Hello, I am a newbie and today I signed on the dotted line for a 1973 Maverick 4door, auto on the steering column, power steering, dark green metallic paint with lime green interior. The paint is very faded and has peeled off some of the galvanized steel areas. But there is almost no rust whatsoever. The underside is amazingly clean. It has been kept very rust proofed and will be sprayed before I bring it home. It has 14 inch rims and very old skinny tires. It has had a front end alignment, all 4 drum brakes were service in order to have a mechanical certificate of road worthiness. The front driver's seat is torn but the back one looks very good. The door panels and carpet are in great condition. I was amazed at how well it drove. My Dad had purchased a new 1975 green 4 door with the intention pulling a Trillium trailer. However, before the trailer was purchased the car was totaled in an accident. Fortunately no one was hurt but the car was done. So it is kind of like returning to my youth and doing what Dad would have done. As a newbie I will be leaning on the experts here to work away and hopefully put this vehicle back in A1 condition. It isn't a muscle car but some performance improvements will be done once it is thoroughly cleaned up, touched up and polished. The first thing will likely be new tires as the current ones are very old on 14 inch rims. Because I live in the country I will likely put snow tires on it for use on gravel rather than summer tires. Eventually when it is in better shape it will get new rims and bigger tires, sway bars, etc. so it will handle better. Then a trailer hitch and wiring so I can pull my light weight Boler while touring more local camping parks. Off the bat I want to buy books on servicing and restoring a Maverick with a 250 six. I would also like to get a spare set of keys as only one set came with the car. Any suggestions as to which books might be most helpful and a suggestion of where I might find key blanks. Thanks a lot Bigt73
Welcome from northeast Illinois! My first concern would be checking braking system components, especially, if plan towing. Next, steering components, all rubber hoses & fluids; making sure all these items are in good working condition will aid in keeping from having bad day..
Welcome from south east Washington state. I would also recommend staying away from snow tires for gravel roads. Modern snow tires are a softer compound than your average all season tire and will not last near as long.
Welcome to the board Regarding tires, I work for a large tire wholesaler. I looked at some mild all terrain tires for you but the sizing is all too large in diameter. Next choice would be 225/60R16 98H COO DISCOVERER ENDURAMAX. Highway tread, but Tread is compounded like an AT tire for rough roads. 60K warranty. Might be a bit tall for a tire also this wide ... 26.6 inches. This is the shortest tire in that line and you would need to come up with some 16 wheels. Think mid-9os Ford Explorer. With this diameter, check that they clear on the front while turning. Take your existing diameter and add HALF of the difference, measure all four corners of tread and sidewall width in all turning positions. I am probably being overly cautious, not used to fitting tall tires to these cars. You also will need to look at the additional width. Alternately, like RMiller is advocating, try for an All Season tire, and go for the highest treadwear rating you can find. The tread compounding will be the toughest Falken 205/70R15 96T FAL SINCERA SN250 A/S is a good example 80k mileage warranty. Modern snow tires are definitely soft compounds. Helps them do that job. It is not like the rock hard snow tires that looked like tractor tires, from when I was a kid in the Midwest. I live in Florida now and you will see folks wanting to travel north for the winter try to order snows. Put them on hot Florida roads, even in January here, and you won't make it out of the state without having the tires very worn before you hit the state line.
Thanks so much for the advice. The brakes have been thoroughly checked out and serviced as have the steering components. Here in Nova Scotia a vehicle must pass a safety inspection before ownership can be transferred. Then every two years it must repass in order to be street legal. Safety is a priority with me.
I hear you! I live on an island were weather is cooler. Being a small island the distance back and forth is short. The island is about 3 miles long and a mile and a half wide. So overall mileage accumulated per year is minimal. The idea of snow tires is a short term solution until I get all the other stuff done and the car moves to the mainland for use there on new rims and tires. Here I can grab some snow tires really cheap. I would never use them on paved roads here in the summer! Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it.
Thanks so much for the info. When the car is going to be used as a daily driver I will be purchasing new rims and tires and will checking out good tires for performance and safety reasons. Thanks so much for the advice!
Welcome from New Mexico.....if the car has not been driven in a while, be sure the gas tank isn't rusted...you are on the right forum...good luck!
Thanks to all those who have answered questions for me. I have loaded the recent pics of my car if you are interested.
Wow Big! That"s one clean Maverick...You'll have a good time getting it just the way you want...I have a 73 two door..I would post pictures if i knew h0w, my computer is old, ( gas powered) and so am I,,,,keep sending pics!
