Canadian hot rod found

[Pitbullgoingpostal]

That is one bitchin' Ranchero.

[Hey_Pauly]

Originally Posted by selohssa

Well, it is now a running, driving car again. After 39 years of hibernation, it can cruise the streets of Edmonton like it once did. I had to rebuild the entire fuel, brake, clutch, ignition and cooling systems as well as lower the back and change the old tires. I have to thank Gary Automotive here in Edmonton for all of his detective work in figuring out what all of the oddball parts were. Now I can drive it for a while until I have all of the parts to redo the body.

So Awesome. Nice to see some old Canadian cars making it back on the road.

[RAY With]

Nice find but most of the 57 Ranchero's had 312 y block and to remove that for a chev is blasphemy--Worth a lot more with the old y but in any case a hell of a find--You scored big time on this one

[selohssa]

I had a 56 Parklane wagon with a 312 and it made no difference in value when I sold it. I like the idea that it has a GM engine as it was a very difficult swap, especially since it was done before the chevy II V8 parts were available.

[stwheels]

That looks awesome Ryan. I can hardly wait to see it in person. Enjoy the new valve covers and post some pictures when you get them installed.

Doug Lepak
The Steering Wheel Guy
web site: http://drive.to/stwheels

[selohssa]

Originally Posted by fordnutz

Someone should remember the cut out wheel wells. Very distinctive. Was it registered as a Meteor Ranchero. If so it is quite rare. I had a Meteor Ranchero a few years back. Pat

Sorry for the delay in a reply. I have become obsessed with collecting a full set of vintage snap on tools lately and have not checked on this thread in a while. It was registered as a FORD ranchero not a METEOR. It was in a minor collision in 1970 and those were the parts that they were using to repair it. I have changed the grill back to a Ford. I don't plan on leaving it green but for now I have painted the hood and header panel to match.

[saltracer219]

Originally Posted by RAY With

Nice find but most of the 57 Ranchero's had 312 y block and to remove that for a chev is blasphemy--Worth a lot more with the old y but in any case a hell of a find--You scored big time on this one

Well, I thought that building a "HOT ROD" was supposed to include an engine swap. Not just changing one! Take a look back to the time just after the flathead, not many Fords in Fords, that happened for a reason!

[greasemonkey060]

Rad. Pretty cool find!

[64 Wildcat]

Originally Posted by selohssa

I know. Those valve covers are identical to the chevy but say pontiac. Does anyone out there know anything about this car?

Yes, this is a simple mystery to be solved. Back in the 1950s and '60s Canadian Pontiacs had Chevy chassis and drivelines, as well as interior trim. You could always tell a North-of-the-Border Poncho by the wide-track body and narrow-track chassis!

I have a 1964 Canadian Pontiac sales brochure that I picked up in Vancouver on a family vacation to the Pacific Northwest (we had a '64 Bonneville at the time). Models were, if I recall correctly, Strato-Chief (equivalent to Chevy's Biscayne), Laurentian (ditto for the Bel-Air) and Parisienne (Impala), plus a Custom Sport (SS) model that could be had with a 'real fine' 409! The cars even had contemporary Chevy dashboards.

Look forward to seeing more pics of the Ranchero in future. Why not find a '57 Meteor (Canadian Ford) grille for that Old Skool Kustom look? Oops, I missed seeing the pix on pg 2 - it's already got the Canadian Ford grille! Another Senior Moment rears its ugly self... (LOL)

[slammina30]

cool score dude

[RickyRodder]

I remember the Pontiac Beaumont (Chevelle) as well. Very cool Ranchero!

[atotalnincompoop]

any cool hubcaps in there?

[El Gordo]

Originally Posted by selohssa

I have to thank Gary Automotive here in Edmonton for all of his detective work in figuring out what all of the oddball parts were.

Every 'old car' in the Edmonton area should raise a glass to Gary

where do you cruise?

Ever make it to White Oaks on Fridays?

I wanna see this in person


.

[fitty_2]

FAT '57 LOVE IT!! Go back to a built 292 Y!!

n

[fitty_2]

Word up fordnutz on the rear wheel well openings they look cool, but are they stock?

n

[fitty_2]

PS don't change the Meteor grille!! Keep it's best Canadian history intact the color is bitchin! Unless you're brain dead Canadian versions are the super-est of cool, not going to toot that horn too much because I would rather be ahead of than behind that curve!! Just think stainless steel trim lightning bolts and you'll get it.

PS RAY a 312 in a '57 Ranchero is not all a given. Most likely it was a base 272 or 292, the 312 would be a top option, correct me anyone if I am wron,

PS Hey selohssa (what does that describe) how bout a pic of your data plate?

fitty

[Ragtop]

Just a couple of things - 301s were 283s bored to 4" so not a stroker and I've owned quite a few Canadian Pontiacs and they all had Pontiac dashes. They used the Chevrolet chassis and were a lot lighter and lighter duty than USA Pontiacs. I remeber letting a set of those Pontiac valve covers go on a 60 that I sold years ago and regretting it ever since. They had the early staggered bolt pattern as well as the post 1960 standard ones too.

[selohssa]

Originally Posted by atotalnincompoop

any cool hubcaps in there?

Do you mean in the box car? Yeah there were tons of cool caps in there. You name it. There were even a ton of customized caps made from parts of different caps.

[selohssa]

Originally Posted by El Gordo

where do you cruise?

Ever make it to White Oaks on Fridays?

I wanna see this in person


.

Where is White Oaks?

[selohssa]

Originally Posted by fitty_2

Hey selohssa (what does that describe)
fitty

You are supposed to read it backwards.