hey guys. So I just wanted yalls opinion. I've got a 1974 maverick grabber. I'm rebuilding it. Or actually I'm building it I should say. It came with a 3 speed auto and a 200 inline 6. I pulled both of those and have a buyer already. At this point I'm trying to decide what is next of the agenda. I've found an engine and transmission (302 and t5) in excellent shape for a good price. I think I will buy them. But I'd like to add a small amount of power (heads,intake,cam) and that'll be easier outside the car. Not to mention I have several other things to do. Brakes, tires, rust mainly. Just as a general consensus, what would you guys suggest? I'm no mechanic so I'm not sure
Do you know if the 302 is a factory roller cam engine? The biggest gains in a SBF are in the heads. Compared to a good set of aftermarket heads, all unmodified SBF factory heads are junk. If the car needs brakes, suspension, steering work, I would recommend you do that first, particularly the brakes. You could always buy a package deal with cam, heads and intake from someone like Edelbrock.
The engine and trans I found are a 1974 ford 302 and a world class t5. Both rebuilt. As for power I'm only looking for about 300whp. Ish. Somewhere around there. It isn't a race car so "around there" is good enough. But I will likely go ahead and buy the engine and trans because the guy is asking 800 bucks for both of them. And has every part to make it run. Save for headers. But as for all the other stuff what should I work on first? Brakes? I will likely replace all the brakes (can you get "performance" drum brakes?) but it will need suspension and paint and things as well.
You shud post some pic of the project for better idea what ur workin with. I thought 74 and up had frt disk? Rust can be a deal breaker, depending on how extensive and to what degree one's skills to do body/rust repair...
Before you make the car go, you need to make sure it will stop and steer. get these basics working first if they need work then consider something like the below to make it go. That is a top end kit for an early SBF. It is listed as about 320 HP.
"1974 ford 302 and a world class t5. Both rebuilt." do you know what is in the rebuild of the 302? (2 bbl-4bbl carb.) what ignition? "I'm no mechanic" the T5, do you have the pedal assy. to fit a Maverick? Z bar or cable clutch? do you have the T5 crossmember? putting the T5 alone in is a big job even for a mechanic...
Yeah. I know it's a lot. And I don't have anything at this point. I figured the engine and trans was a good deal, and I need to get them both eventually. I know I'll need a lot more parts as well. I will need more parts both to put in and mounts and other pieces as well. Lots. I was just curious what (very general) order you guys may start working on this. As for what needs done, there's rust in the trunk and on the bottom corner of the two rear wheel wells. Not bad, and no structural rust I have found. Past that, suspension, brakes, engine and transmission swap, and paint is what I'm planning to do. So I just was curious what order you guys would start doing all this.
Also, if something proves too difficult for me to do myself (as I'll admit I have no experience and am pretty well flying by the seat of my pants) I am willing to have things dome. I just can't have everything done. I need to do most myself otherwise I'll spend thousands in labor
302 and T5 combo for $800 is a steal not a deal. with that being said, why is he selling the combo that cheap? months, years down the road when you get through building the car that 74 302 won't be the motor for you...JMO
first things first stop the rust. I have a 67 couger that is a bucket of it after sitting too long, i have a 74 maverick that i am doing w no rust, trading in all my parts / hobbies for parts for this one. lesson learned stop the project from aging then restore or restomod
Address the rust issues first. Make darn sure you have looked this vehicle over well (including cowl rust through into the passenger compartment) before you go investing any large sum of money. Assuming all is well, you can begin to collect parts for the engine transmission swap as you make rust repairs. I believe you will find the peddle assembly is the most difficult/expensive part to acquire. I would then work on the front suspension and brakes while the engine and tranny are still out of the vehicle. Makes life a lot easier. Then get your engine and transmission installed. Next step, get the vehicle safely drivable so you can begin to enjoy it. The driving part is important! When these projects take too long, owners get discouraged and end up selling a disassembled vehicle at a big lose.
lgaretto: If you're planning on keeping the car I'd inspect the COWL AREA for deterioration . Chances are there will be some areas you may have to deal with to prevent water from entering and rusting your floors out . Now would be a good time when you have access with the engine out . Cometized (Chip)
Okay so I finally got around to checking all that. There are a couple small rust spots where paint has chipped but they can easily be sanded. And the trunk is rusted through throughout most of the center. However the quarters and the cowl seem to be fine so there must have been a battery in the trunk at some point or something. The engine bay and frame are also okay. So at this point I have an engine and transmission and I think I need to work on the brakes next. I'm going to leave the suspension because if you don't know what your doing a spring may shoot out and kill you or something (that's what I've always been told anyway) so I'll have it done later. I think brakes are next. I want to put disc brakes at least on the front if I can so I'll have to do some research on that. I bet there's a thread here somewhere with info. I have one other question for y'all for now. This isn't gunna be a race car, at least I'm not gunna race it. Just drive it and probably go faster than I should. Having said that, my engine is a 302 that (based on reading others accounts) makes somewhere in the realm of 300 ponies. Are there any parts on the maverick I should be aware of that simply won't hold up to that kind of power?
