68 torino front end help
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1968-1969 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1968-1969 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=19737
Printed Date: 05-December-2023 at 10:13AM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 68 torino front end help
Posted By: 68wagon
Subject: 68 torino front end help
Date Posted: 20-August-2021 at 5:32PM
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ahoy lads I've got a technical question about a 68 Torino that I'm hoping someone might be able to help with? I'm over I'm Austrslia, and there's a pretty run down 68 Torino fastback with no motor/box and is LHD that is for sale. There is also a 68 country sedan wagon for sale over here that was an Australian delivered RHD with a 390 on it, it also apparently has a 68 Torino dash in it but is a RHD setup. My question is, if the dashes are the same other the being LHD and RHD, would the front end/firewall and dash mounting being similar? I know booster mounting etc are opposites so I know it'll need a bit of cut and shut here and there but that's ok. As in could I strip out the 68 wagon for its RHD conversion and swap it into the Torino and slot the 390 in also? Cheers guys
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Replies:
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 20-August-2021 at 10:50PM
Are you sure that the '68 country sedan has a '68 torino dash installed in it? There is a picture below of a '68 country sedan speedometer. Notice how it is rectangular shaped. The '68 torino has a round speedometer. |
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 20-August-2021 at 10:51PM
There is a picture below of a '68 torino speedometer.
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Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 20-August-2021 at 10:56PM
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Some '68 torinos came originally from the factory with the 390 engine. So yes it will fit into the 68 torino engine compartment. You will need the engine mounts from a 68 or 69 torino or fairlane or montego or comet that has a 390 in it. You will also need a C6 transmission two door car driveshaft from the cars listed above. You might also need the front coil springs from a 68 torino 390 car.
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Posted By: 68wagon
Date Posted: 20-August-2021 at 11:04PM
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cheers for the reply Pete. I'm just waiting on a reply for a pic of the dash (both cars are over 1000 miles away from where I live) but he's been slow on the replies. It's just from what I've read that they used the Torino dashes over here when they done the RHD conversions. Would you know if the front rails, firewall and dash mount area are the same between the 68 Torino and country sedan?
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Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 20-August-2021 at 11:32PM
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The 68 torino is a mid size car and the 68 country sedan, galaxie and ltd is a full size car. The 68 country sedan is 4 and a half inches wider from the drivers side front door to the passenger side front door. The 2 door 68 ltd and galaxie is also 4 and a half inches or more longer from the front bumper to the rear bumper than the 68 torino. So the dashboard is also longer than the 68 torino dash. You would have to make all of the electrical connections fit, and the ventillation, defrost and heating ductwork and vacuum diaphragms fit. You will have to make all of the dashboard mounting points to the firewall fit too. It can be done but it will be a lot of work for you if the 68 country sedan has its original dash installed in it. |
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 20-August-2021 at 11:37PM
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The 390 engine mounts, front coil springs and dashboard from a 68 or 69 ford ranchero might fit too.
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Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 12:05AM
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68wagon wrote:Posted By: 68wagon
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 12:40AM
| great info mate thank you for the reply, I missed that first reply where you mentioned the width differences, that makes sense now. Unfortunately it may be to much of an effort/expense to swap it all over. Cheers again for the help |
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 12:54AM
| Your welcome |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 1:44AM
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Any chance that the Country Sedan is a Fairlane/Torino based car? Sometimes the overseas markets got different cars under the same name. (Escort, for example. Or Capri.) ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 1:47AM
| Maybe, but with a left hand drive and a 390 engine it sounds like it might possibly be from the u.s.a. |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 2:01AM
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The wagon is the RHD with the 390, if I'm reading it right. It is supposed to have a Torino dash/ instrument cluster. Since the fullsize is so much different, and Ford Australia was on it's own development path... Falcon XA, XB, etc., Barra straight-6. And its not just Australia, Brazil made the 66 Galaxie into the mid-80s, and 4-banger Mavericks too. Mexico got all sorts of fun after the musclecar died in the USA. So, it's worth a look. ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 2:55AM
| I agree with you. |
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 3:12AM
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If the country sedan for sale looks like the three pictures below, then it is based on the full size LTD and Galaxie platform.  |
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 3:14AM
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Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 3:15AM
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Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 3:18AM
If the country sedan for sale looks like the three pictures below, then it is based on the Torino and Fairlane mid sized platform, and the dashboard might be the same as the 68 torino that you found for sale. |
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 3:18AM
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Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 3:21AM
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Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 9:07AM
Also look at the engine compartment. If the front shock absorbers are installed above the upper control arms (called shock towers) then it is a '68 torino mid size platform (smaller). |
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 9:08AM
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Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 9:10AM
But if the front shock absorbers are installed below the upper control arms (no shock towers) then it is the full size '68 Galaxie and LTD platform (larger). |
Posted By: 68wagon
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 9:50AM
| cheers guys, he's only sent me thesev2 pics so far, but going off that last info with the shock towers I think it might be the full size galaxie? I'll try upload the pics |
Posted By: 68wagon
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 9:56AM
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Posted By: 68wagon
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 9:58AM
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Posted By: 68wagon
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 9:59AM
| and yeh sorry the wagon is meant to be RHD with the Torino dash, I'm just waiting on some interior pics to |
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 10:18AM
| That definitely is a '68 Galaxie full size car. But it still has the 390 and C6 transmission that you want and it might have the torino dash in it. |
Posted By: 68wagon
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 10:28AM
| Cool thanks mate. Would any of the RHD gear in it be able to be used in the Torino mate? As in are any of parts, the steering column, steering box, control arms, hubs etc similar between the models? |
Posted By: pete rad
Date Posted: 21-August-2021 at 10:38AM
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Your welcome, I do not know if the steering columns are the same between the two models, I will take a guess and say that they might not be the same. There is a possibility that the steering boxes might be similar between the two cars, maybe one of the other members will know about that. The control arms probably are not the same. The hubs are different. You would probably have to mount the torino steering box onto the right hand side of the torino frame. You might need a larger radiator than what is in the torino now to cool the 390 properly. i doubt that the full size radiator would fit into the torino.
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