I have a 70 maverick and want to put a big boy engine in it. I know my shock towers will need to get gone, what other fabrications if any will need to be done?
.... as you should already know....complete front end...transmission and rear end will need upgrades.
Just about everything under car... Suspension will need major upgrades and trans tunnel is too small to accommodate a transmission that will handle torque of 460... None of the four lug brake/wheel stuff is worth considering, plus the 8" rear(if it even has one) won't begin to handle a healthy 460, or sick one for that matter... Basically you've chosen the wrong car for a 385 motor... A 351W/ stroker is far more doable...
I had to change the front section of my trans tunnel in order to accommodate my top loader with the V-Gate shifter
The suspension, trans, and rear end would all eventually be upgraded to accommodate the bigger motor, the fabrication just isn't my forte so I just wanted to know how much might be needed since I would probably be paying someone else to do it. Even if I go with a smaller motor i would still probably want to get rid of the shock towers.
Iv seen Mavericks with 460's in them. Without a ton of work at the drags. I didn't drive them or anything obviously but it can be done.
My neighbor had a grabber with a 429 cobra jet in it which is where I got the idea pretty much but I moved and haven't been able to go back and talk to him and see how he got it done.
A 460 would be a lot of weight on the nose of your Maverick. That might be fine if you plan to create a drag race only vehicle with a highly modified 460 and a matching drivetrain to support the increased torque and horse power. A 302 or 351W based combination would be my choice for a street/strip or street only car. By the way, I consistently beat a trailered modified 460 powered Maverick that runs at one of the local strips with my little 302. It's more than just torque and horse power for a quick ET, you have to get that muscle to react with the track and in my case drive it home!
LOL It's hard to get the rear feet to grip, when doing hand stands... In other words the balance of car is horrid with a 700lb lump over the front wheels... Plus late 460 truck heads have poor flow, run out of breath between 4000-45000 RPMs... With alu heads, intake & headers the big motors can really turn on(hear those teeth shucking off the 8" ring gear?)... Don't forget about trans tunnel mods, the 1970s were actually narrower than the later years, that had V8 as option...
Well thank you all for the advice and direction, I'll probably go with a 302 or 351w setup of some sort because I do plan on driving on the street too. I'm just still in the dreaming phase of things and want to start getting a plan so I can start getting my parts.
Welcome to the forum from Berkeley Springs Wv. A lot of work will need done to put big power in this car. All takes time and money. A good wife if married.
