SuperMotors SuperMotors SUPERMOTORS Search — try “orange Bronco on 35s”
Join
1979 Ford Ranchero
Home/ Registry/ Ford/ Ranchero/ 1977–1979/ 1979 Ranchero supermotors.net/registry/22468

1979 Ford Ranchero

documented by aquartlow 359 photos documented since 16 years documented ♡ Follow this build

The story

Bought from father in '90 and has been in repetitive restoration for a LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG time. It won't be a show vehicle but wouldn't be worried to enter one.Removed all emblems, door handles and welded up holes including rear cover snap holes for vinyl cover. Installed remote door releases as well as hidden manual door releases for emergency reasons. Painted w/ black cherry pearl. The Ranchero has power steering, power brakes, factory A/C, tilt steering, power windows, cruise control, power leather seats, interval wipers and GT gauge package w/ 140 MPH police speedo. Re-chromed front & rear bumpers, re-chromed tail light bezels. Rebuilt factory Saginaw steering box and installed quick ratio internals from a '94 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Installed 3G alternator from mid 90's Taurus which allowed removal of most of original alt wiring. Champion 3 core all aluminum radiator, '96 Windstar dual electric cooling fans. Lowered rear of Ranchero by cutting 1 1/4 coils then heated the cut end to remake the coil springs' pigtail to fit into upper spring pocket in chassis. This lowered the rear by 4.0 inches, lowered the front by removing 1 1/2 coils with a cut-off wheel (no heat). This dropped the front end by 3.5 inches. Riding on (4)chromed Boyd Coddington J5R 20 x 8.5 with (4) General G-Max 245-40-20's. — aquartlow

Day one vs. today

Drag to compare 2010 against 2026.

1979 Ford Ranchero in 2026
1979 Ford Ranchero in 2010
2010 2026

Photo history

359 photos across 14 years — drag the dot to travel through this vehicle’s life. Captions are the owner’s; where there isn’t one, the AI caption fills in.

2010

14 photos added — showing 8

Fabbed bracket to Ranchero spindle and cut down Ranchero hub note the wheel studs' shoulder protruding from h… 1979 Ford Ranchero — Aimco extreme service rotor #5418. I originally stated that I purchased Raybestos rotors but I was mistaken.… This shows the Crown Vic front brake assembly and how it mounts and looks on Ranchero. This is as close to ve… Aftermarket stock Ranchero rotor on left 10.75" stock Crown Vic rotor on right 12.44" used for mock… fabricated bracket for Ranchero to accept Crown Vic front rotor and dual piston caliper 1979 Ford Ranchero — Fabricated bracket and caliper bracket mounting hole locations 1979 Ford Ranchero — This shows the lower spindles bracket mounting hole and the welded spacer 1/4" additional to 3/8" b… 1979 Ford Ranchero — Stock bracket is left fabricated is on right. The fabbed bracket is made with 3/8" x 2" mild steel…

38 photos added — showing 8

1979 Ford Ranchero — 2000 Crown Vic rear disc brake backing plate installed with new parking brake shoes and hardware. Freshly pai… 1979 Ford Ranchero — Small bearing housing end, trimmed to allow Crown Vic disc brake backing plate to be installed onto axle flan… 31 spline axle from '72 Lincoln Mark IV small bearing housing installed in my '79 Ranchero. This pic shows th… 1979 Ford Ranchero — Spacer thickness needed for conversion. The thickness of needed spacer is the difference between stock drum b… Drilled and slotted rear Crown Vic rotor conversion onto '79 Ranchero. 1979 Ford Ranchero — 466" w/ C6 work in progress. Just re-installed 6126 Hooker headers after being coated and a little detai… 1979 Ford Ranchero — 3G 130 amp alternator from mid 90's Taurus. A definite upgrade from original 1G w/ satellite voltage regulato… 1979 Ford Ranchero — '75 Lincoln longshaft trans. Modified trans crossmember with new mounts. Had to turn crossmember around backw…

86 photos added — showing 8

1979 Ford Ranchero — '72 Lincoln Mark IV 9 3/8 small wheel bearing axle housing with 31 spline axles. I installed a 4 pinion Trac-… 1979 Ford Ranchero — Close-up of an axle shaft with pressed-on bearing and seal at a rusty flange during rebuild 1979 Ford Ranchero — '75 Lincoln Mark IV front coil spring(Orange) cut a full 2 coils. New Moog 6446 Front coil springs on left. I… 1979 Ford Ranchero — Dynomax UltraFlo welded stainless 3" mufflers #17221 1979 Ford Ranchero — Dynomax Mufflers purchanse from Discountexhaustsystems.com $49.43 each 1979 Ford Ranchero — Stainless exhaust part stamped 17221 with welded seam bead 1979 Ford Ranchero — 3" Dynomax mufflers, inlet end. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Jegs brand header collector extensions, 3" x 18"

33 photos added — showing 8

1979 Ford Ranchero — Two NOS Ford seat belt boxes stamped D70Z-65611A73-W and D70Z-65611A72-W on a workbench 1979 Ford Ranchero — Burgundy NOS seat belt assembly with buckle housing and webbing beside its parts box 1979 Ford Ranchero — Green Sales Company business card for obsolete Ford Lincoln Mercury and Motorcraft parts 1979 Ford Ranchero — Brake line flaring tool kit with ratchet handle and eight steel die blocks on white Alternator charging system wiring diagrams with color-coded wires and labeled terminals 1979 Ford Ranchero — Bypass fuel return plumbed at the carb supply line. #60 Holley fuel jet epoxied into hosebarb fitting prior t… 1979 Ford Ranchero — Removed original 3 sheave crankshaft pulley, drilled, grinded and removed v-belt alternator sheave. Replaced… 1979 Ford Ranchero — Installed '96 Ford Windstar dual electric fan housing. Used 2 Derale fan controllers with separate screw-in t…

49 photos added — showing 8

1979 Ford Ranchero — Two oil slinger discs compared on a wood board, one toothed and one flat and rusty 1979 Ford Ranchero — Hand holding a toothed steel oil slinger disc with keyed center hub over a workbench Alternator charging system wiring diagrams with color-coded wires and labeled terminals Manual A/C-heater electrical system wiring diagram with color-coded wires and connectors 1975-76 Montego Cougar Torino Elite Thunderbird manual A/C-heater wiring diagram 1979 Ford Ranchero — Coated exhaust header tubes above a notched metal heat shield in an engine bay 1979 Ford Ranchero — Spark plugs and blue wires beside an M/T valve cover and header heat shield 1979 Ford Ranchero — Close-up of rusty splined steering coupler yoke with pinch bolt through the clamp slot

32 photos added — showing 8

1979 Ford Ranchero — Engine bay wiring with maxi-fuse block, ANL fuses, solenoid and yellow Duralast battery 1979 Ford Ranchero — Maxi-fuse block with colored cartridge fuses mounted on an engine-bay inner fender 1979 Ford Ranchero — Open inline maxi-fuse holder with 100A cartridge fuse next to a red battery cable 1979 Ford Ranchero — Blue V8 with M/T valve covers, aluminum radiator and Crane FireBall ignition box Engine bay with belts and pulleys, showing a black power steering pump and a blue engine block 1979 Ford Ranchero — Rear window sticker reads "YEAH, IT'S A HYBRID....IT BURNS GAS AND TIRES!" Car battery with a digital voltage meter showing 19.88, red cable connected Close-up of car battery with digital voltage meter showing 18.8V, connected to an alternator

8 photos added

tapping a hole in a carburetor body with a tool Close-up of carburetor with a utility knife and feeler gauges measuring a gap Digital caliper measuring 0.239 inches on a metal part Close-up of a hand adjusting a small screw on a carburetor part Close-up of a carburetor with a metal lever over a circular opening. Some dark residue is visible on the lever Digital caliper reads 0.193 inches on a metal part with screws and a ruler in the background Close-up of engine part with visible scoring and a bolt Black Ford Ranchero with a person standing on its tonneau cover, parked on a road with mountains in the backg…

23 photos added — showing 8

Wiring diagram for vehicle ignition system with HEI module, coil, distributor, and relays. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Black ignition coil with blue spark plug wires in the background. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Aftermarket electronic module with heatsink mounted on vehicle firewall, connected by wires. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Close-up of a V8 engine bay with blue air filter and chrome valve covers. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Close-up of a classic Ford V8 engine bay with blue spark plug wires and chrome accents. Wiring diagram for a Derale 16749 electric fan relay. Oil pump housing, springs, plungers, and other small parts laid out on a paper towel Metal clip, spring, ball bearing, and cylinder laid out on a textured surface

24 photos added — showing 8

Disassembled oil pump with springs, ball, and plunger. Paper shows 'RF D4AP-7A 300-AA '76 T-BIRD' Disassembled brake master cylinder components laid out on a wooden surface. Text on a strip of tape reads 'RF… Disassembled oil pump with springs and clip, labeled CGAP-7A300 Disassembled engine part with springs, plunger, and housing. Text reads 'D4AP - 7A300 - AA '80 F150 302' hand holding a small metal part, with larger disassembled part and spring behind it. Tape with writing is vis… Two metal engine lifters on a light-colored surface two metal caps with recessed centers two metal valve components and rods taped together

19 photos added — showing 8

Hot Rod magazine Quicker Shifter article: Performance Automatics shift kit in Ford C6 automatic, page 1 Ford C6 shift kit install photo steps 08-16: valvebody plates, pressure regulator springs, check balls C6 transmission valvebody reinstallation and vacuum modulator shift-timing adjustment magazine page Magazine how-to page with photos and numbered steps for rebuilding a C6 transmission valve body Diagram and photos of Ford C6 transmission parts and assembly instructions Brake cable and bracket labeled A and B Two black metal brackets and a black cable attached to a textured wall 1979 Ford Ranchero — Document page showing steering linkage torque limits specifications table.

9 photos added — showing 8

1979 Ford Ranchero — Silver fuel tank with black fuel lines and inline filter mounted to vehicle frame 1979 Ford Ranchero — Undercarriage of a vehicle showing modified fuel system components near the rear axle. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Disassembled fuel pump assembly with wires and ribbed black filter housing. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Undercarriage of a vehicle showing frame, tire, shock absorber, and metal part with text. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Underside of a vehicle frame with fuel tanks, suspension, and fuel lines 1979 Ford Ranchero — Silver metal fuel tank with black hoses and clear fuel pump assembly, covered in fallen leaves. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Vehicle fuel pump, filter, and tank assembly on frame. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Disassembled fuel pump sending unit with float and wiring

14 photos added — showing 8

1979 Ford Ranchero — Two transmission cooler radiators with a measuring tape across them. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Yellow measuring tape across two car radiators on a truck bed. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Two automotive AC evaporators with attached hoses and connectors. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Digital caliper measuring a metal part, reading 1.991 inches. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Digital caliper measuring a metal engine part, reading 18.35 mm/inch. 1979 Ford Ranchero — Engine internals with pushrods and a white cap 1979 Ford Ranchero — Hand holding a metal rod in front of a blue engine block 1979 Ford Ranchero — Two valve lifters on a cast iron engine block.

2 photos added

Snap-on Cam Adjusting Tool in red plastic packaging Two metal parts with threaded bolts and curved ends, next to a red pouch labeled 'CAMBER TOOL'

8 photos added

Close-up of a carburetor with visible linkages and throttle plates Close-up of a carburetor with brass fittings and springs, showing metal wear Close-up of a carburetor part with visible bolts and metal components Several buckets of Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 oil stacked together Several buckets of Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 oil stacked up 1979 Ford Ranchero — Close-up of a blue engine oil pan and exhaust pipe, with a rusty metal shield Engine bay with blue spark plug wires and air filter Close-up of a blue engine oil pan with exhaust pipes and a rusty heat shield
Browse all 359 photos
See every Ford Ranchero in the registry The 1977–1979 Ford Ranchero registry

The peanut gallery

No comments yet — be the first to add to the record.

Spotted in the wild

Seen this vehicle at a show or on the trail? Add your shot — the owner approves it onto the record.