1968 Ford Ranchero 428 Cobra-Jet 'Ram-Air

[Paul Ceasrine]

Thought, not to be possible,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Base-Line,,,,,,,,Ranchero
Up-Scale,,,,,,,,,,Ranchero 500
Sport-Line,,,,,,,,Ranchero GT

When introduced to the public, the biggest engine available, was the 390/325 HP package.

In 1968, a Ford Ranchero or Ranchero 500 with a 428/335 HP 'R' Code (Ram-Air), was available after April 1, 1968

A 68' Ranchero 500 with a 428/335 HP 'R' Code Ram-Air engine had a weight of #3551 lbs.
With the NHRA horsepower re-factor (355 HP), the car had a perfect weight break of 10.00, which placed it in
E/S or E/SA for 1968.
And SS/F or SS/FA for Super/Stock.

Dick Smith drove a 428/335 HP 'Q' Code (non Ram-Air) Ranchero to 'Top Stock Eliminator' Runner-Up at the 1968 AHRA Winternationals.
It was a 'dealer prepared' car, not a factory delivered car. It was specifically built for the AHRA Winternationals
(and permitted to run).
Dick Smith knocked off Bill 'Grumpy' Jenkins in his famed 68' SS396 Super Stock Camaro, in the Semi-Finals
of 'Top Stock Eliminator'
The 428 Ranchero lost in the 'Top Stock Eliminator Championship' run.

Though that 428/335 HP 'Q' Code wasn't available yet, the AHRA permitted the engine
combination in Top Stock, because Ford Reps brought paperwork to the event, showing
that all 68' intermediate Fords could have the 428 Cobra-Jet as an option, as long as the engines
were in stock at the factory.

[Hemi Moose]

I've always wondered how many of these 428 CJ Ranchero's Ford built...kind of like the big block El Camino's Chevy built in the late 60's early 70's, and both models are some pretty rare iron today that's for sure.

[mtkawboy]

The 68 combo isnt in the classification guide

[Paul Ceasrine]

Looks like the AHRA allowed Dick Smith to run a 428 in the 68' Ford Ranchero at the January 1968 AHRA Winternationals, before that engine-plant was available in that car
to the public in April 1968.

Banging out 12.00's at Lions Dragstrip in California.

pc

[Rory McNeil]

That Ford ad picture is kinda hard to be sure, but the Ranchero looks to be a 69, rather than a 68.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Rory,

Quite possibly.
The 1968 Ford Ranchero had '3' different grilles, depending on the Model.

The previous posted brochure is for the 1969 Models (which I will correct).

The GT's are easy to tell apart.
The 68' Ranchero GT had a 'GT' emblem in the grille-center.
The 69' Ranchero GT had a 'GT' emblem on the left side of the grille,
closer to the driver side headlights.

But the Base Ranchero and Ranchero 500 are similar for the 68' and 69' Models, with only
slight differences.

Also, the 68' Ranchero brochures never offered up the 428 Cobra-Jet engine as a
package, though it was available after April 1, 1968.

The 68' Ranchero brochure (with the 'GT') lists the 390/325 HP as biggest engine option available in the December 1967 brochure.

Good 'pick-up' Rory.......

pc

[Paul Ceasrine]

1968 Ford Ranchero (Base Model)




1968 Ford Ranchero GT
May 1968 Print Ad (390/325 HP engine, highest HP engine available at the time)
But the 428/335 HP Cobra-Jet ('Q' Code) was available.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Bill,

I think I found the information.

1968 Ford Ranchero,
The 390/325 HP engine was the highest horsepower engine available,
up through April 1, 1968.

It was typically found in the Ranchero GT (#3461 lbs.)
1968 NHRA Class = F/S or F/SA (10.65 wt/hp)

The 428/335 HP Cobra-Jet engine was available after April 1, 1968.
Both the 'Q' Code (non Ram-Air) and 'R' Code (Ram-Air) versions
were available, in both the 'standard' Ranchero and Ranchero 500.

The Ranchero GT could be equipped with the 428/335 HP 'Q' Code (non Ram-Air) engine option only. (Why the {non Ram-Air} engine only, no one knows).

How many 1968 Ranchero's were purchased with the 428 Cobra-Jet
engine option,,,,,,,,,,,,,the numbers are unknown...????

Though the 68' Ranchero with the 428 Cobra-Jet is not listed in the
current NHRA Classification Guide, it was listed back in 1968.

All of the 1968 Ford Ranchero's 428 Cobra-Jet engine cars (both
non Ram-Air and Ram-Air engine versions) were classed in
E/S or E/SA in 1968.

If they competed in Super/Stock in 1968, they were classed in
SS/F or SS/FA.

1968 Ford Ranchero car weight with the 428 Cobra-Jet engine;
Ranchero 'standard',,,,,,,,,,,,#3544
Ranchero 500,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,#3551
Ranchero GT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,#3533

As a note; the 1968 Ford Ranchero's were #59 lbs. lighter than the
1969 Ranchero's.

As a note; the GT cars were lighter than the 'base model' Ranchero
and Ranchero 500, because it was equipped with 'bucket seats' instead of the heavier bench seat.

[CycloneFE]

[QUOTE=Paul Ceasrine;296476]Looks like the AHRA allowed Dick Smith to run a 428 in the 68' Ford Ranchero at the January 1968 AHRA Winternationals, before that engine-plant was available in that car
to the public in April 1968.

Also note that the 1968 NHRA Winternational winning Mustangs had 428's but the motors were not avalable to the public until April also. I have not personally seen the cars from then but was told the engine codes were J not the R designation.

[Hemi Moose]

I always liked the body style of this one better...1970 Ford Ranchero GT, 429 Cobra-Jet 4-speed.



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