1970's Maverick Ground Up Build...Starting....Now...

My bad...I meant to put roll bar/cage. Just did a roll bar last night on the way to a cage.
(not welded in yet, we are already at 6 points and that's just behind the seats)

 

I knew when I removed my shock towers that the sheet metal front rails connected into the rear cross member that I built for the 4 link was not going to make it by itself. My cage is a 10 point right now but it will be 12 when it is finished - going to get back to this thing as soon as spring arrives

 

I am fairly certain we will be around there as well. So far we have managed to keep the trunk pretty intact and we'll be putting the frame connectors into the front floor panel. A little concerned about the front rails because I am trying to keep the stock steering and it looks like a support bar will have trouble fitting in there. Fortunately we are working in 70 degree sun and in a pretty full fab shop. I am glad I am not having to deal with the weather like you.

You have some great pics, I haven't been here long enough to look around properly. Work on the car, work...post and sleep. lol I have seen a lot of your pics (checking out the rest later tonight and tomorrow) and I am pretty certain you have gone through what we are about too. Course I am lucky my bodywork isn't as bad, but of course it's easier when you know what you are doing with it like you apparently do on the shots I have seen. Nice job.

 

Mine is a Mustang II type front suspension with a front steer rack so the rails were not that critical and I actually taught myself how to weld working on this car - I built stock cars since 1980 but only tacked the bars and brackets in place - I always had a certified welder to finish it off - this one I was on my own

 

Awesome as far as welding! The good thing about stock cars is you don't have to be perfect on looks of the finished product, but it's a great learning grounds. My friend is self taught welding and pretty good. He's taught me and I have welded a couple items for the first time so far on my car. We have only tacked the bars as well. The framing has been interesting. He pre-built two frames that were going under a '66 Fairlane...that deal fell through and as I have said mine is a budget build. So we made that frame work on the ass end. It's a little further up that he wanted it, but again it's giving me a full trunk and allowing me to put in a 20 gallon fuel cell...plus once it's finished off you won't know it's a little further up.

Well...besides me outing myself about it here. lol

 

Frame connectors...we decided to use the existing frame rails by sliding the new 2x2's into them through the floor maintaining the floor panel as much as possible. But before putting them in I drilled holes in the factory frames and then we put them in, welding it all together. Not fully finished...will do later when we can get back to the hoist.

Now my side...

 

Next up...the cage!

 

Very nice. How come he didnt brace the inside prior to cutting out the floor ?

 

I did mine in the same style but instead of using square stock, I cut into the back of the original rails and ran round tubing right up into them almost to the firewall then ran the back of them into my 4 link cross member

 

Not sure about your question, other than the fact it was just easier to cut out the metal we weren't using and go from there. It allowed us to clean up all around the area we were setting up for the frame and cross member.

 

Yeah I saw that is what you did. It looks good. Obviously we rat it into the original rails, also to the firewall and back to cross member loop...

 

Slow week...

Tacked the start of the cage in place. Hoping tomorrow to tackle the side bars, x-frame support and floor plates...it's looking like we will go 12 point also.

 

Always been my dream to have my car tubbed even though I have been told that they dont drive really good but then I have never been rode in a tubbed car with wide meats to know. I am sure when you get the big block in it you will have your hands full when you are on it just hope that the weight transfer will not be over bearing.

I have always envied people with the abilities and equipment and space to take on such as project, keep up the good work

If money was not a factor one of the new flat plane crankshaft motors turboed would be a hoot and unique, one can always dream.

 

If I didn't have my Mustang this wouldn't happen. I mean I could have sold it I guess...but I would have had come up with way more cash. I've known this guy since 1980 so it's working out well. BTW yep...it's a blast having that much power ...600 horse in my Mustang. But we've already taken out the 347 Stroker and he's going to drop 428 Big Block FE motor into it. Which is a neat trick in itself.

Big Block, two fours out of the hood of a Maverick is bucket list for me...his shop and know how will make it happen. It's gonna thump!

Keep the dream alive, you never know when you might be able to pull it off!

 

Hows the ride on the street w the ladder bars in the mustang? My car is setup similar to yours. Mine will be mini tubbed im still on the fence as far as ladder bar or 4 link or possibly even stay leaf spring w caltracs