1973 Ford Maverick Project

The wheels have finally started to turn on this project. I bought this car back in October of 2010. Just now getting the money and time to actually work on it. I'm doing the V8 swap as it has the original 250 in it. So, these past two days I've been slowly taking everything in the engine bay out. I'm going to sand, prime and paint it up real nice before putting in the 302. I know it may not look like a lot of work for just 2 days worth of work. I work 7 days a week from dusk til dawn, lol. I only get maybe an hour IF that a day to mess around with it. Anyhow, here is the progress so far:

7-11-2011
Before


After:

 

7-12-11

I knew the battery tray was in pretty bad shape when I first got the car. Found out actually HOW bad it was. The good thing though, this is the only bad spot in the whole car.

Alternator removed:



Battery Tray and Passenger apron:





More updates to come in the next few days as I get some spare time to tinker around.

 

what are you gonna do with that 250? and where are you located?

 

I'm in East, TN. I plan on keeping it in case I want to switch it back to all original one day.

 

need more pics of the outside and inside of the car

 

Here are the outside pics:






I don't have inside pics. But when I remember and get the chance, I'll post them. These pics were taken right when I got the car back in Oct of 2010. Since then we got a nasty hail storm, and it now has one small dent in the hood, two in the roof, and one in the trunk. Not really deep dents, just enough to make me mad and wish I'd had a garage. I'll be fixing those along with a few minor spots along the bottom of the doors once I get to the painting stage. And yes, before I paint it, I'll be building/putting up some kind of garage/car port.

 

what mirrior is that? or where can you find replacements?

 

As far as I know, that is the original mirror. It only has the one on the driver side like most of them do. It's cracked down the middle, so I'll be searching for a better one as well. Might want to try posting in the "Parts Wanted" thread, craigslist, or try junkyards.

 

More Progress as of 7-17-11


Windshield wiper fluid tank removed, shock tower braces removed, grill, and front bumper removed.










It looks a LOT better already without the huge bumper on it. Small bumpers will do it wonders. Here is the before and after on that:

 

Got a few more things done today. Headlights, assemblies, and rock guard is removed. Next step will be to tackle the bumper brackets.

 

It's been quite a WHILE since I had to time to work on it. Got help from my Dad. He has been #1 in this whole project. Couldn't have done it without him. But here is the new progress. Goodbye 250 i6:

 

nice progress. what was the original color code of ur 73?

 

Hey, thanks David! It's going a lot slower than I wanted, but once it begins to cool down in the fall I should at LEAST have a new trans in it and the '79 302 in it and running. The original color code is:

4P - Medium Green Metallic


The interior is ALL black. (Which I got VERY lucky on. Exactly what I wanted.)

The engine bay is still that color.

 

Yet again, it's been a LONG time since I was able to work on this project. Everything from doctor bills to daily driver car troubles. In addition to working all the time. Here is what I've got done in the past 2 weeks:

Before:

 

After: