Car looks great Russ. I need to head that way and see it in person sometime soon. Sure looks different then when I drug it over there!! fwiw I owned this car from 2008 till this past June. I bought it in Charlotte, NC (where the car was originally from) from another member of this board and didn't give much for it. Bought it basically as a parts car, but I couldn't bring myself to tear apart such a solid car and tried unsuccessfully to sell it a few times. I only drove it about 900 miles in the 4 years I owned it. So when Russ mentioned to me he was looking for a 4 door I basically just gave him the car. I knew it couldn't have a better home then with him, but had no idea at the time it would turn out THIS good!! Not to toot my own horn in any way, I'm just proud that one of my Mavericks finally got to be something worth a damn. I'm proud of the car even though I no longer own it. I wish I had half the talent and motivation to do something like this. Great job Russ.
My son and I are doing a Maverick and I have been trying to decide if the 255/70-15 might be the proper tire to really fill the wheel well and provide a very pro-stock appearing stance; our intended goal. After seeing your car, I am definitely going to do it. We have a 15x8 w/4.25 back spacing Cragar SST's and 245/60's now. We have about .7 clearance to the spring. The 255 will eat up a tad more, but not too much. Did your 255/70 combo fit within the front and rear fender line, or did you have to massage it slightly. Measuring it looks like its going to be close. But in your pics it looks to fit great, unless you did a little massaging. What rims back spacing and fender massaging did you have to do, if any? I am a little worried about the availability of 8" rear end stuff. The days of going to pick out a V6 pinto or mustang II for a 3.55 chunk are no longer a cheap possibility. Which could force us back into a 60 series tire. A 9" swap is not in the budget currently, but I do have a couple chunks with short truck yokes that would allow us to use the stock drive shafts.
they are tight very tight at the front and rear of the fenders only touches when the suspension fully hangs in the front i may had tapped the edge of the rocker some at the lip irrc i did have to roll the lips also and massage the tub due to height with a 2" lowering block 15x8 with a 4.5 backspace that being said the 29" height with the stock 2.79 gear makes a working 2.41 ratio you need a 3.55 to get back close i kept the stocl 2.79 doing this killed my around town milage to 14-15mpg but freeway milage went up to near 30 mpg im currently seeking a affordable used gearset.
We are shooting to maintain the stock rear end positioning, so our car will sit up a tad (gasser like). We are likely going to run a 205/75-15 front (27" tall). SO, it sounds like we should good, with the exception of a little work on the leading edge, and even that may not be required. Yes, the gearing does woryy me. In the early 80's I had a two 3.55 chunks, just laying around. I ran one in a mustang II with 205/60-13's whcih gave it the equivilant of a 4.30 with a typical 26-27" tire. the 13" 60 was 22" tall. I think the 8" R-P gears are still available.
I ran across these on CL today and thought about your car. The offset may be complete wrong on the rear, but they'd look pretty cool brushed sort of like the Motorwheels on the Taxi. http://clarksville.craigslist.org/ptd/3959665833.html