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svENzoN
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Joined: 08-May-2025 Location: Bavaria/Germany Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Topic: svENzonPosted: 08-May-2025 at 7:16AM |
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Hi folks...
![]() Thx for the fast activating of my account. I'm Sven from the middle of Germany, nearly 55yrs "old", Harley-Rider since '97 and I have had several US-Cars since 1988. Love that V2/V8-sh*t! In autumn '23 I bought that '73 Ranchero 500 while staying on a vacancy-tour in the netherlands, imported and registrated it to Germoney in spring '24. At that time I/we started doing some restorations and now, in spring '25 we're almost through with it. It has the original 302cui mounted, an AOD-Conversion with B&M-Shifter was done when it was still in California, where it came from to NL in 2020. Stainless double-exhaust, a new paint in medium-copper, new seat- and doorcovers, carpet, etc. came into the truck and finally we changed some leaking stuff and overhauled and tuned some others, so that it is way finished now on technical side. Except the Gauges are missing...there are some fucXing cheap boat-parts installed, that have to be changed into AutoMeter Cobra or similar? This will be the last step for the moment...we're on that right now. Sorry for my school-english, writing mostly without any help from a translator. I'm trying to not annoy anyone with this...so please excuse. That's all for now. Greets to all of you and see ya soon... Sven P.S.: Sry, image seems not working due to my new status? I tried... ...but here's a link to my blog. It's written in german, but there's a Translator on top of the right sidebar: P.P.S.: Latest Edit comes here, after I got a full member in the forum few dayz later... ![]() Edited by svENzoN - 09-May-2025 at 4:50AM |
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Greetz,
svENzoN '73 Ranchero 500, 302cui, AOD-Conversion, etc.! |
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72 RS 351
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Joined: 04-September-2014 Location: Knoxville TN Status: Offline Points: 3445 |
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Posted: 08-May-2025 at 11:35AM |
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Welcome Sven, good to have you here. Wait a day or so, someone will upgrade your membership, so you will be able to post pictures. Which gauges do you need, are all of the originals gone?
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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svENzoN
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Joined: 08-May-2025 Location: Bavaria/Germany Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Posted: 08-May-2025 at 11:59AM |
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Hi.
And thank you for welcome. Ya, there were no OEM-parts installed. Instead, they installed these kinda bullsh!t-parts as a set of 6...must have been veeery cheap. If ur very interested and wanna see them: (Use translator, top of right side-bar...) I thought about putting originals back in there and you can get a lot of 'em at ebay or so, but you never know if all parts are working then correctly, right? And if not, ur searching again for single parts therefor. So we decided to do the AutoMeter Cobra-stuff in. Right now I'm researching how to do with the speedo-cable for example, coz I don't know why they used this crappy GPS-stuff which is installed now. Maybe the connection at the tranny is cut off or something? Have it check it out first. But I think I overuse this introduction-thread...sry. But you asked... ![]() Greetz from a nightshift in Germany... Edited by svENzoN - 08-May-2025 at 1:52PM |
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Jaybee
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Joined: 28-July-2024 Location: Chesapeake, VA Status: Offline Points: 51 |
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Posted: 08-May-2025 at 2:44PM |
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Welcome! Sometimes replies don't happen immediately here, but people REALLY know their Torinos and Rancheros.
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Cars are meant for driving
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72FordGTS
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GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 6780 |
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Posted: 08-May-2025 at 2:56PM |
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Welcome Sven! I have upgraded you to a new member so you have all forum privileges now. You will be able to upload photos to the forum now too. I saw the gauges on your Ranchero, and I agree they do look cheap. Did you already order a set of Autometer gauges for the car? We have several members her with parts cars and they may have a working set of factory gauges for you.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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svENzoN
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Joined: 08-May-2025 Location: Bavaria/Germany Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Posted: 08-May-2025 at 3:32PM |
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Thank you both...
![]() No, haven't ordered them yet, coz I wanna be sure that the speedo respective its cable can be installed finally. So first I have to check the outlet-connection at the AOD. But I am also stil interested in having functionable OEM-parts. However, I don't know if anyone here has definitely working instruments for a 73 and wether he is willing to ship'em over here to the sh!thole germany? We'll see... ![]() Now, with my brandnew status I try to show you the 500... ![]() ![]() So, that's it. Regardz, Svenzon
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Greetz,
svENzoN '73 Ranchero 500, 302cui, AOD-Conversion, etc.! |
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Booyah45828
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Joined: 28-February-2022 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 163 |
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Posted: 09-May-2025 at 3:16AM |
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Nice blog Sven. I've spent my morning reading it. Those gauges didn't look horrible in my opinion, but if they're inaccurate, they need replaced.
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svENzoN
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Joined: 08-May-2025 Location: Bavaria/Germany Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Posted: 09-May-2025 at 5:08AM |
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Wow, you spent your morning. Cool, thanks.
So you know somethin now about the 500... ![]() And the gauges...yes, sure. It's always a matter of taste. Actually i stil consider installing something resto-mod-like stuff with stil GPS and forget about the single digital display for the mileage and for error-GPS-messages a.s.o. that always comes with it. In any case it would be a lot easier, especially when the Tranny-Connection may be fucXed up? As you see, stil way undecided, although the "Cobra"-Series by AutoMeter is, of course, beyond reproach, perfectly stylistically matching the 73. Ultimately, that's exactly what it's all about, isn't it? ![]() This is a currently look like in May '25 for all others... ![]() ...some work to do there. |
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Greetz,
svENzoN '73 Ranchero 500, 302cui, AOD-Conversion, etc.! |
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Eliteman76
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Joined: 20-March-2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Status: Offline Points: 5450 |
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Posted: 09-May-2025 at 5:38PM |
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Welcome to the forum.
Good looking Ranchero. As far as the cable for the AOD, if you are running an electronic speedometer, I wonder if something like a sender for a fox body mustang would work to connect to the AOD. Instead of a physical cable, there is a sensor that generated a signal meant for use with electronic speedometers. ![]() |
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Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed RestomodPondering: #99Problems |
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Eliteman76
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Posted: 09-May-2025 at 6:01PM |
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As far as the physical stock style speedometer cable, you need to look for references under 1973 Ford Gran Torino sometimes. Parts listings online seem to have more issues as time passes causing confusion and problems locating the correct parts.
This cable is for use with vehicles without cruise control. If the speedometer is not reading, you will need to verify if the gear on the speedometer cable that goes into the transmission is good condition and not stripped or worn out. It may be worth buying a complete set of gears so you can adjust as needed. Time is minimal for changing out the gears on the end of the mechanical speedometer Cable. These gears can also be used for the electronic speedometer sending unit. ![]() |
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Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed RestomodPondering: #99Problems |
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Eliteman76
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Posted: 09-May-2025 at 6:08PM |
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Another reasonable option is using a Ford Mustang speed sensor for the AOD.
You would need to buy a pigtail plug harness to wire into the sending unit sensor for the speedometer. |
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Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed RestomodPondering: #99Problems |
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svENzoN
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Joined: 08-May-2025 Location: Bavaria/Germany Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Posted: 09-May-2025 at 7:22PM |
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Oh, a lot of very good, helpfull advice. Thank you very much. Some of it I already knew, some of it is not easy to get here on the other side of the pond. Not all dealers in the US ship to private individuals in Germany, you know. However, I have a pretty good mechanic on hand to help me, who is also a dealer himself and as such he has a better chance of getting parts or ordering them directly in the US. With his knowledge and your tips, we will certainly find a solution when the time comes. I will discuss this with him. He is currently in the USA himself and it will be some time before he is back here. In any case, I'll let you know here how things go. A second instrument board is already waiting to be decided and customized... ![]() Thanks again... |
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Greetz,
svENzoN '73 Ranchero 500, 302cui, AOD-Conversion, etc.! |
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72FordGTS
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Posted: 10-May-2025 at 1:53AM |
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Try posting a classified advertisement on the forum for any parts needed. You can also try directly contacting California Johnny. He has several parts cars and might be able to set you up with all that you need for a working set of original gauges. He has also built a couple of Torinos with AOD transmissions. His profile is the URL below:
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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svENzoN
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Joined: 08-May-2025 Location: Bavaria/Germany Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Posted: 10-May-2025 at 5:33AM |
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Good ideas, yes, thx Vince.
I will contact Johnny next week and ask him. It's always an action to send something to D from the US, customs, other import taxes, waiting time, etc.! Shipping has become fckn expensive, too. Unfortunately. But if the prices for the parts and the handling and infos are fair or good, I'd be happy and do it for sure. Thanks again for the advice. In principle, I have been looking for a trustworthy “dealer” among you who is reliable and cool. The scene has to survive here in Germany too...ha. Cu... ![]() |
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Greetz,
svENzoN '73 Ranchero 500, 302cui, AOD-Conversion, etc.! |
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Eliteman76
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Posted: 10-May-2025 at 7:47AM |
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One of the fellow members here recommended me to pirateship.com and I can tell you firsthand, savings has been very good.
I shipped a box for a door skin, to an exporter that was bound for Denmark recently. Cost savings was impressive. |
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Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed RestomodPondering: #99Problems |
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svENzoN
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Joined: 08-May-2025 Location: Bavaria/Germany Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Posted: 10-May-2025 at 7:32PM |
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Thanks again for the tip, Andrew. I am amazed and delighted that this seems to be a very helpful forum. Thumbs up!
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Greetz,
svENzoN '73 Ranchero 500, 302cui, AOD-Conversion, etc.! |
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Steve M.
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Joined: 08-June-2019 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 2034 |
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Posted: 11-May-2025 at 10:42AM |
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Welcome to the forum.
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Steve M.
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svENzoN
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Joined: 08-May-2025 Location: Bavaria/Germany Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Posted: 11-May-2025 at 3:16PM |
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Thank you, Steve...
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Greetz,
svENzoN '73 Ranchero 500, 302cui, AOD-Conversion, etc.! |
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