To convert or not to convert. A bumper question

Discussion in 'General Maverick/Comet' started by Bad1974maverick, Apr 12, 2021.

  1. Bad1974maverick

    Bad1974maverick Member

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    Okay guys I have been thinking about this since I bought my Grabber in 2006. I bought an all stock 74 Maverick grabber that has 120K on the body. The motor went bad as a result of original fluids being in it when I purchased it from the original owners widow (you can see pics in my album). I will be putting the original motor back in it. I also have a 72 twin snorkel hood that I never did anything with that I got with the car. At some point the car has been painted but I am going to paint it back to medium bright blue metallic with white grabber stripes.
    That said. Should I do the small bumper conversion or let this one stay stock? I do love the "skinny" bumpers but you don't see many stock 74' grabbers, which is why I want to do the original engine right and put it back in. To keep or not to keep them, that is the question. I'd like to hear from others on the situation.
     
  2. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    "you don't see many stock 74' grabbers",
    this could be the reason why.

    ditch the big bumpers.
     
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  3. RMiller

    RMiller My name is Rick

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    Build your car to make you happy. If you love the small bumper look but build it stock because most people don't, you may and up with builder's remorse.
     
  4. yellow75

    yellow75 MCCI Oregon State Rep Supporting Member

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    Go small bumper but be aware it is more work than just changing bumpers IMO. I did the swap on my Stallion and am happy I did but cost quite a few $
     
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  5. COMETIZED

    COMETIZED Member

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    I've owned a 75 Comet and a 74 Comet and a 71 Maverick and the Comets got a bumper change before I started the rest of the mods on both of them , Never regretted it .. Got rid of the Park Bench Bumpers immediately ..( Also , I weighed the difference and the Big Bumpers added 88 pounds to the car .) Good Riddance! Just a footnote.. I did a Bumper Tuck BEFORE I obtained the small bumpers setups for both cars. Just my humble opinion..
    Cometized
    Chip
     
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  6. TeeEl

    TeeEl Member

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    Absolutely convert to small bumpers!...
     
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  7. Bad1974maverick

    Bad1974maverick Member

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    Thanks for all the replies guys, feel like I cracked open one heck of an egg with that question.

    Yeah I know it's not a simple swap and go. Money is the key for me. Saving up and sourcing the parts.
     
  8. Powerband

    Powerband Member

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    ---- 1976 Comet --- 1974 Maverick- - '61 Comet T'Bolt Six ---- 'quite a few projects ...
    I like the big bumpers and look good if they are tucked in a bit. Stock 'big' bumpers provide the signature mid/late 70's style cues and true performance enthusiasts know few actual 'muscle cars' were still being produced. The Maverick's 70's entry may have evolved a lot different if the 70's gas crisis didn't make the mfg's retreat to Vegas' and MII Pinto-stangs ...

    '74 w/ Comet hood grill , Bumper. PO added 'Grabber' decals - not a VIN true Grabber.

    It's mostly a Maverick 3OTT - bench seat - straight six - "grocery getter" but often at Cruises and shows I get asked if it's a Camaro or Firebird by persons born long after most of the small bumper Mavericks rusted away..

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG] . [​IMG] . [​IMG].[​IMG].[​IMG]

    I removed the heavy 'ballast bar' from bumper when 'tucked, as mentioned it is ridiculously heavy SOB ...

    hav e fun
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2021
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  9. Bad1974maverick

    Bad1974maverick Member

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    That's a nice one you got there. Is that a Vortech supercharger you got? I have a V1 on my 87 Mustang LX 5.0. I also like that falcon wagon. I have a 60' Ranchero myself.
    I can't tell you how many people have asked me what year my (insert disgusting GM car model here) was. I simply tell them it's a Maverick Grabber. Typical response is "huh, never heard of it".
    That's what led me to ask about the conversion. I love the skinny bumpers, but its a big to do to do the conversion, and there aren't many all factory Grabbers out there. there were only 1,300 or so with my paint and options and if I recall (I could be wrong) very few with the color combo with a bench seat.
     
  10. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    as many of us do...make it your own..one of one.
     
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  11. Crazy Larry

    Crazy Larry Member

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    Sorry, those huge bumpers look so out of place on the 2-door models. They were an afterthought by Ford when the government mandated 5mph impact resistance. Ford accomplished this as cheaply as possible by slapping those park benches on there. GM did a much better job of making their 5mph bumpers look like part of the car. They do look more at home on the 4-door models though.
     
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  12. Bad1974maverick

    Bad1974maverick Member

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    IF I were to do the conversion. Should I just notch the stone guard instead of my fenders? Assuming I'd want to put it back to original for the Smithsonian some day when they are all extinct and I have the last set of impact bumpers known to man for an original grabber. :29::happy::drool:
     
  13. BBMS18

    BBMS18 Member

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    Trying to make this decision is putting to much stress on you, I think you should sell the Maverick.
     
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  14. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    Nice one!!!

    As far as gas crunch affecting Maverick evolution, made little difference, possibly helped sustain production(read on). Fed intervention due to insurance companies screaming(lobbying) for both 5 mph bumpers & horsepower reduction, plus mandated pollution controls were the steering winds. Maverick was already in it's 5th model year when gas crunch hit, it's mission was 90% complete, Granada mostly developed. I've read, originally Ford was going to drop Maverick with introduction of Granada, demand from crunch for smaller cars saved it for a couple more years. In Nov '73 Pinto & Vega were in their 4th year of production. No doubt Detroit was already running scared, since mid '60s, the foreign market had made alarming gains. I will concede fact that M-II took a large bite of market, still little of that was Maverick. It's sales pulled from Opel Kadett, Yota, Datsun, Pinto, Vega, Cricket(Plymouth), etc, etc.
     
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  15. rickyracer

    rickyracer Member

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    From living thru the EPA/Fed BS in the 70s with insurance agencies jumping onboard, those bumpers are just plain FUGLY. You'd have a better look if you just bolted railroad ties there. Get rid of them.
     
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