Old School 1986

[alaskan155]

uck - I wanted to remedy that problem so I paid a visit to my favorite pick and pull salvage yard (Clark's Western Auto Recycling at 61st and Federal, for anybody in Denver) and scored four much nicer ones that now look like this:

are they any good price wise, i go to the one on colfax down the road from the E-470 on the east side (cant remember the name) when im down in that area

 

[Louisville86]

do i spy factory A/C in your stang? thats a very cool thing to see

I bought it partially because it had A/C, which is kind of unusual in a convertible. It also has a bench seat, which is very unusual. (I've had people tell me that my car isn't something Ford built, then I show them the data plate with its "76C" model code.)

Only about 3,100 bench seat convertibles were built out of 600,000+ '66 Mustangs. She was built at Dearborn very late in the model year (August 1, 1966). I got her in Kansas City, where she was shipped originally.

She's got a 289 2-barrel and a C4 (originally she was a 3-speed), 4-wheel drum brakes and no power steering. The top is power, though.

 

[Louisville86]

You could always go for boat speakers? I know they're made to tolerate alot of water. I have no idea if they sound any different.

I'll look into that; they are 4x8, which is a total oddball size.

 

[Duke]

I might have a photo of the old girl somewhere - I sold her in '92 or so. What a pig that car was, but it had the smoothest, quietest highway ride of any car I've ever owned. Total isolation from the road. And automatic A/C that would freeze your a@@ off!

It was that cream yellow color, with matching half-vinyl top, darker gold interior with velour seats (both 6-way power) and super-thick carpeting. I think it had the "cream and gold" option package.

It was a 460 4-barrel and moved out pretty well, but only got about 13 mpg tops - the highway was its element.

I consider the '77-'79 Mark V to be the most over the top car Lincoln ever built in terms of size, but it did have a certain presence, with crisply chiseled lines. Those cars will not be coming back!

I have always wanted to take mine for a road trip. I have offered to many people to go with my car so long as they pay for the gas, but no takers yet.
You can check mine out on the nonRBV toys forum. It has an emerald green interior with power everything and only changed with a fuzzy steering wheel and fuzzy dice.
Mine too has the 460 4-barrel and is fairly quick, especially when passing.
My Mark V is in the same boat as my Rangers. I will never sell them. When I got married and had children many people told me I'd have to sell my toys, but that's not even close to true.

 

[Louisville86]

Yes, the Ford 385 (429, 460) is unmatched in torque - we had a 1970 Country Squire with a "K" code 429 2-barrel (premium fuel) and the usual C-6 automatic. Man, that car would pass like nobody's business.

From 60 to about 90 was just so quick - grab that downshift to second and off you'd go. Plus you could tow a boat with no trouble at all.

The Mark V was pretty detuned and strangled by '77 but the torque remained. And it had 4-wheel disc brakes, kind of unusual for that era. I can just picture the interior in emerald green. The mustard yellow, emerald green and the pale dove gray are the colors I associate most with that era.

 

[Louisville86]

Build Sheets

So, while I was cleaning the Ranger a few weeks ago I found the remains of the build sheet underneath the passenger seat (right side). It was in pretty bad shape, but I pulled out the pieces (they were held in place by the seat springs) and put them together as best I could:

Not very impressive as there is only about 50% there, but it's kind of cool to have. Under "remarks" it reads "BLACK LOW MOUNT 8 X 5 SWING AWAY," which is of course the mirrors I have.

On a different note, I stopped by the salvage yard and spotted a very cool '68 Thunderbird. Some dude was pulling the engine (a 429, good choice, man). I poked around inside and found the build sheet under the lower portion of the rear seat. Wow! It was pristine and I was able to scan it. Here's the upper part:

• 1968 Thunderbird 2-door Landau
• Pewter Mist Paint
• White Vinyl Bench-Seat Interior
• Black "Alligator Grain" Vinyl Top
• Wixom Plant
• DSO: Cleveland
• Scheduled Build Date: June 20, 1968
• Equipped with 429 4-barrel engine, C-6 transmission, AM radio with rear speaker, A/C, tinted glass, power windows, tilt steering wheel, and remote-control mirror.

She must have been a great-looking car back in '68.

Here's the bottom part, with "153" written in a very careful hand 40 years ago.

Not sure what the car's story was, but the plate on the driver's door and VIN plate in the windshield (on the right side on '68s) had different VIN numbers, so this car was sort of pieced together (it was turquoise, not pewter gray).

I know this is geeky but this stuff is cool to me, like archaeology.

 

[Louisville86]

Where My Truck Used to Live

I found one other thing underneath the front seat that came from my '86's previous life. This patch:

Yes, my truck worked at the water treatment plant in Albany, Oregon (I'm guessing). At least it's not from the sewer department! I need an old jacket or something to put it on, then I'll really be stylin'.

 

[Louisville86]

I was kind of bored this nice Saturday so I want over to to my favorite salvage yard to scavenge. However, I forgot my tools so all I was able to get was this nice owner's manual:

Quite interesting, actually. I was a bit disappointed, though, to see that there is no diesel information at all - it must be in a supplemental manual (like the 4x4 manual I've seen elsewhere).

I was looking for a topper and found one; but for $60 it seems a bit steep, especially as it needs a rear window and it's an ugly three-tone white/beige/brown color. I might still pick it up and refinish it later on. Three Rangers caught my eye:

• 1986 Supercab XLT 4x4, 2.9, two-tone Desert Tan Metallic and Light Chestnut Metallic (local truck from Golden Ford).
• 1985 Regular cab longbed 2-wheel-drive, 2.3/5-speed, Desert Tan Metallic (the one with the topper).
• 1984 Regular cab longbed 2-wheel-drive, 2.3/4-speed, Bright Regatta Blue Metallic.

I hate to see any of them head for the crusher.

 

[Louisville86]

To cover or not to cover

Update:

After getting the ignition key fixed I've been driving the '86 a bit. We went to a play downtown last weekend in a wet, slushy snowstorm. I wasn't sure how she'd do but it seemed OK when I started out in "2" and went easy on the throttle. The tool box in the back helped but some extra weight in the back (sandbags?) would be a good idea I guess.

I got a nice, bed mat from that brown '85 with the topper (passed on that) for $10. It cleaned up nicely (thanks to the topper that kept it out of the elements) and came in handy yesterday. I helped my friend's daughter move into her first studio apartment down on Capitol Hill. Wish all my stuff fit in two truckloads again! Wait, I wish I was 21 again, too!

This is where she's parking all winter (I have no idea where that cat came from):

Should I use a cover? I have one I used to use on the Mustang that would fit (mostly) but I've heard that moisture can get trapped underneath and cause corrosion.

 

[Louisville86]

Hibernating

It's 4○ in Denver this morning, but Rangers sleeping under a blanket of snow don't care anyway.

Who else is ready for spring?!

 

[TS6034]

I'm definitely ready for spring! I'm tired of the cold and snow.

 

[r1hatman]

Man, that is a clean truck. Looks like you got a good deal. What are you going to do with it? Keep us posted.

 

[r1hatman]

Nice mustang BTW. We are restoring a 67 coupe 289, 2v.

 

[86 slo-vo]

I'm getting the A/C charged this week (I'd do it myself but I prefer the real R-12 even though it's pricey nowadays). Maybe a stereo but the AM radio works fine. I might get an '83-'84 dashboard trim piece with three radio holes as I have an old (1977 Lincoln Mark V) AM/FM stereo that would fit perfectly in there and I'm cheap! Lucky for me there are two speakers in the dashboard.

I'd like to get a new floor covering or maybe carpet. Maybe a chrome front bumper, and I might paint the bed with some of that roll-on bedliner. Other than that I guess I'll just keep it stock and use it for a while.

if you get rid of the rubber...let me know ill buy it

 

[Louisville86]

Nice mustang BTW. We are restoring a 67 coupe 289, 2v.

I like the '67s a lot. For me they are pretty much the best-looking, stylewise. More muscular than the '64 1/2 - '66s and with room for a big block if you want one. Plus, they don't have any clutter on the sides what with marker lights and reflectors, the last year you could get away with that.

My high school buddy's brother used to have a '67 coupe, dark moss green with a white vinyl top, black standard interior, 289 2v, C4, A/C, power steering and power disc brakes. Not super loaded, but a nice array of options, and that dark green metallic looked very pretty with the white top. I wonder what happened to that car . . .

(Pretty much just like this but with a vinyl top and with the standard wheel covers, not the wires.)

I don't really have many plans for the Ranger. Maybe a new floor mat, fix up the faded, cracked dash pad (and the faded kick panels while I'm at it). I would like some stock 15-inch alloy wheels if I could find some cheaply. Maybe add cruise control and a tilt wheel if I can find a good donor truck in the salvage yard. It's dorky but I like the stock look.