The F word - BLASPHEMY!

[domeier]

Ford. The F word.

I'm thinking about buying a 60-65 Ranchero with a little six for a daily driver. Anyone have experience? Good/bad? I like the way they look, but that's about all I know about 'em. That, and they don't have disc brakes.

It's either a little Ranchero, or maybe a Toyota truck. I don't want a Toyota truck. Any suggestions?

This photo is from the web, not a car I'm looking at:

[N2TRUX]

Nothing wrong that I know of, but I don't see the comparison between that and a Toyota truck for a daily driver. Two totally different animals in my mind.

[cdowns]

not a hard job to convert pretty cheaply to mustang disc brakes

ford 6cyl are pretty tough reliable little engines and back then they were good on the gas mileage

[domeier]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Nothing wrong that I know of, but I don't see the comparison between that and a Toyota truck for a daily driver. Two totally different animals in my mind.

Well yeah, that's the thing. For $4-5k, I could get a nice older Toyota and just drive it, or I could get something I'd be more interested in like a Ranchero or Falcon in halfway decent shape. The only thing I really need is something fairly reliable that gets better mileage than my truck - and that's pretty much any vehicle on the road!

Try this on for size: Let's say you have $5k to spend on a daily driver, and you want it to get say, 18 or better mpg: What would you go looking for?

[fastwillie 696969]

i hate the front end suspension on them .rather have the elko

[70-Shorty]

Originally Posted by domeier

Try this on for size: Let's say you have $5k to spend on a daily driver, and you want it to get say, 18 or better mpg: What would you go looking for?

it sure as hell wouldn't be an old Ranchero expecting to get 18+ MPG...
The Toyota or even a Nissan would likely be the better choice based on mileage and parts availability and cost. An old Ranchero would likely turn into any other OLD vehicle, a project vehicle. Always needing money thrown at it for SOMETHING...

Put a LS motor in a C-10 with an overdrive trans and reputedly some are getting great mileage numbers out of them with that combo.

Tim

[71swb4x4]

I would spend a lot less money on a ****ty old Civic or something along that line.
Either that or DD your pickup.
Why spend $5,000 to save a few gallons of gas?

[leddzepp]

a civic or prius will get great mileage.
Posted via Mobile Device

[screwballl]

I was getting 16-18 mpg on my 76 GMC C1500 with 350 and 600 cfm Edelbrock carb (back when I had the truck), provided I drove it like an old lady and tuned the carb slightly lean (not too lean since I didn't want to burn anything up). I also had dual exhaust with the X cross over midway which helped a little with mileage too.

When I bought it I averaged 8 mpg with the original junk 2bbl carb, even after cleaning it up and rebuilding it. Once I swapped to the 4 bbl 600cfm Edelbrock carb, my mileage doubled when I was light on the gas pedal and got a massive power boost when I did want to step on it.

So it is possible to get good mileage from these trucks, you just need to set it up properly and stay off the gas pedal.

[fastwillie 696969]

isnt that a electric car ? what you doing at a gas station ?

[vectorit]

Buy an older Toyota truck.
Can't get any more bullet proof than that.
I have owned them over the years as my DD's, and currently own one that is so reliable it's boring

When it comes down to it driving to work is a drag as it is. Let alone wondering if the old classic you're driving is gonna make the commute, and leave you stranded in the middle of rush hour traffic.

[BarryB]

I"ll give my opinion, I'd get an older toyota truck if those were my choices. But If I wasn't set between the two. I would look for a S10 or Sonoma. I have a 91 S10 2wd 2.8 5spd. 3:42 rear. I was getting 23-27 mpg empty but when I started using it for hauling my tools around, it dropped to 18-20 mpgs. Realible yes it is, I'd have to charge the battery but if I went out there right now. it'd start right up, and be ready to go back to work.

[screwballl]

Why not something like a late 70s Chevy Luv? Almost bullet proof Isuzu 4 cyl., excellent 4x4 during the winter and off road... only down side is they tend to collect rust easily, so a good sand and paint refresh is usually needed every 10 years or so to stop the rust.

[domeier]

Vectorit: I know, I know. I just sold my old camper, 84 Toyota Dolphin, and the poor little truck underneath that big booty camper was bulletproof. If I have any sense, I'll get a Toyota, but man, I like the way the old Rancheros look. And then I'll be worried it's gonna get stolen or bashed into while I'm at work... I know, I know!

This obviously requires much pondering. I must go now, and walk naked into the desert to ponder.

[Longhorn Man]

I drive my classics every day. There's things that suck about it, but I do it becouse I get to enjoy my hobby every single day. Yeah, they fall apart from time to time, they don't have A/C, they get crappy MPG, but, I drive them becouse I stand out in a crowd, people recognise me, it labels me as "a car guy"... but mostly becouse I want to.

Get a yota and be one of them.
Get the classic ford, and be one of us.

[fine69]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

I drive my classics every day. There's things that suck about it, but I do it becouse I get to enjoy my hobby every single day. Yeah, they fall apart from time to time, they don't have A/C, they get crappy MPG, but, I drive them becouse I stand out in a crowd, people recognise me, it labels me as "a car guy"... but mostly becouse I want to.

Get a yota and be one of them.
Get the classic ford, and be one of us.

Wisdom right here.

I feel that way when i drive the Maverick. Its a Ford, but its COOL.

[vectorit]

Driving a yota doesn't make anyone lesser in the "car guy" world..

[domeier]

I looked at a Toyota today. It was in good shape and the price was okay, but I didn't buy it. I'm in no hurry, and it was most definitely a one of them cars. I don't want to be a one of them - I want to be one of us!

Now this, is interesting:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/2628471778.html

[Longhorn Man]

that's a sweet looking truck... but, it is a project from the word go.
Tough call.

Originally Posted by vectorit

Driving a yota doesn't make anyone lesser in the "car guy" world..

Very true....
A 'car guy' is something that defines who you are, how you think, and what gets you excited.
Driving a vanilla car doesn't change this... BUT, it hides it.
I am a car guy... and old school car guy at that. I want people to know that when they see me on the street, I want them to have no doubt about it.

[domeier]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

Tough call.

It's driving me nuts. I keep punching that guy's number into the phone without hitting send.

On the one hand, it's out of my budget, but on the other hand, who needs a budget? But wait... on the other, other hand, my wife would castrate me if I brought that thing home. "Look honey - look what *we* bought!"

Snip.

I guess the other, other hand wins.

[Axle]

Since your in California;

Whats the cutoff for emmisions tests? Locally, 87 or older is free of the emmisions cash cow.

How does insurance treat older vehicles? Locally again, older = less insurance costs even with full coverage.

While you may not get much better mileage, long term costs are less buying old as far as I'm concerned.

finally, follow your heart;

Originally Posted by domeier

or I could get something I'd be more interested in

Alex.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by Axle

Since your in California;

Whats the cutoff for emmisions tests?

Anything 1975 or older is exempt.

[Longhorn Man]

did they do away with the rolling 20 year cuttoff?

In cali, the tags for an older "worthles" vehicle are much cheaper too.

[heeroyue2002]

my buddy at the farm has one. cost $100 not running. he got it going in $30 mins lol.

theres a local who also has one in such great condition. he's an older gentleman. im not sure how long he's had it but it looks pristine!

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

did they do away with the rolling 20 year cuttoff?

In cali, the tags for an older "worthles" vehicle are much cheaper too.

Yes, the 20 year cutoff was done away with many years ago. It was turned into a rolling 30 year cutoff, and I was waiting for my '76 CJ-5 to turn 30 back in '06 so it would be exempt. It was frozen in '05 so I was SOL. I sold the Jeep and got into 67-72 trucks after that.