1968 Ford Ranchero 428 Cobra-Jet 'Ram-Air

[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.