My 71 Maverick Grabber Build.....

Discussion in 'Maverick/Comet Projects' started by franktf, Jun 6, 2010.

  1. Dave B

    Dave B I like Mavericks!

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2002
    Messages:
    16,931
    Likes Received:
    215
    Trophy Points:
    347
    Location:
    Parts Unknown......
    Vehicle:
    3 Grabbers
    Very nice! That's the way I'm doing mine, I'm not a fan of seeing them hang down under the car.
     
  2. franktf

    franktf Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2009
    Messages:
    4,119
    Likes Received:
    336
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Pinellas Park, FL
    Vehicle:
    72 Mercury Comet
    Well the way I am doing this it not only raises the connector so it is less visable, they will make it much stronger then just welding them in as they came(like I mentioned above I also need some extra room in the rear to clear my Cal-Trac's)..... For one I am increasing the weld are considerable in the rear and some in the front, but the key in the rear is it will now tie two different sections of the rear torque box and the rear frame together with more then just spot welds..... Putting it through the floor and welding to those areas does increase strength being that the floor itself is a big part in the structure of a unibody design.....

    Not to mention you haven't seen everthing I am going to add yet..... Stay tuned for more.....



    I think you get it a little better.....

    I probably should have just made them in my case with deciding to go through the floor, but I purchase these because they wern't very expensive and figured I could easily modify them if necessary.....


    Thanks and I definately don't like them hanging down too low either.....
     
  3. Dave B

    Dave B I like Mavericks!

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2002
    Messages:
    16,931
    Likes Received:
    215
    Trophy Points:
    347
    Location:
    Parts Unknown......
    Vehicle:
    3 Grabbers
    Years ago, they tubbed a Maverick in Hot Rod magazine, they slotted the floors where the rear rails went, so the extensions were half above and half below the floors, I always like the way it looked.
     
  4. franktf

    franktf Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2009
    Messages:
    4,119
    Likes Received:
    336
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Pinellas Park, FL
    Vehicle:
    72 Mercury Comet
    I finished fitting the driver side connector this morning and welded it in.....

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  5. socalcomet

    socalcomet Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2010
    Messages:
    1,017
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    112
    Location:
    Menifee, California
    Vehicle:
    1974 Comet
    Very Nice (y)

    There's an interesting article in this month's Muscle Car Review about "silhouette-cut" subframe connectors done by U.S. Car Tool. I think they mostly do Mopars though. Sure would be nice they were made for our cars.
     
  6. Bossed

    Bossed Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2009
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Fort Barnwell, NC
    Vehicle:
    70 Grabber, 70 Maverick
    Frank, your work is awesome, I look forward to seeing whats next. (y)
     
  7. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2009
    Messages:
    5,270
    Likes Received:
    833
    Trophy Points:
    513
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    73 Comet GT-302 4bl
    Man that looks like it came from the factory. It looks better than if it came from factory. I assume u have several restorations in the past. :thumbs2:
     
  8. franktf

    franktf Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2009
    Messages:
    4,119
    Likes Received:
    336
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Pinellas Park, FL
    Vehicle:
    72 Mercury Comet
    Thanks.....


    Thanks.....


    and thank you too.....

    Yes I have built quite a few cars in the past.....

    Here's a few I have pic's handy on.....

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  9. franktf

    franktf Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2009
    Messages:
    4,119
    Likes Received:
    336
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Pinellas Park, FL
    Vehicle:
    72 Mercury Comet
    I added a piece of 1"x 2" from the connector out to the rocker right along the front plate of the torque box..... I also started to fit the 1/8" floor plate for the roll bar, but it looks like I can't finish it until I get the floor sheetmetal in..... So next I started to fit the pass side connector..... Got the floor marked and cut to clear the connector.....

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  10. franktf

    franktf Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2009
    Messages:
    4,119
    Likes Received:
    336
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Pinellas Park, FL
    Vehicle:
    72 Mercury Comet
    Had a side job to knock out Wed morning, but I did still manage to get the pass side connector close to where it needs to be..... A little more trimming in the morning and i will be able to weld it in.....

    [​IMG]
     
  11. franktf

    franktf Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2009
    Messages:
    4,119
    Likes Received:
    336
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Pinellas Park, FL
    Vehicle:
    72 Mercury Comet
    I got the pass side connector fitted and welded in this morning.....

    The weld on the outside rear of this connector doesn't look very good(you can see it in the last pic), had problems with the same weld on the driver side..... For one I pretty much suck at welding upside down and then you add a bunch of galvanize or other metal treatment it just adds to the problem..... I am going to have to roll the car up on it's side and fix these.....

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  12. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2009
    Messages:
    5,270
    Likes Received:
    833
    Trophy Points:
    513
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    73 Comet GT-302 4bl
    What's wrong w/ those welds? The most of them look OK to me. The only one I see that may need some attention is the last pic near the leaf spring mount. It's kind of hard to tell the way the light is reflecting from it.
     
  13. CaptainComet

    CaptainComet Large Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2007
    Messages:
    4,991
    Likes Received:
    436
    Trophy Points:
    413
    Location:
    Clearwater, FL
    Vehicle:
    72 Comet
    pffffttt ... his upside-down welds look like my right-side-up ones ... :biglaugh:
     
  14. RMiller

    RMiller My name is Rick

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2009
    Messages:
    4,132
    Likes Received:
    1,159
    Trophy Points:
    523
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Kennewick, WA
    Vehicle:
    1971 Maverick Grabber
    My thoughts exactly!
     
  15. franktf

    franktf Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2009
    Messages:
    4,119
    Likes Received:
    336
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Pinellas Park, FL
    Vehicle:
    72 Mercury Comet
    The last pic is the one I am talking about..... IMO it pretty much sucks, altough it will probably hold fine.....


    I am just not sure how to respond to this..... :huh:


    :cry:
     

Share This Page