1974 Mexican Maverick Restoration

thats not for real!!! have you seen this car? thats not right!!!
i put so much money, hours and sweat into this car and its still ****!

but what can i do, when i change to another car, ill loose all that has been done and the adaptions made for hydro booster R&P steering, gas tank and so on...
but this car has still so many ****ty metal i cant believe it.

i really dont know what do to change it without big loss...
so just keep going, finish the metal somehow and keep it going

 

I would also recommend finding another car. Even at this stage, it will still be better and cheaper in the long run to find another car.

 

I would recommend you get a different car!!

If you continue on this car, you will only get DEEPER $$ wise with it. Why spend $5,000 USD on a crap done of metal fab/body work and thats without paint, when you could get a straight car, minimum to no rust and spend that same $5,000 and have it completely painted, and interior done, with maybe a few motor parts.

I just did the same thing...

I cut up my current 69 Maverick, and will be replacing it with a Grabber. 1, its a grabber, 2, Dont have to replace quarters, 3, dont have to deal with welding a bunch of crap. Oh, and the perk.... I can completely STRIP the grabber sell everything off of it and make $2000 to $3500 PUREE PROFIT and still end up in the same position because my fenders, doors, hood, trunk, brackets, interior ect is alreayd complete and nice and body worked. The only thing I am replacing is the SHELL of the car and the fancy little VIN # that indicates its a "Grabber" so if I resell I have that in my back pocket to increase its value -- Even if its a few hundred or few thousand.

 

I don't know...You've already had the floors done, the engine compartment looks good..get some doors, and a quarter skins.

 

I agree. When the car is all done, with what YOU are doing to it, I don't think it will matter a hill of beans that it is a real Grabber.

 

thanks guys for your advise!!

i would love to turn the time back a year, and just go to the states, buy a cheap, rustfree and original car and put some small money in it to make it done.

but thats not gonna happen, i made some big mistakes in buying this car and even bigger the decision to restore this one. i should have sold it at the beginning and buy another better base.
i have learnt alot this year and im paying for mi mistakes now...

it would be easy to change to another roller and throw this one away, but in mexico this is not as easy as you imagine in the states.
here no old car is in good condition, not even the new ones are.
none is original, none is without problems.
so finding a roller which is better than what i have, good in what mine is still bad and good in what i already have repaired is almost impossible.

and a big thing is, if i want to take the car with me, the number plates need to be at least half a year in my name. so changing to another chasis with other vin and number plates is no option anymore because i wouldnt have it enough time in my name to take it with me...

so now i look for two good doors, quarter skins and front fenders and repair the small holes with patch panels.

im so far gone in this car with complete floors, cowl, trunk, quarter lower, rear wheelhouses, shelby drop, changes in the firewall for hydrobooster and hydraulic clutch, rear lights and much more, now its to late to go with anotherone and do it all again.

it took alot more money than expected, and i dont even have a new engine yet, but if i see all the project threads on here with all your dream cars built, i just dont believe you can do that with just 5k$.
i believe everyone whos making a big project is far over the budget imagined at the beginning when you first got the car...

just with all the parts and upgrades i put in these 5k are not possible.
only the engine is minimum there, and as always you get what you pay.
and when i do it, i try to do it best. with best parts, that it will survive many years more...

and i always hear prices from the states, and these are just not real here, as i have to pay shipping and taxes on every piece at least 30% more (thanks alot to Steve for helping with some parts)
and going to a local mustang shop or engine shop just not exists...

so i keep going and build my car as i want it to be, even if its more expensive and difficult than i could imagine at the beginning.

its just so difficult to keep the motivation and believing in success when you get thrown back over and over again...

 

I live in Mexico and will second what Braess has said. I have never seen a straight car here in Mexico. Every classic I have ever seen has the tell-tale marks of thick bondo. It has been quite a hassel to try to build my son's Maverick (a southern Arizona car) and has only been possible because I make monthly trips to the U.S. Even a common formed radiator hose is impossible to find "just use this generic one".

Add to that the fact that Braess has to own this car for at least six months as a registererd vehicle before he will be able to export/import it to his homeland and he is left with very few options as his "tour" is almost up.

Braess has really been put through the mill for his love of a Maverick. I would really love to be in Switzerland at a local car show when he finally gets it all done and is able to stand next to his car with a huge smile telling others exactly what his car is and how he came about getting it. No one will ever understand what it took!

All the best Braess in success. Another package of goodies will be on it's way to you today. Here's hoping it gets through with no problems.

 

I have read through this thread, very interesting build and a good job done.
I would keep making headway on this Maverick. One step and one day at a time. She's solid in a lot of the right places, just take your time and do things right.

 

thanks alot Steven!!

for your experience in mexico you know what i had to learn the hard way...
ill keep on fighting and i want to finish this car to enjoy it everytime driving it!
and ill remember your help and motivation which helped finishing it!

 

thanks, i try to give my very best to make a good build. its my first one and first time with an old car. so im learning every day and with every mistake.
ill keep on working as hard as i can, to finish it the best way i can.
i prefer to do it once right than twice bad, but im so in love with details its very hard to focus on the big problems...
but i know one day ill be happy with what i made and can enjoy it.

 

I can crate you some doors, fenders, bumpers, etc one time go at it...save on a huge headache. but it'll hurt on shipping. I can make sure you're taken care of on cost of stuff too since you're having a hell of a time with this car. Everythings copper blasted/primed.

 

wow, that would be great, but how to ship it??

i would need:

- both front fenders,
- both doors (if possible with hinges)
- bots quarter skins (rear upper part, the right side as well the around wheel part)
- tail panel complete
- small front bumper (if available)
- grabber hood (if you have a good one for a good price) i got one, but as well it looks horrible after i cleaned all the bondo down. but it was the only one i found in a year search...

would be best to get it from the states, but how shipping it?

and time is a big problem because i need to finish the sheetmetal to go to paint as soon as possible

what do you think how could it be made possible?

 

Wow - what a deal and great gesture!

 

so Levi, could you already check?
do you have some parts around?
how could it be crated/ shiped?

im still looking around here in mexico because im running out of time and not sure if you can send me the parts in time (if you would have them)
and maybe shipping will be really expensive...

please give me a shout to see if there is any possibility or if i dont have to count on it...

thanks

 

Sorry, I have been away frmo this thread.

You would simply just ship a entire pallet. Everything securely packed on it. Could even probably ship it somewhere close to you and you can make the drive over into the states to get it. May save on 'international' costs.

I have enough parts to build 2-3 cars. Doors, fenders, hoods, not sure if I have bumpers anymore (I believe I have 1 front, and 1 rear small bumper but needs re-chromed or to be painted body color) but those are easy to acquire as most people on the forums have a few sets.

I will be home towards the end of the month, I am currently on business trip in Seattle, WA.

If you're serious, I would have to have things pre-paid prior to me getting the crate and paying someone to package everything onto the crate ( family owned company makes custom crates for machine parts and ships international would go through them to have everything boxed properly.)

Let me know if you would like to go that route.