73 gran Torino squire wagon

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

Waters25

New Member

Joined: 19-March-2025
Location: Neosho mo
Status: Offline
Points: 2

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote Waters25

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Topic: 73 gran Torino squire wagon
Posted: 19-March-2025 at 6:39PM

So I've recently got a 73 wagon and I'm in the process of cleaning 10 inches of rat crap out of it since it's sat since 82 and I've ran into a few things I'm kinda curious about such as I can't get the gate open for the life of me and I don't want to cut anything up to get in the gate but I don't really know what to do and I'm kinda curious on how would be the best way to come up with parts and also if regular floor pans would possibly work in it and also what would be the best way to go about a gas tank because I can look up though the bottom of it so I don't know if welding a new bottom onto it would be my best bet or not I'm just kinda doing it as a resto mod for my fiance (aka me) and I'm just curious as to where I should kinda put my time into

72FordGTS

Admin Group

GTS.org Admin

Joined: 06-September-2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 6780

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote 72FordGTS

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 22-March-2025 at 2:00AM

Have you tried crawling through the back and removing the tailgate door panel to get at the insides of the door? As for the fuel tank, if the bottom is completed rusted out, you'd probably need to look for a good used tank.

We have a how-to thread on fuel tank restoration here:

https://forum.grantorinosport.org/fuel-tank-restore-for-1973-ford-gran-torino_topic19831.html

Vince

1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car

GTS.org Admin

Waters25

New Member

Joined: 19-March-2025
Location: Neosho mo
Status: Offline
Points: 2

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote Waters25

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 22-March-2025 at 2:32AM

I have just several of the screws are behind other pannel and under the floor lip

Inkara1

Senior Member

Joined: 17-November-2021
Location: Ridgecrest, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 515

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote Inkara1

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 22-March-2025 at 5:42AM

I ended up taking a philips head bit and grinding it down on the back side so it could fit in the space, and then used a ratcheting wrench to turn it, so I could get those screws out.

For the tank, you might end up having to have a new bottom welded on, or use the one you have for a template for a new one to be custom fabricated. New tanks for coupes are readily available, but ones for wagons are not obtainable at any price. If you wait until you can find a good tank, your car could be sitting for years and years. Mine had a pinhole on the bottom, which I fixed using JB Weld on the outside and Red Kote on the inside, and it had a label on it from a radiator shop, meaning it had been repaired before.

1972 Gran Torino station wagon, light blue, 351C 2V, prior owner upgraded to 4V (2V heads), originally had a C4 but prior owner changed to C6 for some reason.

peter.jenerette View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 08-February-2023
Location: Nevada, TX
Status: Offline
Points: 1054

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote peter.jenerette

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 22-March-2025 at 1:04PM

Welcome.

Be sure to post some pics!

I can't speak to the tailgate, if you're sure its unlocked, I don't know if you can pull a panel from inside to get to the mechanisms or not, hopefully someone else on here can assist.

Floor pans, I'm 99% sure a sedan floor will work and you can most likely use sections of a coupe to repair sections. You won't find new replacements. I have heard of people using Mustang pans, but, I am not sure of year(s) or mods required.

Gas tank, don't try to repair, 10:1 if its rotted out, you will need a sender and the vapor filter as well. I am not sure on availability for a replacement, but if you can find one it's best to just go new.

Pete Jenerette
1972 Gran Torino (H-Code - 4R70W)
2022 F250 XLT 7.3
2003 Thunderbird

Inkara1

Senior Member

Joined: 17-November-2021
Location: Ridgecrest, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 515

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote Inkara1

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 23-March-2025 at 1:02PM

New senders for 72-76 wagon tanks are available on eBay for around $100. My gauge reads empty when I have 1/3 or so left, but it sure beats not having gas at all because the old sender was clogged solid with dried black tar from the gas sitting too long. But the tank is not available new at any price, so good or repairable used wagon tanks are worth their weight in gold.

Once I used the tool I posted a picture of above to get the screws out and remove the inside panel, I removed the rod that goes between the inside handle and the outside handle. Once I did that, the outside handle worked again. I can only open the tailgate to the left instead of down, but it didn't open at all before that, so that's an improvement. Someday I'll figure out why the inside handle was preventing the outside handle from working, but first I need to get a new tailgate window mechanism. Mine has the power window, and I can hear the motor, but the window doesn't move, so the nylon gears are broken. That window has to be rolled down before you can fold down the tailgate.

1972 Gran Torino station wagon, light blue, 351C 2V, prior owner upgraded to 4V (2V heads), originally had a C4 but prior owner changed to C6 for some reason.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Waters25 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 19-March-2025 Location: Neosho mo Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote Waters25 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 73 gran Torino squire wagon Posted: 19-March-2025 at 6:39PM
	So I've recently got a 73 wagon and I'm in the process of cleaning 10 inches of rat crap out of it since it's sat since 82 and I've ran into a few things I'm kinda curious about such as I can't get the gate open for the life of me and I don't want to cut anything up to get in the gate but I don't really know what to do and I'm kinda curious on how would be the best way to come up with parts and also if regular floor pans would possibly work in it and also what would be the best way to go about a gas tank because I can look up though the bottom of it so I don't know if welding a new bottom onto it would be my best bet or not I'm just kinda doing it as a resto mod for my fiance (aka me) and I'm just curious as to where I should kinda put my time into

72FordGTS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 6780	Post Options Post Reply Quote 72FordGTS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22-March-2025 at 2:00AM
	Have you tried crawling through the back and removing the tailgate door panel to get at the insides of the door? As for the fuel tank, if the bottom is completed rusted out, you'd probably need to look for a good used tank. We have a how-to thread on fuel tank restoration here: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/fuel-tank-restore-for-1973-ford-gran-torino_topic19831.html
	Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin

Waters25 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 19-March-2025 Location: Neosho mo Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote Waters25 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22-March-2025 at 2:32AM
	I have just several of the screws are behind other pannel and under the floor lip

Inkara1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17-November-2021 Location: Ridgecrest, CA Status: Offline Points: 515	Post Options Post Reply Quote Inkara1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22-March-2025 at 5:42AM
	I ended up taking a philips head bit and grinding it down on the back side so it could fit in the space, and then used a ratcheting wrench to turn it, so I could get those screws out. For the tank, you might end up having to have a new bottom welded on, or use the one you have for a template for a new one to be custom fabricated. New tanks for coupes are readily available, but ones for wagons are not obtainable at any price. If you wait until you can find a good tank, your car could be sitting for years and years. Mine had a pinhole on the bottom, which I fixed using JB Weld on the outside and Red Kote on the inside, and it had a label on it from a radiator shop, meaning it had been repaired before.
	1972 Gran Torino station wagon, light blue, 351C 2V, prior owner upgraded to 4V (2V heads), originally had a C4 but prior owner changed to C6 for some reason.

peter.jenerette Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 08-February-2023 Location: Nevada, TX Status: Offline Points: 1054	Post Options Post Reply Quote peter.jenerette Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22-March-2025 at 1:04PM
	Welcome. Be sure to post some pics! I can't speak to the tailgate, if you're sure its unlocked, I don't know if you can pull a panel from inside to get to the mechanisms or not, hopefully someone else on here can assist. Floor pans, I'm 99% sure a sedan floor will work and you can most likely use sections of a coupe to repair sections. You won't find new replacements. I have heard of people using Mustang pans, but, I am not sure of year(s) or mods required. Gas tank, don't try to repair, 10:1 if its rotted out, you will need a sender and the vapor filter as well. I am not sure on availability for a replacement, but if you can find one it's best to just go new.
	Pete Jenerette 1972 Gran Torino (H-Code - 4R70W) 2022 F250 XLT 7.3 2003 Thunderbird

Inkara1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17-November-2021 Location: Ridgecrest, CA Status: Offline Points: 515	Post Options Post Reply Quote Inkara1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23-March-2025 at 1:02PM
	New senders for 72-76 wagon tanks are available on eBay for around $100. My gauge reads empty when I have 1/3 or so left, but it sure beats not having gas at all because the old sender was clogged solid with dried black tar from the gas sitting too long. But the tank is not available new at any price, so good or repairable used wagon tanks are worth their weight in gold. Once I used the tool I posted a picture of above to get the screws out and remove the inside panel, I removed the rod that goes between the inside handle and the outside handle. Once I did that, the outside handle worked again. I can only open the tailgate to the left instead of down, but it didn't open at all before that, so that's an improvement. Someday I'll figure out why the inside handle was preventing the outside handle from working, but first I need to get a new tailgate window mechanism. Mine has the power window, and I can hear the motor, but the window doesn't move, so the nylon gears are broken. That window has to be rolled down before you can fold down the tailgate.
	1972 Gran Torino station wagon, light blue, 351C 2V, prior owner upgraded to 4V (2V heads), originally had a C4 but prior owner changed to C6 for some reason.