1972 Ford Ranchero!

[RobertB]

     Resto-modding the Ranchero has slowed to a snail's pace.  All my monies are going to replacing parts on the 1990 Ford Crown Vic as it nears the 350,000 mile mark.  If all goes well, I can begin dropping major money into the Ranchero again, starting in February.  In the meantime, I can do the little things, like crawling around to give it an oil change (Fram ToughGard filter) and changing the spark plugs (Autolite platinums).

          A-arm bushings needed on the Crown Vic,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
          The Other Group of Amigoids
          http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
          http://www.sccaners.org

[RobertB]

     After today's TOGA meeting, Amiga hardware tech, Duncan M., and I stood outside the pizza parlor in the bright sun and talked about lots of things, including my 72 Ranchero.  He wants to see it!  I told him it's not ready for a long-distance trip to San Jose.  It needs new power steering hoses, a chrome water pump, and new seatbelts.  I estimate that parts and labor would cost $600-700, money better spent to fund a trip to the mid-April Notacon in Cleveland or the June trip to Europe.
     However, work will progress on the Ranchero.  For February, I'll either get a new spare tire for it or new chrome lugnuts or both! 

          FCUG celebrating 30 years,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
          The Other Group of Amigoids
          http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
          http://www.sccaners.org

[RobertB]

     While I'm over here in Europe, I've been hauling around the Powerbook laptop.  Whenever anyone looks at the desktop picture I have of the Ranchero I have on the Powerbook, they are always impressed at what it is... and I have to explain about what it is.  For example, at the Saturday Lincolnshire Amiga Group meeting and at the Sunday Amiga North Thames meeting, I tell them it has a 6.6L V8 engine and takes premium gasoline, and they roll their eyes in amazement, saying that the engine is too big and that with gasoline prices being the way they are, the vehicle would be very expensive to maintain. 
     I also tell them it's a "20-footer", i.e., from 20 or more feet away, it looks great but get any nearer and then you start seeing its defects. 

          Writing from Haywards Heath, England,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
          July 23-24 Commodore Vegas Expo v7 2011 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[RobertB]

     New Year's resolution... spend more time fixing up the Ranchero!

          Truly,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[RobertB]

     Last Saturday I went to visit FCUG member Alfredo M. at his house.  The primary reason was to videotape him by his SX-64 in honor of SX-64 day which was held on January 20 around the world.  After taping, he showed me the progress on the ground-up restoration of his 1967 Ford Mustang convertible.  Even though it still wasn't finished (upholstery, convertible top, rebuilt radiator, suspension parts, and miscellaneous parts still needed), it was very beautiful as it sat there with its $8,000+ bodywork and paint job.  I asked him all kinds of questions on the 289 V8 engine -- all rebuilt and repainted -- the suspension, the body trim, the instruments, and more.
     His work inspires me to do more to my Ford Ranchero.

          But he advises me not to do a ground-up resto... it's just too much work,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug