1970 Maverick project.

For those that have helped in other threads, i am finally gonna post pictures of her. I finally got her home and started to tinker with her a little. Once I realized how nasty the gas was going to the engine, I pulled the tank and cleaned all the old fuel out which leads to my first issue with my tank. It's originally a Cali car and the vent system is different as others. And of course my system is broken so now I am going to have to get creative in order to make my tank work. I believe I have a welder to make a hole for a normal style vent and either plug the original hole up or use it for the other vent. Once i get the fuel system in order, Ill get the carb cleaned out and proceed to checking compression and getting it mechanically stable.

It had 5 lug in the front and rear but I believe all they did was get some 5 lug drums for it, as far as I can tell it has a 8" rearend in it. Manual brakes and manual steering which I am ok with for now but would like to eventually put disc brakes on the front.

It does have some rust in the floorboards but for its age it is not bad. I also think i have found some in the pass door trying to peek out. Other than that, rust wise it is in great shape.

I am in the process of purchasing all the weatherstripping for the doors and windows, I'll have to replace the windshield at some point as well.

My purpose at this point is getting it mechanically sound before I even think about paint and so forth but I am extremely excited to finally have another maverick in my life. Not sure how happy the wife is but i keep telling her for a mid-life crisis...its either a car or a girlfriend. They are both she's but the car is a better choice.

 

Awesome! That's going to be fun!

 

Looks like a cool car, Go onto restoration parts source. You will have to call them but they have the best price for weather stripping kit by far. I think it is close to $100 cheaper than any other kit and it is all Daniel carpenter stuff so it is good quality. I would also go ahead and get the new 1970 reproduction tank and just eliminate your cali tank and emission system. It will save you a lot of hassle.

 

So I found this grille on ebay...is this a fair price? The grill that came with the car is not the correct one and the mounting tabs are broken.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/193201710862

 

That is a standard Maverick grille. The Grabber grille is molded in black and the 71-up models had integral “sport lamps”.

 

The one I have is plastic and does have the sport lamps, there is still a question if mine is an actual grabber. The vin has 91 not 93 but apparently the 93 wasnt used in 70.

 

Correct the 93 was not started until 71. The best way to tell is the placement of the sport mirrors (more anterior placement towards the A Pillar) and if the car hasn't been painted the grabber stripe will extend up onto the cowl which is unique to the 70.

 

FYI the grabber hood was not part of the 70 grabber package.

 

The pass side door has been replaced so no mirror, the stripes do not go up towards the cowl. I knew the hood was from another vehicle. I'm gonna guess it is not a original grabber.

 

So while searching the interweb I found this advertisement.

 

Brakes:
I had noticed some brake fluid running down the backing plate on the pass side front wheel before moving the car over to the side of the garage last week so today I decided to take it apart and see what's going on. This is what I found, looks as if one of the previous owners had redone the brakes and replaced the drums. I'm a little happy as that's one expense I wont have to worry about but it appears that the brake fluid was either coming from the end of the wheel cylinder or the brake line itself. When taking the brake line loose from the cylinder, it did not have a copper crush washer there, just on the inside between the bolt and the line. It's been awhile since I have messed with front drums but I do believe one should be there.
Also found a pitman arm with slack in it and it also has a sway bar on it. Did a 70 come with a sway bar?

 

from a fellow '70 owner.
Yes the '70's had a small front anti-sway bar. A V8 bar is a good upgrade.

 

Yep, always...

I've never seen any '60s/'70s Ford without a front sway bar. Even my '57 had one.

 

If pit arm has slack; I think steering box is worn. Brake shoes will most likely have to be replaced if soaked w/ fluid. Also, seems like anti roll bar looks OE.

 

If the steering box has play it can often be adjusted by the big nut on top of the box.