core support

Discussion in 'Drag Racing' started by pedal2themetal, Aug 1, 2011.

  1. pedal2themetal

    pedal2themetal Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2011
    Messages:
    48
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Boise, Idaho
    Vehicle:
    1961 Comet daily driver, 1964 international 4 door truck w/460, 1974 Mavrick going to be 302 bracket car, 1979 AMC Concord wifes car, 1989 Ranger, 1974 pinto sleeping trailer project, 1976 Olds Cutlass son's.
    HI
    I'd like to cut the top radiator core support and make it removable for easy motor removal/install. Is there any issues with this in body sag or twist?
    OH its a 77 Mav.
    Tim
     
    pedal2themetal, Aug 1, 2011
    #1
  2. bmcdaniel

    bmcdaniel Senile Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Messages:
    6,800
    Likes Received:
    673
    Trophy Points:
    318
    Location:
    York. PA
    Vehicle:
    '70 Maverick Grabber
    Not on a Mav, but I did it when I put a V8 in a Pinto. No problems.
     
    bmcdaniel, Aug 1, 2011
    #2
  3. rthomas771

    rthomas771 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2008
    Messages:
    8,051
    Likes Received:
    943
    Trophy Points:
    498
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    '74 Maverick 302 5-Speed.'60 Falcon V8. '63.5 Falcon HT
    I don't like the idea of cutting anything to do with the unibody construction.
     
    rthomas771, Aug 1, 2011
    #3
  4. pedal2themetal

    pedal2themetal Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2011
    Messages:
    48
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Boise, Idaho
    Vehicle:
    1961 Comet daily driver, 1964 international 4 door truck w/460, 1974 Mavrick going to be 302 bracket car, 1979 AMC Concord wifes car, 1989 Ranger, 1974 pinto sleeping trailer project, 1976 Olds Cutlass son's.
    Yea thats why I ask I don't like cutting sturctur ether.
    Thanks
    tim
     
    pedal2themetal, Aug 1, 2011
    #4
  5. Joe Dirt

    Joe Dirt BBF life

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2008
    Messages:
    4,375
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    172
    Location:
    Cleveland, TN
    Vehicle:
    1970 ford torino #1
    Not really much structure to it though
     
    Joe Dirt, Aug 1, 2011
    #5
  6. pedal2themetal

    pedal2themetal Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2011
    Messages:
    48
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Boise, Idaho
    Vehicle:
    1961 Comet daily driver, 1964 international 4 door truck w/460, 1974 Mavrick going to be 302 bracket car, 1979 AMC Concord wifes car, 1989 Ranger, 1974 pinto sleeping trailer project, 1976 Olds Cutlass son's.
    HI
    Yea I realize that too as it is in front of the towers & the front crossmember and that is where (I believe) the real support ends.
    Thanks again to all
    Tim
     
    pedal2themetal, Aug 1, 2011
    #6
  7. Mavman72

    Mavman72 Gone backwards but lookin' forward

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2007
    Messages:
    6,759
    Likes Received:
    272
    Trophy Points:
    273
    Location:
    Buffalo N.Y.
    Vehicle:
    1972 Maverick 2 door.Original V-8 3 spd std shift.Also a 72 one owner Sprint sporting a 351 Windsor
    The aprons are pretty floppy once you have the core support out...But if you engineer it well and secure the removable section with nuts/bolts in the right places...It should work well...(I contemplated the idea when I replaced the core support in my Sprint...time was an issue then)
     
    Mavman72, Aug 1, 2011
    #7
  8. mavgrab302

    mavgrab302 MCCI Florida State Rep

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Messages:
    4,475
    Likes Received:
    140
    Trophy Points:
    147
    Location:
    Ocala,Florida
    Vehicle:
    71 Maverick Grabber
    Wouldn't you have to do something with the hood latch too ?
     
    mavgrab302, Aug 1, 2011
    #8
  9. don graham

    don graham MCG State Rep

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2002
    Messages:
    15,800
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    302
    Location:
    arizona city, az.
    Vehicle:
    70 mav, 71 grabber, 73 Comet, 2004 f-250 crew cab diesel, 2001 f-250, 2004 explorer, 2007 Gold Wing trike.
    John Ford did that on his car. :)
     
    don graham, Aug 1, 2011
    #9
  10. pedal2themetal

    pedal2themetal Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2011
    Messages:
    48
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Boise, Idaho
    Vehicle:
    1961 Comet daily driver, 1964 international 4 door truck w/460, 1974 Mavrick going to be 302 bracket car, 1979 AMC Concord wifes car, 1989 Ranger, 1974 pinto sleeping trailer project, 1976 Olds Cutlass son's.
    could take the latch out and the pieace down the center it hooks to and just use hood pins
    Tim
     
    pedal2themetal, Aug 1, 2011
    #10
  11. olerodder

    olerodder Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2009
    Messages:
    2,983
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    102
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    1970 Maverick
    I pulled my 408w with Powerglide attached and didn't have any issues pulling it out as a unit even with the 8 quart pan.............although I had to slide the motor forward..........and had already removed the radiator. Of course my headers are in 4 pieces per side so they come out quickly.
    My own personal feeling is that the core support completes the rectangle and holds the front subframe together and without putting some type of brace..........either high or low you would let it move. I have the stock shock towers with an MPG Export adjustable brace and when the car is on the ground (on all four wheels) you can adjust the brace with your fingers, but when you support the car on jack stands it would take a cheater bar to turn them.............yes this is at the towers, but my guess is that if the core support was gone it would be about the same, and the front may move and not come back into align exactly the same................I still think it may take a few more minutes.............but you can take the engine/trans out without much interference from the core support.............I also have a front sump pan...........and taking the belly bar out along with the trans crossmember let the motor come out without any issues..............IMHO
     
    olerodder, Aug 2, 2011
    #11
  12. maverick1970

    maverick1970 MCG State Rep

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2003
    Messages:
    7,372
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    242
    Location:
    Missouri
    Vehicle:
    69 1/2, 70 Maverick and 71 Grabber
    I have never had any problems installing the engine and transmission in mine with the core support intact. Even with deep pans and working by myself.

    That said, I think you could easily cut it and fabricate pieces to make it removable. Several people have already done it.
     
    maverick1970, Aug 2, 2011
    #12
  13. b_ryce70Mav

    b_ryce70Mav Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2005
    Messages:
    453
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    58
    Location:
    Shaw AFB, SC
    Vehicle:
    1970 Maverick
    I contemplated this when I was doing my last swap with a 302/T5 bolted up, but managed to stab it in one try by myself and only took about 15 minutes.
     
    b_ryce70Mav, Aug 2, 2011
    #13
  14. PINKY

    PINKY .....John Ford.....

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2002
    Messages:
    9,875
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky.
    Vehicle:
    1970 Ford Maverick
    yes and would do it again (y)
     
    PINKY, Aug 2, 2011
    #14
  15. Bob Wiken

    Bob Wiken Chronologically Gifted

    Joined:
    May 10, 2007
    Messages:
    1,592
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    102
    Location:
    Fayetteville, Arkansas
    Vehicle:
    1973 maverick, '87 306 H.O., roller rockers C4
    I hAd no problems removing or replacing my motor with only the radiator removed. I'd leave the support intact
     
    Bob Wiken, Aug 3, 2011
    #15

Share This Page