1972 Maverick Grabber Resto/Mod for my Dad

Thanks for all the great comments. It has been a long time and it will be worth it. I do want to thank everyone for their help with information and finding parts. That seemed to be the biggest struggle so far besides the painter. I have got a long way to go but I have a short time to do it in. Financially there is no way to finish it by Christmas. I wanted to give it to my dad with the interior, glass, brakes, and all the exterior items like lights and trim on Christmas. I think I can do it but I also am thinking that I will get the car back the first week of December and the Dash will still not be done. It should be doable, but it will be a some work to get it done. Most of the interior parts have been rebuilt or restored and ready to go. I wish I would have taken pictures of some of those items.

I should have the money to order the transmission by the end of the month but I need to figure out what cam I am going to run so I can figure out what stall I want for the converter. I am going with a 347 stroker and figure I will end up with a stall of around 3000 RPM.

I was going to get a painless wiring system but if anyone has a better suggestion I am open to it.

Again thanks to everyone for their help.

 

Amazing build!! I hope you are going to find some novel way of presenting it to your Father and will make a video of that special moment to share with us

 

I am trying to decide if I wanted to give it to him at Christmas or wait till it is completely finished. I want to give it to him at Christmas but I know it will not be completely done.

 

Have him outside and let someone take the car down the street right past the front of the house. Then ask Dad "what was that?" - Once you got him talking about it, have the car come back down the road and turn into the driveway. Doing something like this makes the best videos

Of course something like this only works if it is finished

 

If it was completely done I wanted to enter it in a local car show and happen to stop by to look at the cars. I was hoping that it would be a class winner and talk him in to staying to hear who won the classes and have them announce his name.

I also that it would be cool to plan vacation around the round up and happen to stay at the same hotel where everything is centered around then surprise him there with it.

Lots of ways I want to do it but I would need to finish it to do all of them. So if you want to donate to the engine funds I will take anything anyone wants to give me.

 

You have much better ideas than I have

 

I’d give him a set of brand new keys in a small box with some sort of custom key ring that was representative of him. Then I’d make him sweat it out, (you’ll see, it’s not done, we’re getting close etc…) That would make him feel like he’s ten years old again waiting for the best present ever! I like the car show idea as well, especially if you had a big board with the whole story on it. He'd stop to read the board and realize it's his!

 

im partial to ron francis wiring harnesses. their access 24/7 harnesses are great. the fuse block is magnetically mounted so its really easy to access and to tuck away.

my shop is a distributor for them and we have put them in several cars and are very happy with them. ive got one waiting to be put into my car when the time comes.

 

Painless is over rated...

 

1 for Ron Francis. What about you Dave?

 

I am with Bryant, I've use both and Ron Francis is by far the better of the two....IMHO

 

not Dave but I have this one in Patches.
...http://www.ronfrancis.com/prodinfo.asp?number=XP-67...

Earl has the same one in his Maverick...

 

Thanks guys! I looked on their website and I am sold. It looks to be a very easy to understand system and they will wire it for my applications. I have a idiit column that is GM wired it is nice to know I can order it for that column and just plug it in as well as the upgraded alternator.

 

Do you still keep any part of the original wiring harness?

 

As far as reveals go, I think you should wait until it's all complete (says the guy whose car is laying in pieces with the cowl sitting on the floor). It would be hard to wait much longer than you already have, but I think it would carry more "weight" if the car was done and complete when you reveal it.

I like the car show idea! That would be a really awesome way to do it. He wouldn't suspect a thing. You could even go to a few car shows prior to the reveal car show, just to get a couple of trips under your belt (just in case he suspects something, nothing will happen).

You deserve a lot of credit doing this for your father. I am sure there are tons of us on this board who would LOVE to do this for our fathers, but YOU have actually made it happen. He is one lucky guy!!