The incumbent president/party is doomed from the start in 1980. So, yes, Ford could beat Carter that year. Now, Ford's choice of VP will be critical, since the incumbent party will be guaranteed a win in 1984 because market factors in real estate and petroleum will abruptly stop double-digit inflation as in OTL.
Say GHW Bush is VP in 1980 and is elected president in 1984. The impact today would be tremendous. Reason: the abortion issue would not enter the platform of either party. After all, Ford was pro-choice and Bush Sr. converted only to team up with Reagan. The evangelists, Fallwell, Swaggart, and Baker would see their rise and fall without association with the GOP. The pro-life movement will remain less organized and include Northern Catholics and Dixiecrats who are not Republican.
You might also butterfly away the faith-inspired, no-compromise attitude that plagues the GOP today.