I just started work on an 77 Maverick 2 door that I recently bought. The body's in real good shape, and the interior is mostly new, but under the hood is extra ugly. It didn't come with the engine and tranny, so I figured the engine compartment would be the best place to start. I don't know why but the later model mavericks seem to rust way worse under the fenders than the earlier cars. My 76 was pretty rusty under there, but this 77 takes the cake. The car I've been robbing metal from is a 71, which is about as rusty a car as I've ever seen, but not in the top of the inner fenders. Well it took awhile but I finally got all the spot welds drilled out of both cars. I haven't begun welding in the replacement panel yet. I've got to practice plug welding first, but I think it'll look a ton better in the end than if I had just tried to patch the bad spots.
I have a few that came with a riveting kit that I got from Eastwood. Some you have to drill to use, and some are like little clamps. they both use the same tool. I'm glad you mentioned them, I had forgotten that I even had em. I bought the kit to use in rivet patching some rust holes but soon after bought a mig welder.
I LOVE Clecos -- both types. Don't know how I would have made the three pieces for the rusted out corner of the cowl without them.
Man! Those Clecos are the BOMB! I can't believe I've had them all this time and never used them. Especially considering all the rusty sheet metal that I've had to repair. I'm going to have to go through my tool shed and figure out how many other tools that I've bought and forgot about.
Know what you mean. When I was getting ready to paint, thinking a new gun would be required, started poking around and found a nice old Binks I bought 30 years ago. Worked great.
