Just purchased 1977 ford maverick

i just bought a 1977 ford maverick. I'm new to working with older cars like this and was wondering what are your tips to start off. It's been sitting at someone's farm for several years and is a little rough. And advice would be helpful! Motor should run just need to buy some parts for it!

 

Welcome from Northern California!

 

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check for rust/rot in the torque boxes, rotted out cowl and any frame rotted out places.
this is to see if it's road worthy enough before spending any money on the motor .

 

Welcome! If you like to tinker, it will be endless fun. Dont try to run it with the gas that is presently in it. Even if the gauge says empty and the actual fuel level is BELOW the fuel pick-up, there is still over a gallon of nasty rotten puke in there. Adding more gas will not make it go away. If it is icky and rusty inside the tank, I think the new tanks that are available fit into a 77 without modification. Fixing your old one (if icky and rusty) will cost more than a new one. The internet and this site have all the info you need to fix it up. Lots of research will save you lots of money. Post some pics when u can.

 

The tank on it it's pretty bad I'm planning on replacing. Do you recommend buying a new one? Or stealing one off another car if I can find one. I'm on a pretty tight budget

 

If you can find one where someone is parting one out that was being driven.....make sure the trunk isnt too rusty because they can rot out from the outside on top from a rotten, leaky trunk. If you find one with a known working gas gauge, that is a bonus. Much of my car is built from junk-yard stuff, but I spent enough on my tank to almost buy a new one...radiator shop clean out and soldering of pinholes on top ($90.00), tank was still not clean enough and needed power washing on the inside, which is free if you have a power washer, dried in the sun, bang on it and vacuum out the pile of metal chunks with a piece of pvc pipe taped to my shop vac hose, rinse with a quart of (Acetone? I cant remember, but the directions on tank sealer say which) $8.00, coat inside with 2 quarts of tank sealer, (about $70.00), coat outside with POR15. I also took apart my sending unit, thoroughly and gently cleaned it, re-soldered the wires, purchased a new float (mine was gone) and tested with an ohm meter. I put gas in it a year later when my engine was ready to start, re-placed all the rubber hoses between it and the carburetor, blew air through the line to re-move more crud, installed a filter before the fuel pump, and ........now the fuel system functions. a new tank is around 250 bucks I think. Old cars are......old. Check the rest of it for rust, post some pics, try to see if the time and money are going to give you something you will be happy with......lots of time and money. There are brakes, front suspension and steering, radiator/heater core, lots of rotten rubber, and rubber hoses. Pour some water into the grille right below the windshield and see if you get water on the floor under the dash. Are the floorboards rusty under the carpet? Research where these rust...rust will take over a car stored in a soggy dirt place. (out to pasture).

 

it has some rust that im going to need to repair. under the floorboards are not the best... it looks like at some point in time someone tried to restore the car and stopped. trying to figure out what all they have done to the car. quarter panels and floorboards are where most of the rust is that i have found so far. gutting the car tomorrow so ill see what i find.

 

"I'm on a pretty tight budget"

I wish you had posted these pics. before you bought the car.
you need a better car to start with...

 

Agreed...

At least it has a better than average dash pad...

 

I agree. Looking at the pictures, and knowing you said you are on a "tight budget"......you just bought a parts car. That car will need thousands of $$$ in bodywork, electrical, brakes, and runability work done, just to be safe to drive.

 

That is pretty rusty....and if it was parked on dirt (which gives off water vapor constantly) there is more underneath. Even if you LOVED doing rust repair, patch panels are not cheap.....and if frame components are rotten, well, a replacement body would be the best and cheapest fix.

 

from Northeast Pennsylvania

 

have you had time to check the frame yet?