So the Maverick project is progressing

well its getting there, im still gathering parts.

in my shop classes im redoing all the brake components i havent got to yet. new master cylinder, work on the drums out back and new calipers and rotors up front.

im also taking a suspension class so ive made a project out of the front end on the mav. im doing the upper and lower controll arms and ball joints, tie rods and replacing all the bushings.

ive also found most of the parts needed for the V8 swap and they should be comming in the mail over the next few weeks. engine mounts, engine crossmember, dual exhause trans cross member, throttle cable and bracket and full length headers. now ive just got to find something to drop in there. im not too ambitious, just looking for a stock low miles 302/5.0 that im going to convert to a 4bbl, mechanical fuel pump and probably a DSII dizzy so i can keep my stock electronic ignigtion. i plan on dropping my power steering and going manual so my only belt driven accesories are going to be the water pump and alternator. hoping to get something decent for a few hundred. for the exhaust im just gonna do headers with glass packs and elbows to take it out under the doors somewhere, maybe some flame throwers

another cool hook up I got on the way from a pinto owner is a posi center section for my 8'' rear. i really didnt see the need to custom fit a 9'' in there since im probably not going to need its extra strength but making both wheels spin will definatly be needed. all mavericks had an open diff and 8'' rear but alot of manual and v6 pintos, bobcats and mustang II's had 8'' posi units that can be swappend in. its ready to go for $100. rebuilt/new ones are like 4x-5x that price. its a 3.55 gear ratio so that should be a pretty good street/strip/mixed driving ratio. ive got a 2.79 now

me and my friend are swapping an engine into his '91 240sx nissan and since ive got atleast this 1 engine swap comming up we've decided to go halfs on a used engine hoist and leveler for $150. we're picking it up sunday.

so anyway, that's where im at hope to be rolling in something with 2 more cylinders come summer

wish me luck

damn, i just found out that center section i was gonna get is a 4.11 put its still open. it might still be worth it tho..

HMM. lots of fun projects ahead. good luck, build pix if possible. or build updates.

yea, i plan to have photographic documentation of the entire project lol

after building up my cutlass 2 years ago my biggest regret is that i didnt take any before or during pictures

good luck with all that Tony, hope to see it on the road again soon

Cool Tony, you know I'll be watching, I like Mavericks, I'm trying to buy Satng II now, but the guy wants twice what its worth, and I'm not giving it to him

those stangII's are really comming up in value. i was checking them out on ebay just out of curiosity. i think they can be really nice looking cars with alot of potential even tho most of the die hard stang guys dont even aknowlege their existance.

believe it or not there really isnt much in common between thos and mavericks. the stangII was build of the pinto platform with that unique independent front suspension. mavericks were more triditional ford unibody cars.

so i found a guy about a half hour over the bridge into NJ who's going to hook me up with a fully dressed 302 from an early maverick, a set of 3.55 gears, an engine stand with the engine and he said i can scavange anything i want thats left on his maverick parts car

Nice! I wish I still had my 72

yea im pretty excited

i really want to get started but i cant disable the maverick yet because im going to run it thru for antique tags next week while it still has the 6cyl and full legal exhaust. i also cant get started on the engine or anything yet because i havent gotten any packages yet and i wount have the motor till next weekend.

i dont know if any of you guys are famiular with crazy4carz.com. the guy who runs it also has a spot on the local public access station. he visits car shows and interviews owners. anyway when i get done he's going to have my buy the shop with the mav to film a segment and edit in all my digital pics of the progress.

so the first box came in with my mercury bobcat tail lights(the wide ones). i got 2 extra sets of maverick tail lights in the process as well. i'll see if i cant make some money back

Dang that looks good

so i got my antique tags yesterday so it never has to be inspected ever again as long as im the owner. just renew through the mail

my box of conversion parts came today. v8 stuff, headers, manual steering, ect.

and im just about to head out to get on the road to NJ to go get my 302

this is the 302 i got yesterday.

after i pulled the intake, valve covers and exhaust manifolds















i left the bottom end alone and i left the cam and lifters in it. i did pull the oil pump since it was perviously swapped to a dual sump pan anyway. i need a front sump

i think im going to stop off tomorrow and get a wire brush drill bit and clean it up

iam going to need a alternater bracket and the correct crank shaft pullie since a water pump and alternater are going to be my only belt drivem accesories, need a new oil pan and pump, timing set, water pump, intake manifold, blah blah blah lol

but she's getting there:thumbsup:

must be great to do that work on your own, someone like me would be shelling out big bucks, I am dangerous with tools in my hands...LOL!