Agree that "tucking" the big bumper does look better, but since I am fortunate enough to be able to afford going all the way with the small bumper swap, I'm committed to that. I'm toying with leaving the '74 lower fender extensions in place, and trying to adapt a '65 Mustang valance to fit, ra
Update: I got a set of original small bumper brackets off ebay for $95. Sand blasted and painted, they look good, no significant rust deterioration that I can see. I attached passenger side bracket using an existing hole in the frame that rthomas771 says is in proper location; the elongated hole in bottom of frame is just big enough to let me get washers and nut on to the bolt, inside the frame (i.e. not drilled all the way through to the other side) using needle nose, a wand magnet, and nut taped in a closed-end wrench. "Battering Ram" big bumper bracket left on driver's side for comparison.
I plan to mount a new small bumper to these brackets, and line it up good before drilling the front bracket hole into the frame, using rthomas771's template as a guide. But wouldn't you know, when backing it out of the garage, the parking brake stuck on TIGHT.... no amount of handle manipulation will free it, so I think maybe the cable came loose from the handle? Another research project.... It's always something!
My '74 parking brake cable jumps off the pulley every time I use the hand brake. The problem is the cable stays curved when slacked when releasing and cable finds its way between pulley and its axle
Yep, that's exactly what happened! Luckily, an easy fix. This was the first time I experienced the cable jumping off the pulley, but as you say I can see how it happened, due to the cable slack. First pic, cable stuck under the pulley; second pic, pulley removed. The pulley runs kinda sloppy (typical Ford precision tolerances) in the bracket, so I'm going to try putting a thin nylon spacer above the pulley to keep it lower and running true in the bracket, plus oil the cable, see if it helps.
check out the underside cable paths, Maverick 'parking brake' OEM cable across underside is crude at best and always suspect ... . . . have fun . .
Thanks, yeah it all looks good...I agree, crude, I can't believe they just let the cables run tight across the underside sheet metal like that, but it hasn't caused any issues other than paint and a little metal wear. I got the pulley back in, with the nylon spacer on top, and it all works great now!
Please continue to post, particularly with pictures, on your small bumper swap. I have been collecting parts for the swap for a while now and hope to start early next year.
Thanks, I sure will. I ordered the bumper last night....$525 shipped. Wow! I can't complain, though....the Maverick was way cheaper "going in", and also more unique, than my secret preference - "just another early Mustang (fastback)"
Received the bumper. Made in Taiwan, so at least I'm supporting the industrial capability of an important democratic ally. Looks very nice, weighs about 12 lbs ... and the 4 brackets weigh no more than 10 lbs, so there's a savings of 70 lbs over the Safety bumper! I salvaged the bumper bolts/nuts from the original, hoping they'd work and save a few $$ ... they're pretty long, longer than necessary, but I think they'll work (see pics), so far so good anyway.
