Whats involved in swapping in a 302 in place of a 170 in a '60 Ranchero? Are there mounts that make this a bolt in swap without any major mods or clearance issues?

 

'63s had V8s, so it will fit. Not sure if any other year or model, like a Mustang for example, motor mount will work, but Falcon/Ranchero mounts will work.

Bigger problem is the running gear. All of it. You in for the total swap needed to support a 302?

 

It's already got a c4 in it. What other running gear would need to be changed? planning on a stock 2barrel motor as it will be a daily driver for my daughter.

 

A C4 is from 1964 so maybe it has a later motor/trans?

A C4 from behind a 170 will not bolt up to a 302.

IMO, you should--as Ford did--go to the bigger tires, wheels, brakes, axle with a V8.

Look at the steering box. Does this have the one piece impaler steering shaft?

IMO swapping in just a V8 with the stock, marginal for 1960 running gear is a no-go.

 

your running gear needs to be upgrade to the five lug front suspension and rear axle. the four lug suspension was only designed to handle a six cylinder drive train. of course i have met guys who have done it without, but in the end all it takes is a situation where hard braking is needed the front suspension could fail. have seen broken front spindles on those four lugger v8 mods.

 

Your best bet would be to find a V8 donor car to get all the parts you need. You will need to change the steering linkage as well as upgrading to five lug running gear. Dearborn classics has some of the items you will need. The rest will have to be found through various other means such as ebay, craigs list, etc. I'm doing a '64 ranchero right now and have encountered many of the things you will in this swap. Mac's auto parts is another sorce for falcon/ranchero parts.

Dan.

 

Only 1963 1/2 Falcon Sprints came with a V8 (260).

Falcon's were not available with C4's (or 289's) until 1965.

302 introduced Spring 1968 in Passenger Cars, 1969 in F100's, Bronco's & Econolines.

Suspension, disc brake upgrade: 1975/80 Granada/Monarch was what ppl used to use.

And, btw...1976/80 Granada/Monarch were available with optional REAR disc brakes.

The same rear discs will also be found on 1977/80 Lincoln Versailles, which were really nothing more than a rebadged Granada.

 

Back in '73 we put a 390 with a C6 in a '60 model Ranchero. Lot's of hammer work on the floor pan for the trans, cut the shock towers down, changed all the running gear from a donor car (don't remember now). But she would run real sweet.

 

a donor car would be the best way to do it, but you will need to find a set of motor mounts(3 pieces per side) from a falcon or mustang, front and rear 5 lug suspension, a V8 trans, a trans mount, a V8 radiator and a V8 fuel pedal setup. the six cylinder fuel pedal linkage points down in the engine bay, the V8 points up.

 

The most common front end switch is from a Granada, and you can get the mounts from Dearborn Classics if you don't mind waiting forever for shipping!

 

the 2 peice mounts from a 1963-1/2 falcon will bolt right in...cost 50-100 a set on ebay...also the sheet metal 1 peice mount from a 1966-67-68 Mustang will work as well they go for 30-60 on ebay, you can buy new but they are double what used are...the rubber mount needed on the motor is a P/N 1220 and 1221, there is a LEFT and Right on the rubber, and the 2 peice mounts, they will fit either way, but it pushes your motor forward by 2-3 inches, then you can't fit the Radiator in with the fan....

Any C4 will work with the correct bell housing, but 6 cly's have less clutch packs, not real strong. Old C-4's have one bolt hole for the mount to bolt to.

You'll need Headman shorty headers 89 at Jegs, or Long Tube Headers, Doug's fit best $200 or stock falcon Exhaust manifolds used $75....

Call me or mail if you need help, I am President of the Falcon Club in the state of Ohio www.ovcfca.com I have 4 falcon's and have done this swap 50 or 60 times....

As for the Front and Rear end swap will need to be done for SAFETY...the 6cly stuff is WAY, WAY too small to hold the extra weight, wears the joints 3 x's faster...I also would do a Daul Master Cly when you do the front end, buy a 1966 Mustang Front end kit, comes with new ball joints/Arms Upper and Lower, and Bushings that need to be relplaced about $300 and all Mustang Supply Houses, Brakes, find Mustang Disc if you can, I have Granada on my 62 2 door wagon, and I get under steer with that, but works fine 95% of the time...Rear Ends find a 63-1/3 Falcon 8" they are the narrowest, then 64-65 Falcon or a Maverick, watch the width of the wheels...Hope all that helps...

John Howard
President OVCFCA

 

on the subject of a c-4
i just bought a 62 ranchero with the original 200 ci engine
i was having some issues with the transmission and the throw of the shifter
the previous owner changed it over to a c-4
now the c-4 wasnt on rancheros til 64 so the linkage is wrong and the column shift does not work correctly

it doesnt line up straight so it is at kind of an angle and doesnt get the full throw
anyone know where i can get an adapter to make the shifter work correctly?
thanks

 

Use the shift rod from the 64/65 or I used a Lokar Stainless Steel Shift rod...Street Rod stuff, works last 13 years just fine....

John