blush!  Thanks for the compliments. 

No such thing as a pest here!  I don't think there is a single person on this board that would not share what they know or have learned.  Many have learned the hard way.  Big thing is....don't lay down if the first try don't work.  I learned a long time ago that you can put a butt load of material on the garage floor for the cost of one hours labor!

Charter, the frame brackets are stock 57 Ford.  The 3/8" spacer is simply a chunk of plate.  It is between the frame and the 63 - 64 motor mount.  A single stud from the mount goes in the top hole on the frame.  The 1/2" spacer between the mount and boss on the block is again just flat plate drilled and trimmed down to catch full contact with the machined boss on the block.

Might as well update my health situation.  Had the old garden hose in for 6 months trying to get the ol prostate to shrink down.  No joy.  VA ran a test, doc said the bladder went south and I would be living with self catheterization for the rest of my life.  Went for a second opinion, that doc said it looked like her conclusion was "probably" correct....but....he recommended surgery to eliminate any possible obstruction.  I went for it and happy to say I can now pee!  In addition to that I am able to empty my bladder!  The procedure is called a bipolar TURP, one procedure for a roto rotor job.  The pathology report came back all negative so there is no cancer in there either!  So now we are in the "take it easy while recovering" mode of operation.  For us old guys, keep an eye on the pee stream and the PSA, it can kill you if you don't!

[RICH MUISE]

That's great news, Bill! That makes my day. I'm curious if the second opinion was also VA. I can't say enough good about the care my wife has received from them or the expensive outside services they have sent her to (and paid for) over the years.

[Marc]

That's great, Bill! Always, always get a 2nd opinion. It's good to remember there are doctors out there who graduated at the bottom of their class, and even the good ones are not infallible. Also, the car is coming along great!

[Ford Blue blood]

Rich the second was at Urology Specialist in Alabama.  Hooked up with one of the best strictly by accident.  Found the group looking on the net, I was directed to him just by the luck of the draw (he is one of six in the group).  Researched him and found him to be in the top 25 in the nation.  If I stayed with the VA I would still be with the garden hose.  It took two months to get the bladder test scheduled.  She (VA Doc) did not recommend surgery because of "failing" the bladder test.  He said there really was nothing to lose so.

My complaint with the VA here in Birmingham is too many patients and not enough doctors.  My GP care has been good.  Second thing is the VA will not bill Tricare for Life for the 20%  I have to pay that much because of my military retirement and an annuity that I put together after the Navy.

Last but not least, been over doing it working around the house and in the shop.  Doc said you need to back off.  Normal recovery is six to eight weeks and then gradually work into heavy lifting and arduous activities.  Just so tired of laying about, but I've got to be good and follow orders....:<)

[RICH MUISE]

Being a woman veteran, I suspect my wife gets better and faster care simply because there are not so many lined up waiting. For the most part, the women's center here is separate from the main hospital.
Sounds like it's a good time for a non strenuous lengthy road trip!

[Ford Blue blood]

While "taking it easy" I did get a couple of things done.  Got the rest of the bed stainless polished, got the windshield and rear window stainless polished, got the rubber and stainless mounted on both the rear window and the windshield.  Forgot to show what I did the mount the Sirius XM antenna so here is a picture of it.  Forgive the dust....please?  I used a large cold chisel to put a dent in the turndown to keep the stainless from pinching the antenna cable.  Cleaned it up with a round file.  The cable will slide up and down when the stainless is screwed down tight.

[Ford Blue blood]

While waiting on my "glass guy" to bring back the vent windows I decided to cover the center console I built.  Two days of cutting, gluing, trimming, and final trimming it came out OK.  Just finished up the cover for the little package box, it is curing right now so no pics.  When I do the rebuild of the vents windows I'll post pics on how to "fix" the channel.