1971 Maverick

Summer 2014
I bought the car in the summer of 2014 and drove it 300ish miles home. 71,000 miles, Factory V8 car, C4 floor shift with tunnel hump(originally column shift), nice paint, perfect grabber hood(no hood lip trim though), good exhaust(Hedmans with 2 1/2's out the back), worn motor, and sketchy wiring(scotch connectors and a dura-spark spaghetti mess). This particular car grabbed my interest because the shock towers/spring seats had been moved out 2" on each side. One of the previous owners had eyes for a big block....I did too. I have a side-oiler tucked away.
I enjoyed the car as bought the rest of the summer.

Winter 2014/spring 2015
Purchased and installed: sub-frame connectors, a Monte Carlo bar, 8 point roll bar(Precision Chassis), mini-spool, hood lip trim, dash trim, trunk lip trim, a set of very well used low back bucket seats(in dire need of reupholstery), and a 71 rear seat(car came with retractable belt seat bottom) to match the non-retractable interior panels.
Much time was spent looking into fitting an FE into the Mav. Based on said research, I made the decision to go with a big Windsor instead. I contacted Doug Meyers(a local builder near me) to put together a Dart SHP 427 for replacing the ailing 302.
I enjoyed the car until August 2015

Fall-winter 2015/spring 2016
I made some room in my 10 x 20 attached garage for some of the necessary tools to swap motors(hoist and stand). Items accrued and installed: new wheels and tires, manual steering set up, aluminum radiator, Crites headers, a rebuilt C4, reverse manual valve body, 3000 stall converter, new fuel pump, a one wire alternator, MSD box, newly reupholstered seats, new carpet, and the new mill.
Nothing about this endeavor was simple for me, I don't know what the hell I was thinking. I had not done anything like this in 30+ years, let alone in an overstuffed/undersized garage.

Summer-winter 2016
After I got it on the road, I had to put in new front springs(6 cylinder) after the swap or I would have killed the headers. The rest of the season was working on getting the bugs out. All short trips testing my work.
I enjoyed the car the 2016 season. Some local shows and some cruise-ins, the car was well received.

2017
I ordered new leaf springs(General 4leafs) and a 3.80 rear gear. I installed the springs over the winter. On my way home from the first show of the 2017 season an opportunity presented itself to me, I snapped an axle and trashed the center section. Time to swap gears(from 2.79 to 3.80). I located and purchased another 8" rear for the center section and Currie axles. Oh boy, I get to set up my first rear. A book and a couple of videos and I have new gears in the rear, yay me(I have created my very own short-range ballistic missile).
Car is running great couldn't be happier.

Future plans include caltracs, mini-tubs, a narrowed 9", and a leaf spring relocation

10/4/17
During August and September I was lucky enough to get a real garage built. The building measures 24 x 40. Brought home a '72 Comet GT to hang out with the Mav. Gonna be adding an '85 GT with a 351 shortly, all the new room is welcome.