ok car guys! help!

[sftiggee]

I am the proud owner of a 1968 Ford Torino coupe (the 289, daily driver, nothing fancy) and I want to set it up so i can tow my Camp-Inn with it.

I've been looking around on the internet for a hitch and came across this one on the JCWhitney website. Would this work?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Prod ... 56/c-10114

You gotta remember this car has the gas fill behind the license plate, so I'm concerned with a hitch interfering with all that.

i want to get somehting installed pretty soon so i can use the Torino for the Dam Gathering.

THANK YOU for ANY help you can give me!!!!!


Jolene
P.S. Don't worry, I still have the bug, I'm just giving it a rest is all.

[Gage]

Your going to start towing with the Torino Jolene and not ever go back to the Bug. Any ways, if I was you, I'd go to a hitch shop and have them build you one that attaches to both frames (one each side) and has a center receiver. It'll cost a few bucks but I think you'll be happier in the end. I'm getting ready to change the hitch on my wagon for that very reason. Don't like the looks when I'm not towing one of my trailers.

Have a good day.

See you at Shasta.

[Leon]

The JC Whitney hitch will not work. I have a 68 convertible and am looking at a hitch for it so I don't have to rely on the 54 chevy all the time. The hitch that was originally available for the Torino mounted to the lower section of the bumper but had the main section of it go under the tank and mount to the body forward of the gas tank. It wasn't much better. I'm looking at building one that will possibly mount to what little frame there is in the rear but also picks up some of the strength forward of the tank.

[Leon]

...have them build you one that attaches to both frames (one each side) and has a center receiver. .

The problem with a removeable hitch is that it has to mount very low on the car because the tank sits so low. Unfortunately the tank is so close to the bumper that there is no room for any bracing to be hidden behind the rear valance panel. I'm thinking about adding some bracing behind the bumper, in front of the valance, but still not sure how to work around the gas filler door.

[sftiggee]

OI!

Well, I guess I'll have to find a fabrication place up here in the Oakland area to build me a hitch. leon, are you doing anything else to your Torino besides the hitch? Are you beefing up the tranny (adding a cooler) or anythign else?

I want to make sure I don't damage my new baby, it only has 89K miles.

Thanks for the advice Gage and Leon:)

[Leon]

I have an AOD in it that has already been beefed up (sits behind a 5.0 HO motor) It has an external cooler in front of the standard radiator. I don't think there will be much problem towing, my tear is 1300 pounds and my old Geo could tow 2000 with no problem.

[sftiggee]

hmmmm, i just have a stock 289 engine and a rebuilt standard automatic transmission. will i be ok for towing my camp-inn (about 1500 pounds) without adding anything?

[Gage]

Darn Fords I've also got a cooler in front of the radiator for the tranny. You know I think all fords up into the 70's had gas tank issues. Even in my 59 wagon, it's close to the rear valance and the bumper. Seems like I'm always under it trying to figure out how to put a hidden hitch on it that comes out through the license plate. Being a wagon, the gas fill is on the side. That's one of the reasons I think I'm going to go to a hitch shop and let them figure it out.

Have a good day.

[Gage]

hmmmm, i just have a stock 289 engine and a rebuilt standard automatic transmission. will i be ok for towing my camp-inn (about 1500 pounds) without adding anything?

Sure Jolene. But I would think about adding a cooler sometime in the future. My tear weights about #1500 and I took it all the way back to Minden and didn't have an extra cooler on the Wagon and didn't have any problems. (with the transmission)

Have a good day.

Are you going to say hi to me at Shasta?

[sftiggee]

Are you going to say hi to me at Shasta?

of course i will:)

Ok, so i'll put in a tranny cooler when i get the chance and I'll try to find a hitch shop to build me one. i dont' have much time to get all this done, the Dam gathering is fast approaching! EEEEEK!

[Gage]

<snip> i dont' have much time to get all this done, the Dam gathering is fast approaching! EEEEEK!

You've got two months, that's plenty of time. Don't worry that much about the cooler. Just some time in the future. There's no big mountains between you and Redding.

Don't stay away so long next time. Ya missing all the action. Oh, and I'll most likely have my truck up there. Doing a lot of work on the wagon and it won't be ready until around June.

Have a good day.