Faults:

Some temperature and cooling problems.

The 351C thermostat design uses an integral bypass valve. If a generic thermostat is installed without this rubber sleeve or the valve, the coolant flow is diverted directly to the radiator without passing through the engine, causing overheating.

Premature wear of the connecting rod and main bearings, or lack of lubrication in the upper part if driven at constant high revolutions.

Rattling noise, valves that misadjust themselves, or wear on the camshafts.

General Comments:

A spectacular little pickup!

Built on the Ford Torino platform, it has a captivating and timeless design. One of the few that made it to Northern Europe, I was lucky enough to find one in excellent condition back in late 2009. Gold in color with a light brown interior, I didn't waste a second looking at it and it stole my heart.

Yes, for Americans a 5.8-liter gasoline engine might be considered normal, especially in the 1970s when this car was made, but by European standards, this is a real tank. A very powerful engine, fuel-guzzling, but one that delivers nothing but satisfaction; just hearing the roar of the V8 makes you feel like a god inside a vehicle. Very robust and extremely reliable mechanics; at least the Cleveland 351 doesn't give you any trouble.

The vehicle is suitable both for work and as a regular daily driver in the city (I live in rural Finland, but it handles well in cities).

For being over 40 years old, it handles very well, with good stability and excellent steering. It also brakes quite well, although at high speeds you need to be careful when braking.

If you maintain and care for it, it might even seem like it was made recently. All the internal materials are high quality and show no wear or rust (it was galvanized when I bought it).

I'm so happy with it that I cherish it like a daughter, and I plan to keep it for a long time. After all, these cars were made to last a lifetime!

Faults:

The gear indicator did not tell you what gear you were actually in.

Seat material ripped and needed to be recovered.

Some rust started in the lower rear quarters.

General Comments:

This Ranchero was black with a green interior. 351 V8 was powerful and reliable. It handled well for a truck, and the disc brakes worked very good. Taking off quickly would result in tire spin because of the light rear end.

I mentioned the gear indicator didn't tell you the correct gear, well that led me to shift into reverse at highway speed because I thought I was in Low 1. The rear axle locked and it went into a skid and I crashed it into a ditch. It slid down the ditch, hit a culvert, flew through the air and into a tree. I was not hurt, but the Ranchero was badly crunched. Sold it to Owl's auto parts in Nebraska for $200 and they chopped it up.

It still ran and drove (not well) even with the front end bashed in the shape of large tree.

Faults:

I bought the truck with a blown power steering pump, swollen and leaking power steering hoses, and possibly a blown power cylinder. It also had a bad radiator and master cylinder. All have since been replaced.

I still need to touch up a few small items, including a loose driver's side window which has simply pulled loose from its track. The neutral safety switch doesn't work properly, so I have to be rather careful when starting the engine. Front end is a bit noisy, too.

However, we are talking about a utility vehicle that rolled off of an assembly line in Atlanta in April of 1969 and is still in service. For an "intermediate," this thing is a tank, pure and simple. The body on mine is straight and rust-free despite having spent a little bit of time in the Pacific Northwest. The dreaded "tinworm" eats the things in the Rust Belt like they're going out of style.

It handles loads like they aren't even back there with a combination of V8 power and station wagon underpinnings. Drives like the Torino/Fairlane it's based on, so there isn't an issue of it driving like a 1960's light truck.

I know of only two other vehicles like it in my area and one of a mere handful of Rancheros, period. Lots of El Caminos, which isn't a bad thing at all. A Ranchero sighting is a special event, however.

General Comments:

I wish to heaven above that an American manufacturer still made vehicles like this. Rancheros and El Caminos are sorely missed.