1973 Ford Ranchero - Repair Manuals Blog

Casual enthusiasts are still perplexed by the Ford Ranchero today. Aside from Pop’s hardware store outings and Mom’s grocery runs, the Ranchero might have been fitted with all the trappings of a true muscle car — making the family gearhead very happy — at a lower cost and, in some cases, beneath the radar of insurance underwriters. The 1973 Ford Ranchero is still an inexpensive option for muscle car ownership five decades later, whether in basic, 500, GT, or Squire trim levels.

Overview of the Car:

There are three trim levels available in the 1973 Ranchero are:

Ranchero Squire is a great car to do the job of a truck. It has a handsome color match, wooden paneling, and tailgate. It has a landau roof, and white sidewall tires (WSW).
Ranchero GT is practical and has a sporty look with optional bucket seats and bumper guards. The car also offers power choices and performance/handling features to choose from.
Ranchero 500 is a great pickup car that includes bumper guards, a trailer towing package, whitewall tires, and hub caps with trim rings.

Performance and Fuel Economy

Three of the four trim levels of the 1970-1971 Ford Ranchero have an efficient six-cylinder engine, while the sportier GT model received a two-barrel 302-cu. V-8. The 302 was available as an option on the Ranchero, Ranchero 500, and Ranchero Squire models. The Drag Pack option allowed all four models to be equipped with a two- or four-barrel 351 and one of three 429-cu big-blocks in 1970, including the Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet. The standard 360-horsepower 429 was dropped from the options list for 1971.

Owner’s Manual

The 1973 FORD RANCHERO, owner’s handbook contains all crucial information concerning future maintenance. The Ford Ranchero Manual contents contained information as follows:

Safety, seats, and seat belts
Pre-driving checks and adjustments
Monitor, climate, audio, phone, and voice recognition systems
Starting and driving
Appearance and care
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Technical and consumer information

These are only a few of the listed topics in the 1973 FORD RANCHERO owner’s manual. Numerous additional operational recommendations are also included to make the vehicle’s functioning easier for the driver.

Specification

Height: 53.5 in
Length: 215.7 in
Width: 79.0 in
Curb weight: N/A
Passenger volume: N/A
Trunk volume: N/A

Engine type: 250 cu in (4.1 L) I6 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8 351 cu in (5.8 L) V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 429 cu in (7.0 L) V8 460 cu in (7.5 L) V8

Vehicle type: coupe utility

Fuel Capacity / Gas Tank Size: 22.5 gal

C/D TEST RESULTS:

Zero to 130 mph: N/A
Zero to 100 mph: N/A
Zero to 60 mph: N/A

Factory Service Manual

The 1973 FORD RANCHERO service manuals cover every aspect of the vehicle. All FORD RANCHERO cars, regardless of trim level, come with owner manuals but not repair manuals. Ford Factory Service Manuals go into great depth on the following topics:

General information
Engine
Transmission & driveline
Suspension
Brakes
Steering
Body interior
Body exterior, doors, roof & vehicle security
Driver controls
Electrical & power control
Driver information & multimedia
Maintenance

FORD repair manuals are designed for use by mechanics and dealerships. These service manuals are designed to ensure that the owner completes the work properly whenever any maintenance or repairs are performed on the vehicle in question.

Transmission, Interior, And Chassis

Throughout these two years, Ford’s engine choice influenced transmission availability across all four trim levels. Focusing just on the V-8s, the basic 302 and two-barrel 351 came standard with a normal or heavy-duty three-speed manual transmission; a C4 three-speed automatic transmission was available. Meanwhile, the four-cylinder 351 and the 429 engines might have been paired with a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission. The FMX unit was utilized in combination with the 351 in 1970, but it was replaced a year later by the C6 (backing the 429).

As standard equipment, all Rancheros featured a vinyl-clad bench seat with three people, regardless of model. Trim levels had several color variants, including vinyl door panels. The floor of the base Rancheros was covered in rubber, whereas the floor of the luxury versions was carpeted. The Squire’s dash inserts were fake woodgrain to match the exterior. High-back bucket seats, air conditioning, a choice of radio, a tachometer, and a few additional options were available.

Safety Features of the Vehicle

Safety features of the Ranchero 500 include front and rear bumper guards, front bumper horizontal rub strip, vinyl insert body side moldings, and door edge guards. Impact-resistant front bumpers are a standard design in all Rancheros. According to tests that have been performed, using optional bumper guards guarantees no significant damage to the Sheetmetal.