Got some basic Maverick Questions

The only Maverick I ever owned was a 1970, now I am in my 50's and want another one. I really want a 70 model but would like to know if any Mavericks where produced that it had a small bumper, V8, 5 lug, disc brake and AC.
I have seen the kit for Mustangs that let you cut the towers out of the engine compartment and go coil over shocks, do they make this kit for the Mavericks.
Something else I was wondering, what years were Grabbers produced. I see a 70 model with a 6 cylinder claiming to be a true grabber??
Charlie

 

Hello Charlie and welcome to the forum. To answer your question the 69 1/2 -72 model Mavericks all had small bumpers the 73 had a small rear bumper and a bigger front bumper, the v8 was introduced to the Maverick in midyear of 71, disc brakes were not an option until 1974 not sure about AC but probably from 70 on. Grabber started in 1970 and continued until 1975 and a big percentage of them were 6 cylinder cars only the 71 and 72 model had the dual snorkel hood and ducktail spoiler, the 70 had the ducktail spoiler but not the hood. Kits for changing the steering for the Maverick are available

 

the RC-107 kit is for a Maverick, I have one in my car.

 

Find the best, most rust free Maverick you can find. Everything else can be converted/adapted. If you really want AC (I would), then find an AC car for all the parts.

 

Why are you so dead-set on a '70? They are probably the worst Mavericks. Ford made improvements starting in '71.

The '70s all had 6-cylinders, 4-lug wheels, weak, 7-1/4" rear ends (okay, later ones had the 8-inch), smaller tranny tunnel, non-staggered rear shocks, the least amount of options, and none of the Grabbers had "Grabber" hoods. Also, like early Mustangs, the gas tank is the floor of the trunk, whereas later models had a complete trunk floor with the tank mounted under it. Of course all of this stuff can be modified, but why go to the extra trouble and expense if you don't need to?

 

The later 1970 models did come with an 8 inch rear end in them...I had one.

 

http://maverick.to/grabber/mavchanges.html

The rear Grabber spoiler was still used in 73. The small rear bumper was also still being used in 73, but with different brackets that moved the bumper away from the body of the car by about 1.5". I would search for as good a rust-free Maverick with A/C and small bumpers. The V8 and the disc brakes can be swapped without doing any bodywork. If you were inclined to go with the Rod & Custom RC-107 front suspension kit, then the disc brakes can be purchased with the kit.

Grabbers were first produced in the Spring of 1970 (late 1970 production) without any difference in the VIN and without the dual snorkel hood. In 71, the Grabbers got their own body code right in the VIN (93), whereas all Regular 2dr cars were (91). This makes it easy to spot a REAL 71-75 Grabber. Some of the 1970 Grabbers had Grabber-only paint colours, so you could deduce the fact that it was a Grabber by way of the paint code or evidence of the original colour inside the car. Grabber Green, for example (code: Z) will only be on a Grabber. 1970 Mavericks also had a one-year-only gas tank, which is not produced.

I will be converting MY 71 Grabber to 5-lug disc brakes all around (Crown Vic Disc Swap in the Rear).

Do your homework and don't jump at the first one you see. There are still lots of decently-priced, good cars out there. Good Luck!!

 

I'm already learning a lot. Larry, it does not have to be a 70 model that 's just what I had. What I really want is the small bumper look. The RC-107 kit or one similar will be what I'm looking for, I'm going to guess Frank that you love yours and the extra engine compartment must be an added bonus. I pretty much did that to my 57 and you really can not even compare the driving difference and this will be a daily driver.
You guys are really helping already. With the RC-107 the 4 or 5 lug does not matter. I do plan to go with a newer FI engine/trans. I want the rear spoiler but I've got a different thought then the Grabber hood and the paint will be a solid color, no stripes so the Grabber model wont matter either.
In my reintroduction post earlier I said I have to restore my son's 78 bus, well I'm heading out to try to pull the engine in the rain!
Thanks Everyone!
Charlie

 

I'm getting ready to start on a very similar project Charlie. And I'm leaning heavily towards going with a Coyote engine and 6 speed. I'm looking forward to getting started on it but I have to finish a 76 Stallion I currently have. Gotta get it out of my way before I start the next one.

 

Ray, I'm not sure if my budget will let me get a Coyote but don't think I haven't been thinking about one! I would love to drop one in. I plan on this car to be my daily driver so the fuel injection would sure be nice and the HP out of a Coyote would be great.
I plans so far is a late model high performance FI small block, automatic and while not a tubbed rear end, I think I would check into cutting the wheel well to get a wider tire but not getting into the unibody rails. On my 57 I did a mini tub which allows me to run 12" tire without any problems. To do that I cut my wheel wells out and moved them 2" then welding in a 2" strip, you really can not even tell it when you look in the trunk. I want to RC-107 kit for sure and I am picturing this with a shaker hood.

 

I would agree with what the rest are saying, find a solid newer car and convert it to small bumper. I ended up with a 75 with v8, ac, power disc brakes. It also had the glove box instead of the shelf which is a personal preference for me. It was not difficult converting to the small bumpers and most people that see it think it is a 70 - 72 model until they look inside.

 

I noticed some saying the 73 still had rear small bumper, not ours, it had a larger bumper with the bumperettes, it is a 2 door LDO came factory 302, C4, AC and ps but no small bumper

 

I have seen pictures of your car. It has a small rear bumper. In 1973 it did stick further out on the body of the car. Also....the 1973 bumper guards were different than the 1970-1972 bumper guards.

THIS is the big bumper.....

 

The bumper we have on it now off the 72 has NO bumper guards, attached pics is the one we removed with bumper gaurds, the one we put on it is a small chrome, no bumper gaurds just like the small front chrome only

 

Yes, we know. '73s had bumper guards. It's still a small bumper, and there is a valance below it.