thoughts on build

k. the sun is out, I have a few months where I can't work and some money saved for the maverick. This is what I'm thinking as far as upgrades and projects I'd like to get done.
Car is a 71 maverick, street car with a 250. Will never be dragged or raced. Going for a reliable but zippy driver (as zippy as is feasible).
Currently everything that has been rebuilt has been done stock altho I'm by no means a purist. I've done the front suspension, fuel system, electrical and brakes. I just recieved my comet tail lights, wiper arms, door handles, a side view mirror and the speed nuts to hold my headlight bezels on! Saying a big F to the cosmetics and just running with it on mechanics. I still have to figure out a way to mount my sidemarkers, but that's a safety thing

I would like to:
-Rebuild rear suspension: planning on doing the Econoline leaf swap if I can find a good donor. I will need to redo my shackles also, or alternative? Shocks will also be changed, but still looking for what type I want. I will be leaving the rear diff, as it is an 8" and will probably handle anything the 250 could do. A rear sway bar is deffinitely on my mind depending on cost.
-Build a transmission: My current understanding is that the three popular choices are C4, AOD and T5. T5, being the only manual conversion of three, is my first choice. The overdrive is important to me - I will be gearing the car up as much as I can without being too stupid. I currently have a working C4 in the car I plan to sell after the swap. Anyone have any insight into a decent T5 rebuild kit for my applications and maybe a general idea of how much the extras (clutch, bellhousing, ect.) are running nowadays? Best bets junkyards, craigslists, ebay, ect.? There must be more than a few options out there. Anyone have good or bad luck with anything specific? Also, is there anything specific about a bad transmission that makes it nonrebuildable I should watch out for?
-Rebuild and mount 2bbl: Thanks to LittleT I have a motorcraft/autolite 2100 to rebuild and throw on my car. The engine is the last thing I plan on rebuilding in the car, only has 85k on it. I will be using an adapter plate to mount the carb until the engine finds itself at a machine shop.
-Shocks and springs: I already installed new springs in the front but they need a chopping. When I do this I will also install new shocks (type undecided). I want to wait and do this until the rear is rebuilt so I know where I stand. This will be pretty straight forward I think. The addition of a monte carlo bar would be fun too. (I know I probably don't need the monte carlo or rear sway with my application, but it seems like a really kewl and not so intensive mod.)
-No point in points: Yup. rebuilt the points and distributor and coil and all that fun stuff already. And now I want off of points. Thinking of switching to a petronix, or an equal mod. The duraspark-style change will be a future project.


I know that's alot. You guys have any insights, wisdoms, suggestions, insults, praises, points of order, or ideas about this? All info would be helpful. I'm still searching the forums religiously on this stuff, but there's alot out there. Thanks in advance!

 

Just do what you can do, with the time and money you have. Don't try and do too much, or you'll get burned out. Plus, just do one thing at a time..and don't buy another Maverick, no matter how good of a deal it might be...

 

haha. I will not be buying another mav for a long long time lol. I'm pretty sure all of this fits into my budget, just from searching the forum and parts sites. That was my first thinking. ...As far time goes - no job and no school for at least a couple of months. That should be enough time to get most of this done, if not more. That's provided I can find all of the parts for a reasonable amount in this time. I plan on doing things in the order that I listed them, except I'll probably do the carb first. I'll do one thing at a time until I find a transmission and parts. Then I'll stop working on the other stuff until that is done. This just works out as a really good time to be doing this stuff while it's my only obligation. Want to get it good now so I don't have to worry about it as much when I don't have the time to invest. I think the transmission build and switch will be the only MAJOR project going on here - it will be my first one

 

IMHO I would go with the T5, but thats mostly because I like my manual maverick, it makes the relationship seem more personel when cruisin around. ha. also if you havnt already you could check out the 3 & 4 speed toploader manual trannys, thats what I have and it never gives me any problems.

 

That motor is just getting broke in with only 85k on it.

 

yea. that's why I'm not planning on rebuilding or switching it out anytime soon. Drive it til it blows and then V8.... should have a few years.

 

yea, I like the idea of a manual too. T5 seems like the popular choice. The toploaders are SROD right? I heard those weren't nearly as resillient as other transmissions. Or for my application is it a non-issue (overdrive is overdrive so don't worry about it sort of thing)? The pre-77 model toploaders need to be retrofit for OD right? I hear it's difficult to tell the difference between a car and truck toploader... is this true? hmm, that's alot of questions lol.

 

the top loader is different than a srod. the toploder has external shif linkage. the srod has the shifter mounted to the top and the linkage is all internal. the top loader is a very stong trans and will withstand any of your posted plans. the only problem is it does not have overdrive. the t5 is the way i would go. its also probly the most expensive and hardest conversion to do. ever sence i got my car toghter and on the road with a c4 i have felt that it was missing something. it just wasnt as fun to drive as i wanted it. before i had fox mustang with a 5 speed and that car was lots of fun to drive. i realized that it was the stick shift that made it that much fun. so now im starting to collect the parts to convert my car.

every thing else you asked about seems to be right on track. i dont know why you would want to replace the rear shackels. they dont normaly wear out.

 

from what I've read OD is the way to go if I'm changing my gears. Wierd about the toploaders not having OD, I thought they did. The T5 looks pretty pricey to switch too, but hopefully I can save some bills getting a junk one to build. I think the build is gonna be the most fun... driving it should be alright too.
The shackles thing: I had posted pics of my car a while back and people commented that a previous owner had "worked on" my rear suspension and did it wrong... That my shackles were bad? I'll try and find the thread. http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=63548&page=2
bam! aftermarket apparently isn't good.

 

Yeah, you really should go back to a stock-height shackle. The aftermarket ones that the PO put on there were just a band-aid for saggy springs. They do not really help the car in any way, just overstress the frame, and make the handling sloppier. Getting a good set of springs in there will help.

If you are changing the rear springs, do that before cutting the front coils. ... you will have more fine control of how much you tweak the stance that way. My green Comet below has been cut one full coil, but I am probably going to do the E150 springs (combined with my main leaf). I suspect that I will switch to a slightly taller front tire to keep the stance if the back comes up a bit. I don't want to change how it sits, but it desperately needs better rear springs.

By all means, get rid of the points ... Pertronix has been great in my experience. They even have a 3rd gen model out now that is like have a MSD box, but it is all under the cap. I have have been very happy with my crusty 1st gen unit.

I will mirror what Dave said ... do one task at a time, and complete it. Go by priorities, too. I would make "running,driving car" Goal #1. That way there is payback for each bit of progress along the way ... keeps you motivated.

If you have a working C4 in there now ... that thinking would kind of put a manual swap way down on the list. It's OK to hoard parts for the swap in the meantime, but I would not start that until you are sure that you have everything that you need. One part missing there could keep the car tied up for a long while.

This advice is coming from a guy whose car hasn't moved in far too long, and who has hoarded enough stuff that I had to stop buying more goodies. I resolved to get most of them in place before getting more.

 

word. Thanks for all the input!
The car is running and driving right now. I've put about 1500 miles on it since it's been running.
Gathering parts is going to be a big determinant in how this all goes down. I'll try and organize it best I can... All parts and tranny for rebuild b4 starting the rebuild, parts for swap b4 swap, ect. I'm not toooo concerned what comes first because it all is on the list, but yea... one thing at a time. The suspension I'll probably try to knock out all at once so it's fresh in the ol' noggin doing back and front. I have all of the little things like tail lights and door handles and such I can fit inbetween to keep it fresh and fun too. The garage I have to use is three hours away, so I'll probably try and plan work for one week blocks and then research and track down parts while I'm at home.
Thanks for the input about the petronix. I've read mixed ideas about petronix vs. duraspark switch, but I'm thinking petronix should be good enough for what I'm doing now.

 

Some of the O/D trannies are based on the toploader case, most call 'em a toploader imposter. The SROD is an aluminum case 3 speed O/D, with an internal rail shifter. Kinda like an early version of the T5. Not really strong (a stock 302 is about all they'll take), but would be plenty enough for a 250. If you're interested in an SROD shoot me a PM, I've got a good one with shifter and bellhousing.

As for your ignition, the pertronix will work just fine.

 

Your avatar pic does not give that impression ... it looks suspiciously like my car does now ...

Might want to update that...

 

lol. Sorry, didn't know they were supposed to be accurate. I just like that pic.

Thanks for the info and the offer! I'm probably looking for something that can hold up to a V8 (302 or 351). I'm gonna drive the 250 at least til I blow it up, but down the road should be V8 compatible. I'd like this tranny to be "the one," so to speak, and not have to worry about having to change types again.

Anyone got a favorite place they get transmission parts from? - doesn't have to be NASA engineered.

 

I will say that I'm not deadset on the T5. It just looks like the best one for my purposes and longevity so far. I'm definitely open to suggestions on this. I've got manual on the brain tho.