Vid 3 1973 Ranchero Ermolenko 351CJ Cobra Jet original 4 speed toploader car Rare

Originally a 4 speed car owned by former Motocross racer and 1993 Speedway World Champion 'Sudden Sam" Ermolenko, this SoCal survivor spent several years in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the paint is gone on the roof and hood but the door fit, straight body lines, lack of rot in the frame, minor rust in the body, complete absence of leaks, and great engine condition shows this very rare 351Cleveland powered car to be a clean, original condition example of the final year of Detroit's Muscle Car Era.

[@MrComaToes]

Thanks Rich! She's actually a special car for several reasons, It's a Cobra Jet car so it has a 4 barrel intake, front and rear sway bars, originally came with a 4 speed, and I believe the padded dash/extra gauges was part of the package. Less than 300 '73 Ranchero 500's came with the Cobra Jet package so she's pretty rare too... Thanks for watchin' fella!

[@MrComaToes]

Hi there, thank you so much. Hopefully if everything goes as it should she will look like she did 40 years ago! Thanks for watching!

[@MrComaToes]

An UPDATE I Just re-read comments and saw yours about putting a 4 speed back in this vehicle. I actually found the numbers matching wide ratio 4 speed that would have come with the car originally, on Craigslist! I also picked up the correct Hurst shifter & linkage for it, plus an old white Hurst shifter ball. It will be a real job to make it a 4 speed again; thankfully the length and mounting points are the same for the automatic and the four speed. The A/C will have to wait a while.

[@Bevoin1970]

I just love old American classic cars, especially stuff such as this beauty. She certainly looks fine, and sounds just great on tick over. I love the styling of her too. Seems you had a good buy, any way enough rambling from me. Greetings from England :)

[@MrComaToes]

Thanks my friend and thanks for watching!

[@cutworm59]

I'm alot older now. However, I can take my spotlight and shine the eye on a certain pole and put the whole bloomin town in the dark!

[@MrComaToes]

Thanks! Hello from Las Vegas! I've seen your username, can't believe I've been missing out on your vids all this time. Thanks for subscribing. She is a beauty, the 351 engine in her came about as a result of the race work Ford was doing with the AC Cobra and was intended as their ultimate race motor. The ports in it are massive, the exhaust ports alone are almost square in shape and measure 2 1/8" X 1 13/16", by anyone's measure, they are massive. Thanks for watching! Stay tuned more to come!

[@rpeek]

That's awesome! All those factory guages in the dash are optional equipment, and very neat to have! That things a beauty!

[@MrComaToes]

@konto1313 You are probably right about the padded dash panel.. I'm not sure about wood grain underneath though... most of the bezels I have seen from the cars with the full instrument package have a textured black surface, but check back, I will find out and probably post a vid on it! Thanks for watching!

[@stonedraider708]

That is actually a pretty rare find bring it back to showroom condition that's a good collector there

[@SILVERHORSE347]

Awesome car, I am kinda in lust with it.

[@MrComaToes]

@konto1313 As it turns out, the padded instrument bezel IS a factory option and came with the sports package... all ALL Cobra Jet cars had the sports package including front and rear sway bars larger brake drums in the rear and the full gauge instrument cluster. I saw a video of a 73 Ranchero GT with the same padded instrument bezel... I had never seen one before, and now I've seen TWO

[@MrComaToes]

@berkelusa Thanks my friend and thanks for watching!

[@rpeek]

I remember watchin' this video years ago.. Stumbled across it again.. Kind of cool..

[@MrComaToes]

@chamblizi If you do your research, you'll find that the 351 Cleveland was designed as a racing engine from the start. And a stock 1970 351 long block is fully capable of pumping out 700 hp with a cam change and a few other tweaks. The fact is with only 59k miles my 351 if it turns out the engine hasn't had major changes I'll keep it like it is... But this car was owned by a guy who not only was a racer and a world champion who also liked to drive fast, his father also owned a machine shop.

[@MrComaToes]

Thanks man! I just wish I had the dough to really do her up like she deserves! It's got a C4 in it now, but the car still has the original clutch pedal in her and I am hoping to find a good wide ratio toploader to stick back in it! Thanks for watching!

[@MrComaToes]

Thanks, I appreciate that! ...and thanks for watching.

[@MrComaToes]

Thanks man, and thanks for watching!

[@MrComaToes]

Thanks man! ..and thanks for watching!

[@MrComaToes]

It's a shame, isn't it?... sadly, I know the trans code of the toploader it had: RUG BG2. I know it's a wide ratio trans, 2.78 first gear, I know the shifter location, I know it has a 31 spline output shaft, mates to a 164 toothed flywheel... What I don't know is: where to find one that won't cost an ABSURD amount...BUT I'm determined it will have the correct trans one day. Stay tuned, I have other vids posted on the car including a rust report and will be doing more. Thanks for watching!

[@chambliziOfficialChannel]

@MrComaToes good news i finally set up my ingition to the way i want it now all i have to do is wait for my drill to come in then i just wire it up..... i will have a shut of switch under the hood for temporary shut off until i design a center council for my ranchero.... i am going to fabricate my own column for to put switches and and gauges on.... i want it to be shaped in a certain way .... more like in a doorstop box shape fitted to the mound i intend on deleting the ashtray.

[@MrComaToes]

@bmw76308 Thanks! And thank's for watching! Cyclones were pretty cool an overlooked car for sure, Montego as well.

[@MrComaToes]

@tim30409 You are right! And I wish you weren't... It's a Q code 4 speed Cobra Jet car alright, It still has the clutch pedal in it! BUT at some point, for god knows what reason, the RUG BG2 Toploader 4 speed that came in it from the factory was taken out... Eventually I'll find one for it... but when is anyone's guess.

[@MrComaToes]

@tonus888 Sam's father owned a machine shop and Sam is a racer, plus a damn good mechanic, I am trying to find out what changes he's made to the engine, I know that the distributor was changed, it has electronic ignition in it now, a new carburetor, the air conditioning system was removed, plus the incorrect transmission and the original air cleaner is gone. IF that's the extent of the changes, then I will try to bring the car back to factory... and anything I do change out, I will KEEP

[@MrComaToes]

@bmw76308 Yeah, something about the window design, but THIS one, once it's fixed, will be a long long time before it rots through again. This is the freaking desert!

[@MrComaToes]

@chamblizi Was your carpet kit looped yarn like original carpet? or was it cut pile?

[@MrComaToes]

Thanks! I have a hard time calling a truck...I mean, I know it's a truck, it's classified as one and it has a bed, but it looks like a car from the inside looking out! Thanks for watching!

[@MrComaToes]

@chamblizi A carburetor is not a bad thing, if you are good to your car and engine it will last as long if not longer than a fuel injection pump. I have known some really good reliable carbs... direct injection is best and then throttle-body but a carb is easier to fix. Too bad about your steering column Thanks for watching!

[@steviejacko]

very nice : )

[@mostlymoparih5682]

Nice. Seven hours non stop, wow I use to run from Orlando to Fayetteville, NC and when I stopped I had to fill up one tank and drain the other. BTW that car looks strangely familiar.

[@MrComaToes]

@chamblizi Any car that has problems starting in that situation is a liability... but a manual choke might help... or maybe a tune-up and some adjustments under the hood! Those engines are strong runners, get it running right and you'll be okay. I bought new carpets for mine from ebay!

[@MrComaToes]

@steviejacko Thank's Sarge! I appreciate that! Keep watching, I'll be posting more repair vids shortly... Tell Sgt. Boombox I said congratulations on his NY Giants winning the Super Bowl, he'll know what I mean!!!

[@billwilliamson9842]

any updates on this one? I hope you still have it and row through the original 4 spd these days. I have a 73 base model torino that came with the 351cj/4 spd/ralleye pkg.

[@MrComaToes]

@bmw76308 Thanks for watching, I'll be posting the repairs, check back!

[@chambliziOfficialChannel]

@MrComaToes i got so much to do no my ignition switch system is broken in the column so i cannot start it but good news is i brought a external switch to hook up in the dash i just had to move the mirror wire from the whole and insert the ignition in that next is to figure out the wiring.... would be much easier if i could read diagrams due to i am using a universal switch i have to insert a kill switch else where. preferably a water proof one under the body of the vehicle.

[@MrComaToes]

@cutworm59 Yeah, me too, a lot older now, and I only ever was at good aiming a snowball... Loved my Mini-14 and my SKS though.

[@MrComaToes]

@cutworm59 Well Cut, I bet that was a whole truck-bed full of fun right there... wait.. that wasn't last year, now was it? hahaha You forget I saw the motorboat vid you and ol''63 Impala took!

[@cutworm59]

I spent several nights in the back of a Ranchero. We would lay flat and drive under streetlights and shoot them out with a 22.

[@chambliziOfficialChannel]

@MrComaToes the car wil last longer which is why i bought it but cold start could be the difference between getting robbed and getting away before they pull there gun on you... as for that i am going to try to hit a junk yard something hopefully i will not have to special order one.. i don't trust companies that i cannot see... that's like asking for to get your money stolen..i am already doubtful of a shipment i have on the way here from APW.... hopefully my new carpets in it.

[@MrComaToes]

Oh yes... it's my daily driver now! Why do you ask? Were you interested in buying it? In any case, thanks for watching!

[@MrComaToes]

@tonus888 Thanks Mate!

[@praiznhym4ever]

do you happen to still have this Ranchero ??

[@williamryder8722]

I have a 73 351 Cleve with a 2b. starts and runs but j have to have my foot fully to the floor. if j let off it dies. any thoughts?

[@BuLLReD86]

Nice

[@chambliziOfficialChannel]

@MrComaToes how much is the weight of your shipment from ebay? mines 11.30lbs so i really am nerves they better send me everything i want.

[@MrComaToes]

@bmw76308 I want very much to find a Torino/Ranchero wide range 4 speed toploader that belongs in it, in the meantime I purchased a 2001 Cobra 5 speed trans to put in it for now...

[@MrComaToes]

@chamblizi Well, the best tip I can give you about buying on ebay is to only buy from sellers with around 99.5% feedback rating. 11.30lbs sounds about right, I got my carpet the other day

[@tim30409]

Is that car Still A 4 Speed the shifter looks to be a automatic ?

[@chambliziOfficialChannel]

@MrComaToes well if it is what i wanted then i saved alot i payed 107.53 which is about 10-30 dollars less then ebay cost and carpet dealers cost.

[@TonusMahonus]

Nice man, I like it alot, try and keep it as original from factory as you can.cheers

[@bogiewheelman71]

Older post but ,,, I see a heat shield but no matching air intake for the heat ducting to connect to

[@chambliziOfficialChannel]

any time

[@chambliziOfficialChannel]

The godl is the orginal paint.

[@slimjim119]

who would put a auto in that car was crazy get that 4 speed back \

[@theeurobandit]

Nice Ranchero, but that rust needs to get fixed!

[@paulfox688]

This Ranchero is from Huntington Beach Ford, CA. Originally a special order in late 1972, the dealership was reluctant to place the order for the customer as he wanted a 4 speed manual transmission. 11 month wait, then it arrived at the dealer. The customer, tired of waiting, purchased another vehicle. The buyer of this car was a couple who presented this to their son as a graduation gift. He drove it (more like beat the s..t out of it) for 6 years, then sold it for $2600.00. Burnt valves, burnt rings, tore up top loader and rear gears. The body and chassis were in extremely great condition, just a little fade on the paint. No dents, rust or scratches. Engine over haul, replaced trans and rear gears, just to make it drive-able. The lettering on the lower left of the tail gate was painted August 1980 in Costa Mesa, CA., courtesy of Larry Lee, father of Troy Lee (Troy Lee Designs). This was once a gorgeous vehicle, well cared for, garaged and covered.

[@billwilliamson9842]

it was not cowl inducted, stop tryin to sound like you know things. It was the standard large ford air cleaner and had a vac controlled extra door on the drivers side, thats all. they used a similar style on the non ram air 428's and I think on a few other performance models of fords back then. small block c6's are not rare or expensive at all but what was rare was the factory 10" higher then normal (2200-2400 per the service specs manual) stall converter in them when behind a 351cj. The 4 spd cars got the dual point distributors, autos got single points.

[@konto1313]

I do not think the padded dash is original I think if you removed it you would find fake wood grain material

[@MrComaToes]

@chamblizi Well, I won't say the quality is as good as what I got, but it might be... I just saw carpets for a 73 Ranchero on JC Whitney for well under a hundred... so there's that, but JC Whitney is a crap shoot.... Meaning most times if you take a shot at something from JC Whitney you hit crap... but not always

[@chambliziOfficialChannel]

Carbuerated is a bitch... once she gets going she brings the heat.... sadly T_T my ranchero is down due to ignition problems... i have to tear out the whole column and put another one in because the mechanics in the wheel are fucked.

[@steviejacko]

@MrComaToes hahaahaha : )

[@gearjammer4779]

What is the big deal these with “cold start” videos? Do some guys get a raging 😤 boner when a vehicle is started? Wow! Ive been doing cold starts every morning for the last 40 years since I drive to work everyday. Since Im a trucker I also start my big rig every morning before I drive it. I looked down at my crotch this entire week when I “cold started” my vehicles and I did NOT have a boner. I wonder if I need some “cold start viagra”. I guess I must be missing something? 🤔