Looking into a '70 Maverick .... What to look at/for ?

Hey guys ....

I did an intro in "new members".

Im going to look a '70 Maverick this weekend.

I restore and build classic cars for a living, so I know a little.

I just would like to know of specific Maverick problem areas (rust, rot, area subject to damage) etc.

Get ready for a lot of questions ....

Thanks guys !

 

Floor pans

Cowl, pour water into each side of the grill area between the wipers. Look for water in the floors when doing this.

Front edge of the hood both inside and out

Right inner fender apron underneath battery

Tops of the rear aprons on both sides by the hood hinges

In front of the rear wheels along the seam between the quarter and rocker

Behind the rear wheels

Front fender dog legs

Front torque boxes

If it has a vinyl top look for evidence of rust underneath the vinyl.

 

GREAT INFO !!

Will a newer tank retrofit ??

 

No the 1970 model used a drop in tank. The gas tank is the floor of the trunk. The 71-77 cars had a trunk floor and the tank hung below with straps.

There are 2 variations of the 70 tank. The California models had a ventilation system that attached to the left front top corner of the tank. So you will find them with the hole in the corner or just a raised ring in the top.

The fuel sending unit is also unique to 1970 however I think a 67-68 Mustang unit will work by shortening the pickup tube and installing a new sock filter.

 

And if you find rust, you have to realize that virtually nothing is repopped to fix the rust (unlike a Camaro or a Mustang).

 

Well, less truck rust to be had, I guess !!

Guess I would have to fab my own !

Again, thanks guys !!

 

Spend your money on a good straight rust free body as you won't find many repop items. They're definitely around the in the South Bay and a rust free car should be relatively easy to find. I'd shoot for a 71 or 72 if possible. Trans tunnel on a 70 is also smaller from the 71 and 72.

 

So ... I guess Chevy drivetrain is outta the question, huh ?

I was kinda excited about the '70, but I kinda thinking otherwise.

Besides the 4lug suspension, is the body the same otherwise ??

 

Yes, body panels will interchange. What are your intentions with the car? Race car? Street car? Restoration? If your looking to make a buck off these cars you won't. There's a nice race car in ssn Jose for 15k that's pretty much already finished.

 

Well, if you read my intro it explained my situation.

When I was 2 years old , my parents bought a '73 NEW from Los Banos Ford. (man, I'm getting old)

I grew up with that car, learned to drive in it, and did many a "brakestand" with that 250 !!

I have always liked the body style ... most people don't care about it.

I know they aren't worth as much as Eleanor, but I've always liked them.

I am trading a decent 63 Impala Project car and some $$$ for this '70.

It's a running and driving, OG owner car, on non-op ... 6 cyl, manual tranny.

(THE ONLY THING THAT IS WRONG WITH IT, IS THE GUY SANDED OFF THE OG GREEN PATINA PAINT TO METAL, AND RATTLE PRIMED IT !!!)

cry:

The wife is excited about it, so that's a 'win' in my book. She's glad its a runner, and not ANOTHER project in the back yard.

My plans are to drive it to my shop and back, and leave it running until V8 swap parts are ready to go in.

A friend of mine was into Lincolns a while back , so he said I can have his complete '90 5.0HO roller motor/ECM for FREE ... 132K mileage

Glad this '70 has a clutch pedal too !!

 

That 5.0 will probably still have the cross hatch in the cylinders and no wear ridge, at least the one I bought years back with similar mileage did... Freshened it up and slapped on a set of Trick Flow heads, ran like scalded dog in a 3700Lb '88 T-Bird... After approx 700 drag strip passes(some with a 150Hp shot of giggle juice) it finally succumbed to a blown head gasket(2nd time) and badly worn thrust surface on the crank... Once the Comet is running(gettin' close), the Bird will get a fresh 331 this year...

BTW you don't know what old is yet, got a daughter your age(42)...

 

I feel much better now, thanks ! :Handshake


I did some research on that 5.0HO

Looks like most aftermarket harness' are based on the 86-93 MAF Mustang .... '93 being the "magic number"

So I would need a Mustang ECM and MAF.

(besides a lot of other things)

At least the Engine is FREE ...

I like the EFI idea of it, but I could just throw a carb on it, and be done with it, I guess ?


Well, let me get the car first !!

 

Only '88 in calif and '89-'93 were MAF, but it's easy enough to convert a '87-88 SD harness to MAF(or '86-'88 T-Bird/Cougar)... What you don't want is the '86 Mustang harness as it is different from the later years(basically in two sections)... 1986 was also last year of the four eyed Stangs, got the total "aero" makeover for '87...

Most of the sensors are same between MAF & SD...


If you go carb you'll need a 1985 Duraspark dist fot 5.0 Stang 5-speed, as it will have the steel gear that's compatible with the roller cam... Everything else from '84 uses the TFI dist(Ign module on dist) which has computer controlled timing and no provision for centrifugal or vacuum advance...

 

OK, I get everything except the "torque boxes" ?

Gonna search their location ... (newbie )

 

Most of the aftermarket harness' use '86-'93 Mustang as the magic number for what their harness' are based on, I've noticed.